Twenty Feet From Stardom | Interview | TimesTalks

Morgan Neville, director of Twenty Feet From Stardom, along with Merry Clayton, Lisa Fischer and Darlene Love, three of the film's stars, sit down with New York Times pop music critic Jon Pareles -- www.timestalks.com. Morgan Neville tells the story of how the film came to be made. Merry Clayton, Lisa Fischer and Darlene Love share their experiences over their accomplished careers in the music business.

[@miuzefreak]

***LISA FISCHER*** IS BY FAR THE MOST TALENTED AND BY FAR THE MOST HUMBLE... GREAT ARTIST AND WONDERFUL HUMAN BEING!!!

[@vickibazter3446]

AGREED. She leaves me speechless

[@Bochanable]

Those ladies worked the heart and soul of many great recordings.

[@DeDeWedekind1]

I always love watching the background singers perform, they often sing better than whoever they are backing, but for whatever reason, they are not in the limelight. (They often dance better and are more entertaining onstage too!) It's great to get some real information about their lives and all the behind the scenes "stuff" they share.

[@walterjenkins4536]

DeDe Wedekind culture clob backup singer for one

[@Noodleydoo]

Same here. If you haven't read Darlene's memoirs My Name Is Love, I would highly recommend that you do so. It is fascinating.

[@USNAVDC]

Lord! Can Merry give you chills when she sings soprano or not! WOW!

[@coffeewaldo]

Lisa is one of the nicest people in showbiz. Check out her facebook. She literally answers each and every question asked of her. So kind. Who else does that?

[@kirby711]

These women are the salt of the earth with voices that reached into your soul ✨

[@hotgritz4sho]

OMG! I was in the audience for this Q&A. It was so amazing to see these talented ladies on the stage discussing their history, their origins and influences---stories often not shared with the public. I nearly lost it when I saw Valerie Simpson (of Ashford & Simpson,) sitting in the audience with us! What a delicious treat the whole screening was that night!

[@generationx9294]

I know your comment is from 4 years ago, but.... what an absolute treat and a dream for you to be in the audience as you said! I love your story!...it's SO neat you were there to savor these beautiful, epic-in-their-own-right queens! And also to see Valerie Simpson in the audience, too... wow 😍🖤👑 What'd I'd give to listen to and look at these absolute gems in person myself🙏🏽❤

[@nja3224]

Never heard of 20 Feet from Stardom, heading over to Netflix now. I have so much thanks to these ladies for the absolute joy of listening to them over the years.

[@Stylebyria]

3 beautiful souls. I will be going to see this movie. I just stumbled upon it today watching Lisa fisher song save me. Thanks Luther for making her do a album.

[@eternalme6077]

It is about Time these PHENOMENAL people are being Acknowledged Recognized Respected and brought to the forefront for Everybody to see and hear, Thank you to ALL who are instrumental in this Daunting task. Still have my Lisa Fisher cd. Thank you for Posting this Beauty.....🎸💚

[@polyprinz]

I came here because of Lisa Fischer!!!

[@margaretgines7652]

Only-I mean that-

[@maxxdroid1975]

Merry Cleyton's too a phenomenon. Always and still love her vocal contributions to such classic Blackbyrds' recordings ("Rock Creek Park," "Happy Music").

[@moorechristopher873]

Mrs. Clayton is hilarious 😂

[@mikkih5809]

Wow.. I'm so thankful that my trainer, at my 9-5, as an icebreaker asked us to tell the class, what our dream job was... I stated "a background singer" & he told me about this documentary!!!! 😘😘😘😘😘 This is wonderful.. Going to watch the full documentary now.

[@coffeewaldo]

Lisa is my favorite too + such a kind soul.

[@acousticshadow4032]

All three ladies have left their respective mark, and are superstars in their own right. Merry laid down one haunt of a track on "Gimme Shelter" - she made that song what it is. Lisa was the best live backup singer the Stones ever had ~ hands down & bar none. Heard Darlene Love sing live in December of 2021, and at 80 years old (think about that one), she still belts it out! They're like a batch of kittens ~ take yer pick!

[@pamjarrett-s9s]

I just saw The Stones here in 2024. Chanel killed it, but I saw Lisa with them in the earlier years. I wish Merry had toured with them in the 80s, but I love the recording of Gimme Shelter. Nobody could have made it better

[@Afong.]

