Article by Marcus Siu

Most independent filmmakers have a passionate project or a labor of love that they cannot stop working on. This happened to Denny Tedesco, whose father, Tony Tedesco was known as possibly the most recorded guitarist in history (according to “Guitar Player” magazine), and was part of the the legendary “Wrecking Crew”, who were basically 20 to 30 uncredited studio musicians that were hired solely for the recordings by major artists; many which happen to be responsible for some of the most popular recordings of our time.

The Wrecking Crew never received any credit on the record albums or were never even acknowledged by the recording studios.  It was part of their contract to remain discreet. They were the “ghost” musicians, usually working 18 hour days, that were around for nearly three decades, but were never recognized except by the most successful recording artists who used them for their own artistic and commercial success.  At one point, they were responsible for seven straight Grammy “Record of the Year” awards.  They were the behind-the-scenes musicians that the most successful artists wanted to use during for THEIR recordings.

You most likely have heard them on recordings by Jan and Dean, The Beach Boys, Simon and Garfunkle, The Righteous Brothers, Nat King Cole, The Mamas and the Papas, Frank Sinatra, Sonny & Cher, Frank Sinatra, The Carpenters, Herb Alpert, even Elvis what’s his name from the 50’s.

Even the legendary record producer Phil Spector used them for his Wall of Sound.

The Wrecking Crew probably even inspired Milli Vanilli wannabe’s.  As long as you looked good on the album cover, you can hire them to play on your album and still be gracing the album cover.  It’s really the image that sells records to the general public. Especially for groups like The Monkees, The Association, or believe it or not…The Partridge Family.

They were the musicians who created the soundtracks of our lives, at least if you were around the late 50’s through the mid 70’s.  However, the music is timeless.  Some of the prominent musicians of the Wrecking Crew, besides Tedesco,  included drummers Hal Blaine and Eddie Palmer, bassist Carol Kaye, guitarists Al Kasey and Glen Campbell, Saxophonist Plas Johnson…and Leon Russell.

Who?

It’s notable that the Beach Boy’s, Brian Wilson tried to create an American version of the Beatles “Sgt. Pepper”, but with the help of the Wrecking Crew.  Today, it remains one of the greatest Rock albums of our time.

So, why was the movie not distributed until nearly seven years later, after it played at film festivals back in 2008?  Simple; it’s about copyright and royalties.

Documentary filmmakers have to pay for music royalties that they use in their films. Unfortunately, Tedesco, would have had to pay for over 100+ of the most famous songs of all time.   That’s a LOT of money. Definitely in the millions of dollars.

However, given the subject mater, this documentary needs it.  If the music was excluded, it would be taking the life and soul away from film.   It was mandatory for the music to co-exist with the film, since that was what the backbone of the movie: the music.

After a successful tour of grass roots money raising, as well as a hugely successful Kick-starter campaign, it finally happened.  Denny was able to pay off the music companies.

Though, Denny’s father, Tony Tedesco passed away in 1997, and didn’t get the recognition that he deserved, his musical legacy with the Wrecking Crew will go on, thanks to Denny’s endless effort on working on the film for over 18 years.  This is a timeless film and will be recognized as one of the best music documentaries ever.

Rush to see this film, if you are lucky enough to have it shown in your town.  Even better yet, rush to the theater to HEAR this film.  You’ll definitely feel some “good vibrations”.

NOTE:   If you get a chance to to see Denny Tedesco at your screening…drop everything and just GO!

Here is the trailer.

Don Randi and Denny Tedesco at a Q&A at 133rd AES (Audio Engineering Society) at Moscone Center in San Francisco. Photo by Marcus Siu.

The following is from the press kit from Magnolia Pictures.

SYNOPSIS

What the Funk Brothers did for Motown…The Wrecking Crew did, only bigger, for the West Coast Sound. Six years in a row in the 1960’s and early 1970’s, the Grammy for “Record of the Year” went to Wrecking Crew recordings. And now, THE WRECKING CREW tells the story in pictures and that oh, so glorious sound. The favorite songs of a generation are all here, presented by the people who made them for you. THE WRECKING CREW is a documentary film produced and directed by Denny Tedesco, son of legendary late Wrecking Crew guitarist Tommy Tedesco. The film tells the story of the unsung musicians that provided the backbeat, the bottom and the swinging melody that drove many of the number one hits of the 1960’s. It didn’t matter if it was Nat “King” Cole, Frank Sinatra, Nancy Sinatra, The Monkees, The Byrds or The Beach Boys, these dedicated musicians brought the flair and musicianship that made the American “west coast sound” a dominant cultural force around the world. The film is a fun and moving tribute from Denny to his father and to the music, the times and to the secret star-making machine known only as “The Wrecking Crew”.

Hal Blaine, Brian Wilson and Ray Pohlman in THE WRECKING CREW, a Magnolia Pictures release. Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures.

 ABOUT THE MAKING OF ‘THE WRECKING CREW’

 They were the studio musicians behind some of the biggest hits in the 1960s and ’70s. From “Be My Baby” to “California Girls;” “Strangers in the Night” to “Mrs. Robinson;” “You’ve Lost that Lovin’ Feelin'” to “Up, Up and Away;” and from “Viva Las Vegas” to “Mr. Tambourine Man,” the group dubbed The Wrecking Crew played on them all. Six years in a row in the late 1960s and early 1970s, the Grammy for “Record of the Year” went to Wrecking Crew member recordings.

THE WRECKING CREW, a documentary film produced and directed by Denny Tedesco, son of legendary late Wrecking Crew guitarist Tommy Tedesco. His father had been diagnosed with terminal cancer and Denny wanted to get as much on film or on tape as possible before his father passed. What transpired over the next few years surprised even Denny.

Director Denny Tedesco with him father Tommy Tedesco in THE WRECKING CREW, a Magnolia Pictures release. Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures.

Denny spent several years interviewing producers, engineers, and the musicians themselves to reveal the warmth and humor that allowed their collective talents to turn a simple chord chart into an international phenomenon and give a unique signature to recordings that are now part of the soundtrack of our lives.

The played around the world in the festival circuit with over a dozen awards and rave reviews and other accolades. The film was released into the festival circuit in 2008 and garnered a dozen awards in over 50 festivals around the world. The film includes wonderful interviews with Brian Wilson, Cher, Nancy Sinatra, Herb Alpert, Glen Campbell, Micky Dolenz, Roger McGuinn, Gary Lewis, as well as Crew members themselves.

Brian Wilson and Hal Blaine in THE WRECKING CREW, a Magnolia Pictures release. Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures.

Why the film hasn’t reached a wider audience, even though it is championed by all who see it, became a bit of lore itself. A labor of love by director Tedesco, the film is also ultimately a love letter to the legacy of his late father and musician friends in the Crew. Documenting the work of musicians on such iconic songs, however, can be cost — and distribution — prohibitive.

With songs by Frank Sinatra, Nancy Sinatra, The Monkees, The Byrds, Mamas and Papas, Sonny and Cher, The Beach Boys and dozens of others, the cost of licensing for this historic film was estimated to be more than $700,000.

The economics of paying for the licensing of over 100 hit songs stopped the film in its tracks, until Tedesco worked at raising the funds needed to pay off the record labels, publishers and the musicians themselves were taken care of.

In 2013, Tedesco finally decided it was time for Crowd Funding through Kickstarter. THE WRECKING CREW surpassed its goal of $250,000 to $312,000. The campaign for THE WRECKING CREW became the 3rd top Documentary in Kickstarter history to reach such an amount.