Backup Singers at SummerDocs
“Millions know their voices, but no one knows their names” is the tagline for “Twenty Feet From Stardom,” a new documentary to be shown as part of the Hamptons International Film Festival’s SummerDocs series on Saturday.
Morgan Neville has made a film highlighting the names, faces, and stories of those whose voices are inextricable from the songs they helped make famous. Singers such as Merry Clayton, who provided the backup vocals on the Rolling Stones’ “Gimme Shelter” and Darlene Love, who sang backup on “Da Doo Ron Ron” and other Phil Spector hits and also scored her own credited lead performance on the seasonal anthem “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home).”
In the film these singers share their stories and aspirations from, in Ms. Love’s case, cleaning houses until a rediscovery in the 1980s to Lisa Fischer, who despite winning a Grammy for her own song, decided she preferred the background and returned to a supporting role for bands and performers such as the Stones, Sting, and Aretha Franklin.
The movie is also punctuated by reflections from artists like Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Wonder, Sting, and Mick Jagger on the importance of their role. Archival footage and an impressive sound track round out the presentation in the film, which was nominated for a grand jury prize at the Sundance Film Festival.
Ms. Fischer will be on hand for a post-screening discussion with Dick Cavett, who will fill in for Alec Baldwin this time. She will also perform. Tickets are $22 and $20 for members. The screening begins at 8:30 p.m.