A new documentary film shines a light on four behind-
the-scenes L.A. musicians who were responsible for helping make much of the
era’s best music. A special January 8 screening of Immediate Family is the latest
entry in the popular Music Movie Mondays series hosted by author and music
journalist at Grail Moviehouse.
In the early 1970s music scene of Southern California, you couldn’t get a better bunch
of players than the four musicians who wold come to be known collectively as The
Section. Together and on their own, guitarists Danny “Kootch” Kortchmar and Waddy
Wachtel, bassist Leland Sklar and drummer extraordinaire Russ Kunkel played on a
staggering number of recordings made in that era. And an astounding number of those
songs would become hits.
Playing for and with the likes of Carole King, James Taylor, Stevie Nicks, Don
Henley, Keith Richards, Linda Ronstadt, Stevie Nicks and other well-known names,
that tightly-knit group of musicians would be responsible for the sound of an era. And today those four are the core of a popular
recording and performing unit, the Immediate Family.
Filmmaker Denny Tedesco (The Wrecking Crew) has dug into the collective history of these important musicians, and the result
is a new motion picture documentary, Immediate Family. Drawing from archival footage and contemporary interview with the
musicians (and the artists for whom they provided their expertise), Immediate Family fills in the blanks of an important – yet
often overlooked part of American popular music history.
And a post-screening discussion led by author and music journalist Bill Kopp provides an opportunity to share thoughts and
insight on the film.
As part of the Music Movie Mondays series, Grail Movie House in Asheville hosts a special one-night-only showing of the
film. Presented by Asheville-based speaker, author and music journalist Bill Kopp, the evening will include a screening of the
film followed by an interactive discussion.