Just imagine this, if the O'Jays were to do their own biopic, who would you like to see cast as the group

Now I don't know about Walter Williams and the other O'Jays past and present, but as far as Eddie LeVert goes, Clifton (I'm Pinky, Nucca!!!) Powell could definitely play him.

^^Isn't he too old to play Eddie in the 1970s thru 1980s, which is their main period of popularity? Definitely too old for the 1960s 5 man lineup.

There's no one else I can think of that could play Eddie.

JabarR74 said:

There's no one else I can think of that could play Eddie.

I've never understood the idea that an actor has to be a lookalike to play someone. An actor is supposed to act, that's all that's needed. Angela Bassett & Larry Fishburne look nothing like Ike & Tina Turner. But she was nominated for an Oscar. Jimmy Stewart doesn't resemble Glenn Miller and Henry Fonda doesn't look like Abe Lincoln either.

LittleBLUECorvette said:

Clifton Powell is old as shit.

Have you lost your fricken mind? Clifton is Eddie's doppleganger!!!!!! Look at some pics and compare the two!

JabarR74 said:

Clifton is Eddie's doppleganger!!!!!! Look at some pics and compare the two!

Does not matter, this is like Oh God! era George Burns playing Justin Beiber.

JabarR74 said:

I think there should be a movie about the Philadelphia/Gamble and Huff sound of the 70s....a movie that focuses on that record label and era.Of course,the O'Jays would be a part of it,along with Teddy Pendergrass,MFSB,Lou Rawls and others.

SoulAlive said:

I rather see a movie on Stax than Philadelphia International. Stax started out as a country music label. They had a mixed race house band (Booker T & The MGs) in Memphis during the 1960s. Its most known act (Otis Redding) just on the brink of superstardom and losing his life in a plane crash. Then the label being taken over by street hoodlums like Johnny Baylor in the 1970s and falling to pieces. Plus there was the Wattstax concert. I don't see that much conflict in PI's story. I think PI would be better with a documentary than a biopic.

MickyDolenz said:

I think a movie about the mafia behind the music business would be interesting too. Labels like Brunswick had the mob in it and its well know they were behind the Rat Pack and many music clubs. The mob also had a hand in the record disribution business. It's been rumored that Sam Cooke's death was a mafia hit and that Motown had mafia backing, but Berry Gordy denied it. Billboard terms like "hit" and "number 1 with a bullet" were based on the mob. Death Row/Suge Knight had nothing on the old entertainment business.

MickyDolenz said:

I think a movie about the mafia behind the music business would be interesting too. Labels like Brunswick had the mob in it and its well know they were behind the Rat Pack and many music clubs. The mob also had a hand in the record disribution business. It's been rumored that Sam Cooke's death was a mafia hit and that Motown had mafia backing, but Berry Gordy denied it. Billboard terms like "hit" and "number 1 with a bullet" were based on the mob. Death Row/Suge Knight had nothing on the old entertainment business.

I think damn near every major label in the 50s-60s were mob inforced. It was just like the Harlem Nights movie.

LittleBLUECorvette said:

I think damn near every major label in the 50s-60s were mob inforced. It was just like the Harlem Nights movie.

Not just the labels but the Hollywood movie studios too.

MickyDolenz said:

LittleBLUECorvette said:

I think damn near every major label in the 50s-60s were mob inforced. It was just like the Harlem Nights movie.

Not just the labels but the Hollywood movie studios too.

Just noticed I spelled enforced witn an "i".

LittleBLUECorvette said:

A film on Little Willie John would be incredible. His name hasn't really held up since the 60s buy read about him and it's a hit movie.

He's probably too obscure to have a movie made. The movie does have to make money, unless it's maybe a arthouse movie type release. I think because of Straight Outta Compton becoming the highest grossing music biopic ever, there might be more hip hop based movies. I think Salt N Pepa would be a good candidate for that or Sugarhill Records.

LittleBLUECorvette said:

SoulAlive said:

I think there should be a movie about the Philadelphia/Gamble and Huff sound of the 70s....a movie that focuses on that record label and era.Of course,the O'Jays would be a part of it,along with Teddy Pendergrass,MFSB,Lou Rawls and others.

So kind of like Cadillac Records with Chess? I think than would work better than a bio pic on OJAYS or any of the Philly Stars. It's so many names who passed through Gamble & Huff, it'll be interesting. The Intruders, Houston's on Archie Bell, The Jacksons, Jerry Butler,.ect.

and they could use this excellent book to come up with a script.....

MickyDolenz said:

LittleBLUECorvette said:

And Salt n Pepa don't have no drama to make a good film. Not like TLC or Aaliyah did in their films.

There's been 2 different biopics about the Osmonds. David Cassidy, Miki Howard, Debbie Gibson, & Michel'le got movies. Salt N Pepa are probably as relevant as Selena (who got a movie), especially for women in rap. Richie Valens' recording career probably lasted less than a year and he got a biopic. Without Salt N Pepa, there probably wouldn't be a Kid N Play or Martin Lawrence.

MickyDolenz said:

LittleBLUECorvette said:

A movie on the Roxanne and Real Roxanne drama, beef,.would be more interesting than Salt N Pepa. And I think Martin Lawrence got in comedy with Tommy Davidson in the mid 80s in DC.

I don't think there's anything interesting about Michel'le, Miki, or Debbie Gibson (and I have Debbie's albums). So we're even.

Black guys.

MickyDolenz said:

LittleBLUECorvette said:

CHUCK BERRY, besides that ten minutes of him in Cadillac Records.

I think with older acts like Chuck Berry, Sam Cooke, & The Isley Brothers, who's the audience who going to pay to see their story in the theater? This is the hip hop generation. That James Brown movie did fair at the box office, but it wasn't a blockbuster and I don't know if it made a profit. I think the Johnny Cash & Ray Charles movies did well though. James might be more known today than Chuck as James has influenced more popular music today than any of them. Even if you look at book bios, I see way more books on The Beatles, David Bowie, Elvis Presley, Rolling Stones, etc. and rock in general than on Chuck Berry & Little Richard or even Michael Jackson. It helps that rock had many magazines during its history, at least starting in the late 1960s. R&B didn't, so R&B and its performers in general is not really as well documented. Rock acts were also filmed more. Other than Soul Train and The!!!Beat, on other shows the R&B acts were usually the ones that had songs that crossed over to Top 40. I can find Depeche Mode, Beatles, Bruce Springsteen, & Led Zeppelin concerts and/or music videos on DVD, but none for the Gap Band and The Spinners. The Isley Brothers actually have a concert movie too, but I don't think it's ever been on home video. I think the R&B audiences are less nostalgic than rock audiences. Bon Jovi, Rolling Stones, & Billy Joel still make big money touring, but I don't think there is an R&B equivalent.