6:23 She can even mimic the mic sound :)

[@joannkelly7994]

This was too many things. Loved it. Look how absolutely humble they are. Amen.

[@Lawrence_619]

there was a moment there, when Darlene and Merry were 'patting themselves on the back", and I was uncomfortable for a split second, because talking about myself in a profound way, is not my style. But when you've made HUGE contributions to this thing we call 'rock n roll' or popular music, and you RARELY get credit or spoken of, outside of hushed conversations, you understand why they gloat about themselves. Merry Clayton's duet with Mick on 'Gimme Shelter' is one of the top 10 greatest rock tunes in recorded history, if not the top 5...EASY. And Darlene and the Crystals "He's Sure the Boy I Love' was a HUGE Spector hit back in the 60s, and has NEVER lost its appeal as one of the more popular songs ever written , produced and sung. Ive seen Lisa Fischer, live..when she was one of Luther Vandross's backup singer. She had a recording deal at that time with Elektra, I think..and her album was driven by "How Can I Ease the Pain' (a HUGE r&b jam at that time". He let her step out during his show/tour to sing two songs. And she never failed to blow the roof off with that hit of hers. These women, whether we know it or not, are a part of our everyday lives..because music is a part of our everyday lives. And these voices dont come around much. We need to honor all that they've given us.

[@tmn8547]

I keep coming back to this interview because they have me lmao! I just know it would be so much fun to hang with them for a day. 😂😂😂😂😂 The stories they could tell!

[@charlesbullock1884]

DIVAS in the truest sense of the word!!!

[@coffeewaldo]

Was going to say the same thing Tim. Lisa doesn't realize how great she is. She only needs to sound like herself. She is the best singer I've ever heard.

[@roznixon4893]

cof

[@willmartinez5496]

I think she knows; she is just secure.

[@timbalandj]

what merry states regarding the Supremes is true - I read in a book about them (The supremes) years ago that by the time Diana Ross was leaving the group - that Mary Wilson and Cindy Birdsong were not even on the records doing the backgrounds.. it was other session singers -

[@rodftrll1]

timbalandj, just viewed this amazing Documentary, 20ft from Stardom. This was an incredible work. Lisa Fischer sparked me to learn more about her work when I heard her, How Can I Ease The Pain, on the radio. A song I know I have on single cassette, hidden in storage.

[@burlhorse61]

i think this was something very common in them days

[@zeebo8965]

Dont

[@titanwakefield144]

Cissy Houston was a career great back up singer.

[@sylviamaua745]

@Laurence A.I agree. Cissy Houston is on all of Luther's albums. Have you seen the PBS documentary "Cissy Houston Sweet Inspiration"? There are positive comments from Luther, Whitney and Aretha Franklin about the vocal talents of Cissy Houston.

[@irenetran3072]

Just fabulons! A voir absolument c'est émouvant un bel hommage qui mérite toute notre attention, respect et admiration…J'en ai encore des frissons merci aussi pour cette belle interview ...

[@VictoriaTheodore]

I love these ladies! Brilliant film!

[@DeeLow04]

these ladies are THE BOMB!

[@tomten5782]

I love this lady's ❤️

[@leiutley4083]

Essential Iconic Voices

[@deeodonoghue4827]

20 feet from Stardom! Fantastic Movie. Well done, to background singers everywhere!!!!

[@DeeLow04]

Geez I love Lisa Fischer.

[@leiutley4083]

WOW! History REPRESENTS

[@ZeCabreira]

Martha Wash should've been here too.

[@karlannherndon1137]

Yaasss MARTHA WASH🎤💯criminally underrated.

[@JaesadaSrisuk]

She was a slightly later generation, but definitely. She’s a legend and her story as a background singer who sued to get the credit she deserved and actually won would be perfect for this discussion and “20 Feet From Stardom”.

[@pjheath5]

Such a great film and story

[@JLPerryTV]

@10:43 Valerie Simpson in the crowd

[@simonwebster368]

Thanks for confirming. I thought that was her.

[@DarellJHunt]

Mother said, "Tryina hope 'em!!" I love it!!!

[@jabaris]

Just saw it cried and laughed it was so good

[@pamjarrett-s9s]

Love these ladies!

[@aminsmith9657]

Very surprised Cissy Houston didn’t get a call for this documentary

[@merkjanoosterhoff1590]

So was l! Cissy was such an important background singer, one of the best singers ever in my opinion.

