Artist ID: 9651
The Midnight Movers are a powerhouse of authentic soul and Motown sounds, led by the dynamic trumpeter and vocalist Curtis Pope.
There are arguably no continuously working groups more intertwined with American soul music. Like the "Funk Brothers" - the collective of musicians who played on all the recording sessions at Motown Records, the Midnight Movers made their mark behind the scenes, backing up, touring with, producing, and arranging many of the genre's most famous artists. You've heard the famous wah pedal guitar work of original member Charles "Skip" Pitts on Isaac Hayes' "Theme to Shaft," as well as Curtis Pope's signature horn lines on the Isley Brothers crossover hit, "It's Your Thing." The band produced legendary Stax vocal duo, Sam & Dave, and its members have recorded with countless groups in all the major centers of American Soul music--Detroit, New York, Memphis, and Muscle Shoals--receiving national acceptance in an era marked by distinct regional sounds.
The band is perhaps most famous, however, for its decades-long collaboration with "Wicked" Wilson Pickett. It was on the road with Pickett that the band perfected its compelling stage show with high-stepping choreography, seamless medleys, and playful approach to performance. Wilson Pickett's famous song, "I'm a Midnight Mover" was the inspiration for the band's name--a name under which the band released two full-length records of their own--'Follow the Wind' (1964) and 'Do it in the Road' (1970). "Wilson Pickett and the Midnight Movers" performed all over the world until 1997, when the Movers struck out on their own. Since then, the Movers have continued to hone their reputation as the best live soul band in the world playing outdoor festivals, weddings, corporate events, and private engagements of all kinds.
Jack,
The band was fantastic and we have received tons of compliments. I would recommend them to anyone. Curtis Pope was a tremendously nice guy and easy to work with. He talked with me multiple times over the week before the wedding just to make sure we were comfortable and that he had all the details right. On the day of the wedding, he showed up when he said he would and they rocked the house!!
Marshall Scallon
groom
Terry,
They were awesome!
Everyone loved the band and their music.
I have been to many weddings where the party died because of the band.
I'll bet that has never happened to the Midnight Movers.
The dance floor stayed packed right up to midnight (and would have gone
longer had we allowed).
Curtis Pope was a pleasure to work with. He came early to make sure
everything was ok and was always responsive in our communication.
We could not have been more pleased.
Feel free to use me as a reference for them.
Sincerely
Barry Pryor
November 18, 2006
Hi Toni,
The Midnight Movers were awesome! They performed my requested song for our first dance and it was amazing. I was able to talk to Curtis Pope briefly on the phone a couple weeks before the wedding. They did really great and had everyone on the dance floor. Curtis was really sweet on the phone and I’m sorry I didn’t get a chance to talk to him in person. The female lead singer was incredibly nice, too. I hope the band was happy with everything.
I hope all is well and thank you, again for everything! -Liz
Liz
October 21, 2006 wedding
The Midnight Movers did an incredible job. They were the hit of the wedding and the dance floor was packed for three straight hours.
Everyone raved about them and I am still getting comments from friends who all enjoyed themselves tremendously. The band also was very professional, showing up early to set up and were out of the way in plenty of time for the ceremony which was adjacent to the tent they played under. They presented themselves very well and were extremely polished. It was a great show.
I enjoyed working with Curtis before the wedding as well, he did a very professional job of communicating and preparing. The band nailed our first dance songs and set the tone for the evening.
Thanks for all your help with booking them. If you need anything else, please let me know.
Whit Smith
August, 12, 2006 Wedding
Hi Sheryl,
I just wanted to drop a line and say how much we loved the Midnight Movers. Everyone has been talking about them. They were by far the best band we had heard at a wedding ever. I am still getting calls asking where we found them, and of course I have passed on your information. My parents have already said that they are going to book them for our next party. They played acoustically beyond the noise ordinance just to make sure that the party went on. I was really touched. Please pass on to them how much they made our night. The party wouldn't have been the same without them. We really can't convey how much we loved the band and how much fun they made the party.
People will be talking about them for a long time. If you ever need a recommendation, we will be more than glad to give one. I am sure that we will be in contact in the future for our next big party. Please tell Curtis and the band that we loved them and they totally rocked.
Have a great day.
Jen
June 10, 2006
It took me awhile to get a free moment to write you and the band a quick note of thanks. Shari and I had a great time at our wedding, due in large part to you. Our guests all raved about the performance of Midnight Movers, and as one friend put it, "anyone who can pull off Louis Armstrong that well is gonna throw a wild party!" Thanks for everything-it was perfect. We hope you had fun in California!
Mark Doherty
The Midnight Movers played at our wedding in Annapolis, Maryland. We are writing you this letter to let you know that the performance that we received that evening and the professionalism that we had leading up to our wedding was outstanding. Curtis Pope was available when we had questions for him, he always returned our phone calls or emails timely, and was extremely pleasant and personable. The night of our wedding, the Midnight Movers were amazing. They had every wedding guest on the dance floor from the minute they started playing music. The music was exactly what we loved and wanted to be played. It was a special night for us. We are so happy that the Midnight Movers were a part of it. We would recommend them for any couple who desires a fun and memorable evening. Thank you very much.
Ryan and Kelly Coakley
One month after the wedding and we have returned from our honeymoon and are settling back into everyday life again. One of the first things we wanted to do was to write a formal thank you for the superlative job you and The Midnight Movers did at our wedding.
Literally, every single person I saw after the wedding commented on how amazing the music was. We thought you were the best band we've ever heard at a wedding--our only regret is that we didn't have time for you to play longer!
On a personal note, we really enjoyed working with you. You are the consummate professional, but not without a good sense of humor. We also appreciated that the band learned and played our first dance song by Stevie Wonder. The lead singer did a great job.
Abby and Frank Foer
The Midnight Movers were great and the night was awesome. They were early, set up in plenty of time and were incredibly understanding about letting a lot of my musician family and friends jam with them and share their gear, which was very cool of them. Dance floor was packed all night long. All in all, a great success and I thank you and them.
Jordan
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