Thunder Soul (2010)

Alumni from Houston's storied Kashmere High School Stage Band return home after 35 years to play a tribute concert for their beloved band leader who turned the struggling jazz band into a world-class funk powerhouse in the early 1970s.

Director:

Mark Landsman

Stars:

Craig Baldwin, Craig Green, Conrad O. Johnson Sr.

1 win & 5 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Craig Baldwin	...	Himself
Craig Green	...	Himself
Conrad O. Johnson Sr.	...	Himself
Bruce Middleton	...	Himself
Gaila Mitchell	...	Herself
Reginald Rollins	...	Himself

Storyline

It's was Afros and pleated shirts, James Brown and Bootsy Collins. It was the '70s, and at an inner-city Houston high school history would be made. Charismatic band leader, Conrad "Prof" Johnson, would turn the school's mediocre jazz band into a legendary funk powerhouse. Now, 35 years later, his students prepare to pay tribute to the man who changed their lives--the 92-year old Prof. Some haven't played their horns in decades, still they dust off their instruments, determined to retake the stage to show Prof and the world that they've still got it.

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Taglines:

He gave them everything. Now it's time to give back.

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Genres:

Documentary | Music

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for brief language and momentary historical smoking

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 September 2011 (USA)

Also Known As:

Vronteri psyhi

Filming Locations:

Houston, Texas, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$51,253 (USA) (23 September 2011)

Gross:

$143,568 (USA) (28 October 2011)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Snoot Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

83 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Connections

Featured in The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Episode #20.4 (2011)

User Reviews

Truly Soulful Inspiration

This film is about the Kashmere (High School) Stage Band which was popular in the 1970s (and again in the 1990s). It was led by a man named Conrad Johnson until 1978 when the school failed to continue funding the highly successful endeavor. Now, 30 years later, his band comes back together for the sake of the aging band leader who changed their lives.

With Civil Rights and Black Power movements in full force, Kashmere's member overcame racial prejudice and economic/social problems to become one of the greatest funk bands - not just high school bands - in the history of music. This film is an amazing look at the drive which makes people overcome circumstances which seem unfair. If you do not smile at least once during this movie, you probably lack a soul...so you probably should not be watching a movie called Thunder Soul! Amazing film - any music fan should go watch this NOW.