[@mysky]

Actually the director did interview Cissy Houston but she wasn’t included in the final cut. Quote from Morgan Neville - “I interviewed Cissy Houston, and I kept trying to wedge her into the cut because she’s Cissy Houston. And every time it just didn’t make it better.” As Darlene said, so many people were interviewed and they all couldn’t fit into the film unfortunately.

[@peppercat8718]

@@mysky There needs to be a part 2, 3, 4 etc LOL

[@anthonypatterson6619]

Beautiful!!!!

[@Sheilao02138]

Amazing interview....BEAUTIFUL women!!!!

[@Jewelrydude]

Oh God Lisa, Your version is changing my life. How good is hers? :)

[@DelightfulKoala-ds2sj]

Love merry voice i can still shine

[@patriciaredick9849]

Wow, what God given talent. Fantastic women.

[@robertmarks6525]

I love all 3 ladies but i wish Luther was here because we need more song like how can I ease the pain I don't think there is anybody else in the world could have dang it better

[@JRLOC]

If Luther was alive, Lisa would be working on her second album right about now.

[@sylviamaua745]

@Robert Marks "How Can I Ease the Pain" was written by Narada Michael Walden and Lisa Fischer. Luther wrote/produced other tracks on the "So Intense" album.

[@robertmarks6525]

@@sylviamaua745 thank you i always thought was Luther because Lisa Fischer always thank Luther for the work with so intense. 👍👍

[@x7jf]

This excellent interview with these wonderful ladies deserves an accurate transcription for the closed captioning. Whoever did it was some combination of sloppy, not paying attention and unfamiliar with the subject matter. In many places it's so inaccurate that it's funny as in, "Ha, ha! Does the person doing the transcribing even speak English?" New York Times Events should be embarrassed and fix it, even though it's been years.

[@pacinorules752]

Merry also worked with Pink Floyd

[@GypsyFairy85]

When? I never knew that.

[@waynej2608]

I think she was on Dark Side of the Moon. Great pipes!

[@margaretgines7652]

No disrespect, I just wanna hear Lisa talk-

[@rebeccawhite5128]

oh absolutely. I think her voice is gorgeous and I know Whitney and Mariah can sing, but I don't think they sound near as good or as full of feeling as she does.

[@tmn8547]

Um, Have you seen Whitney live? That woman’s voice was God given. Like Quincy Jones said, she was one of those who was anointed. Her mom is Cissy Houston. Famous opera legend Leontyne Price and legendary Dionne Warwick her cousins. Darlene Love is her godmother. That lady was destined to sang a stage down! So does Lisa and Mariah though. Why can’t they all be great? Why does there need to putting two down to praise one?

[@akaziaj]

Gotta go see this. This weekend.

[@kyraocity]

1:36 - 5:30" Ethnography -- the first-hand personal accounts of singers

[@keyz951]

Merry is funny!!!

[@MMRICH]

love love love !!!

[@leiutley4083]

Real people

[@funkyswede62]

I agree with shittywife totally, Lisa is my favorite though ;)

[@3tequila]

That's awesome!

[@Juliaflo]

Been there, done that.

[@janedvinsson]

I like to be fast..life is but a day..dream but don´t dream it away..first to make a comment on this one ..now all I have to do is to find out what to say. I could sing if you could hear me..but you can´t..well I like these true stories and real people..that´s what it´s at..and to deliver. we got to move..wish ´em babes the best of luck on this journey their takin on.. to blend..that´s what we do all the time..I sing an´ play and to sing behind is a very difficult thing to do..try it!

[@rosalyncarter8419]

jan edvinsson g

[@polyprinz]

@4:25 Lisa Fischer

[@lightspanish]

Where can I find the film?

[@karlannherndon1137]

🎤L🌹I💞S💎A🔥🎤

[@melissazwieg2988]

🦋🌹💕💜🌅😌

[@donttrackmebro6164]

(Just an aside): what is going on with those subtitles?? wth? I hope nobody hard of hearing thinks those are what's actually being said.

[@karlannherndon1137]

🎼GOODLORD LOOK @THE DIVA POWER & VALERIE SIMPSON N DA AUDIENCE 2 ❗🎤🎤🎤🎤💕💞💎💎💎💎💯💯💯💯

[@tomlehr861]

Phil spector started the crystals, merry had her 2 legs amputated below knees

[@jamesmilligan4592]

Did he really say that🤣

[@shittywife]

WOW What a wonderful interview... Great artists these 3 are....