The stories of musicians are the stories of music.

Learning about your favorite artist opens the doors to the talent that preceded them. It can and should be – a learning experience.

It is not difficult in this day and age to discover music films. Biopics, documentaries and concert features. One click of a mouse gets you where you want to go rather quickly.

Netflix is the choice of many movie and music lovers. As the popularity of the platform grows, so does the edition of music pieces. So what to watch as you crash on the couch, potato in hand?

Coal Miner’s Daughter (1980)

The tale of Country singer Loretta Lynn never gets old.Not only does it remind everyone of how Country music once was, it is a premiere vehicule for understanding the arc of American fame.

Get On Up (2014)

The biopic of The Godfather of Soul is an eye opener for those who only know James’ music. Brown comes across as a bit crazy yet who can blame the guy? Abuse, poverty and abandonment is where James came from. What could possibly go wrong along the road to success?

ZZ TOP: THAT LITTLE OL’ BAND FROM TEXAS ( 2019)

Young(er) fans of music know Texas’ ZZ Top from MTV. Beards, cars and legs. It was the era of video. The imagery and capabilities of directors made or killed an artist. Many bands from the early seventies went the way of the DoDo bird when Cabbage Patch Kids ruled the day. Blues bands on TV? Forget about it. Somehow ZZ Top retained their Blues’ roots and commercially hit it bigger than before. Watch the film to know the stories behind the beards.

The Rolling Stones: Olé Olé Olé! A Trip Across Latin America(2016)

Ya ya – another Stones’ concert flick. So what? That is where a fan of music and culture is wrong. This documentary of the Rolling Stones’ Latin tour contains very little concert footage. It deals with the cultures of the different cities and Countries through the Stones’ eyes and ears. A fascinating glimpse into a band who are walking encyclopedias of music history and learning all the time. The film and tour concludes with The Rolling Stones performing in Cuba. The very first Rock n Roll band to accomplish that feat.

See Stones’ Trailer Here

Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool (2019)

Cool and hip started before the Swingin’ Sixties and before Woodstock. It all started with Miles Davis. He could well be – the very first Rock n Roll star. Not as a player; it was his attitude that set the bar high for the Keith Richards’ of the world.

Miles had it all. The genuis, the creativity, the musicianship and the courage to do what he wanted. A well overdue documentary explaining and displaying why Miles Davis is Miles Davis from some of the cats that played with him.