Streetlight Harmonies is the definite documentary on the genre of music we call Doo Wop. It was produced by Dan Braun (executive producer) Tim Headington, Theresa Page, Brent Wilson and Nate Kamiya (co-producer). It was directed by Brent Wilson. Three years in the making, the documentary included appearances by iconic singers, Jimmy Merchant (The Teenagers), Anthony Gourdine (Little Anthony and the Imperials), Al Jardine (Beach Boys), Brian Wilson (Beach Boys), Charlie Thomas (Drifters), Sammy Strain (Imperials, O’Jays), Terry Johnson (Flamingos), Diz Russell (Orioles), Fred Parris (5 Satins), Billy Brown (Ray Goodman and Brown, Moments), Ron Coleman (Broadways), Lois Powell (Chantels), Fanita James (Blossoms), La La Brooks (Crystals), Janis Ian (Manhattan Transfer), Vito Picone (Elegants), Eddie Rich (Swallows), Leon Hughes (Coasters), Jeff Barry, Brooks Arthur, Wally Roker (Heartbeats), Freda Payne, Sherrie Payne (Supremes), Florence La Rue (Fifth Dimension), Claude McKnight (Take 6), Brian McKnight, Lance Bass (NSYNC), Barbara Jean English (Clickettes), Ron Dante (Archies), Jon Bauman (Sha Na Na), Lenny Welch, Lamont Dozier, and many more.
Classic Urban Harmony LLC served as historical consultants, arranging initial contacts with most of the above singers, supplying hundreds of group photos along with scans of posters, sheet music, record labels, album covers, lobby cards. etc. We arranged locations for filming sites in New Jersey, including the scenes shot with Sammy Strain, Billy Brown and Ron Coleman, which were shot at our Monmouth University exhibit of African American Music from Asbury Park’s West Side.
The first filming was done at Classic Urban Harmony Headquarters, where Charlie was filmed for close to four hours, giving an overview of the music’s history. This was the source for Charlie’s numerous on-screen appearances in the film. It also laid the framework for the documentary’s script.
Watch a short trailer for Streetlight Harmony here.
Streetlight Harmonies Trailer from Scott Gordon / HaloLA on Vimeo.
After three years of production, Streetlight Harmonies finally had its world premiere at the Cinepolis Chelsea Theatre in NYC, as part of NYDOC, the world’s largest film festival for documentaries, on November 14, 2017. We, along with many of the legendary singer participants were there for the premiere. It was like a red carpet opening but without the formal red carpet. We arrived early staying at the Gem Hotel in Chelsea, along with many others. Our first stop was the second floor of the theatre where formal photos were taken. Then the documentary was shown to the public for the first time. Following the screening, we helped arrange for the acappella group, Quiet Storm, to sing “In The Still Of The Night’ and “Oh What A Night”. [See the video below!} Then director Brent Wilson took the stage and thanked us, saying the documentary could not have happened without us. A Q&A with many of the singers followed. After that there was a private after party with everyone associated with the film. It was quite a night. [See photos here below the video.]
Watch Quiet Storm singing at the world premiere of Streetlight Harmonies followed by a Q&A with director Brent Wilson and some of the stars.
