Midnight Movers

aMidnight Movers

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.

Midnight Movers Song List

• Classic Soul / Motown
  Aretha Franklin - Chain Of Fools
  Aretha Franklin - Natural Woman
  Aretha Franklin - Respect
  Booker T. & the MGs - Green Onions
  Four Tops - Ain't Too Proud To Beg
  Four Tops - Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch
  Ides of March - Vehicle
  Ike & Tina Turner - Finger Poppin'
  Ike & Tina Turner - Proud Mary
  Isley Brothers - It's Your Thing
  Junior Walker - Shotgun
  King Curtis - Groove Me
  King Curtis - Soul Serenade
  Otis Redding - Can't Turn You Loose
  Otis Redding - I've Been Loving You Too Long
  Otis Redding - Mr. Pitiful
  Otis Redding - Sittin' On The Dock Of The Bay
  Percy Sledge - When A Man Loves A Woman
  Ray Charles - I Just Can't Stop Loving You
  Ray Charles - What'd I Say
  Sam & Dave - Hold On, I?m Coming
  Sam & Dave - Soul Man
  Sam & Dave - When Something Is Wrong With My Baby
  Sam Cooke - You Send Me
  Smokey Robinson & the Miracles - Tracks Of My Tears
  Staple Singers - I'll Take You There
  Temptations - My Girl
  Temptations - Papa Was A Rolling Stone
  Wilson Pickett - Funky Broadway
  Wilson Pickett - In The Midnight Hour
  Wilson Pickett - Land Of A Thousand Dances
  Wilson Pickett - Mustang Sally
  
• R&B, Funk, and Disco
  Al Green - Let's Stay Together
  Arthur Conley - Sweet Soul Music
  Average White Band - Pick Up The Pieces
  Barry White - Can't Get Enough Of Your Love
  Cheryl Lynn - To Be Real
  Clarence Carter - Slip Away
  Commodores - Brickhouse
  Donna Summer - Last Dance
  Earth, Wind & Fire - Let's Groove Tonight
  Earth, Wind & Fire - Shining Star
  Isaac Hayes - By The Time I Get To Phoenix
  James Brown - I Feel Good
  James Brown - Papa's Got A Brand New Bag
  James Brown - Sex Machine
  Jean Knight - Mr Big Stuff
  Kool & the Gang - Jungle Boogie
  Marvin Gaye - Let's Get It On
  McFadden & Whitehead - Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now
  Parliament - Tear The Roof Off
  Parliament - We Want The Funk
  Rick James - Superfreak
  Rick James - You And I
  Sly & The Family Stone - Dance To The Music
  Sly & The Family Stone - Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)
  Stevie Wonder - Isn't She Lovely
  Stevie Wonder - You Are The Sunshine Of My Life
  
• Oldies / Rock n' Roll
  Ben E. King - Stand By Me
  Chuck Berry - Johnny B. Goode
  Chuck Berry - Sweet 16
  Fats Domino - Blueberry Hill
  Jerry Lee Lewis - Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On
  Lloyd Price - Stagger Lee
  Ritchie Valens - La Bamba
  Rufus Wainwright - Walkin' The Dog
  The Archies - Sugar Sugar
  
• Modern, Alternative, and Classic Rock
  B.B. King - The Thrill Is Gone
  Beatles - Hey Jude
  Beatles - Yesterday
  Benny Carter - Key Largo
  Bill Withers - Ain't No Sunshine
  Billy Joel - Just The Way You Are
  James Taylor - How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)
  Jimmy Buffett - Margaritaville
  Joe Cocker - You Are So Beautiful
  Rod Stewart - Have I Told You Lately That I Love You
  Van Morrison - Brown Eyed Girl
  Van Morrison - Domino
  Van Morrison - Into The Mystic
  Van Morrison - Moondance
  
• Standards, Swing, and Jazz
  Blood Sweat & Tears - God Bless The Child
  Chet Baker - My Funny Valentine
  Duke Ellington - Ain't Misbehavin'
  Duke Ellington - Don't Get Around Much Anymore
  Duke Ellington - Take The A Train
  Frank Sinatra - Fly Me To The Moon
  Frank Sinatra - More Today Than Yesterday
  Frank Sinatra - The Way You Look Tonight
  George and Ira Gershwin - Summertime
  George Benson - Breezin'
  George Benson - Sunny
  Glen Miller - In The Mood
  Kenny Dorham - Blue Bossa
  Louis Armstrong - As Time Goes By
  Louis Armstrong - Mack The Knife
  Louis Armstrong - What A Wonderful World
  Miles Davis - Green Dolphin Street
  Natalie Cole - Inseparable
  Paul Desmond - Our Day Will Come
  Sonny Rollins - St. Thomas
  Specialty Wedding Standards - Danny Boy
  Specialty Wedding Standards - Hava Nagila
  Specialty Wedding Standards - L'chiam ? To Life
  Specialty Wedding Standards - Let Me Call You Sweetheart
  Specialty Wedding Standards - Londonderry Aire
  Specialty Wedding Standards - Never On Sunday
  Specialty Wedding Standards - Poco Pelo
  Specialty Wedding Standards - Sunrise Sunset
  Specialty Wedding Standards - Wild Irish Rose
  Stan Getz / Joao Gilberto - Girl From Ipanema
  Sting - My One And Only Love
  Tony Bennett - I Left My Heart In San Francisco
  Tony Bennett - Misty
  Tony Bennett - The Shadow Of Your Smile
  Tony Bennett - When I Fall In Love
  
• Contemporary and Dance
  Blackstreet - No Diggitty
  Buster Poindexter - Hot, Hot, Hot
  E.U. - Da Butt
  Earth, Wind & Fire - Sing A Song
  Gap Band - You Dropped A Bomb On Me
  Michael Jackson - Beat It
  Nelly - Hot In Herre
  Neville Livingston - Electric Slide
  Outkast - I Like The Way You Move
  Prince - Kiss
  
• International
  Benny Carter - Key Largo
  Bob Marley - Stir It Up
  Bob Marley - Three Little Birds
  
• Country and Bluegrass
  Lyle Lovett - You Can't Resist It
  Shania Twain - Still The One