Top 10 Musician Biography Movies

I like music and I like a real juicy story! Put those two together and you have the elements to make a good movie. Hollywood has produced a few blockbusters about musicians. I had to narrow it down to ten very fantastic cinematic presentations. Let's take a look at the Ten Top Musician Biography Movies I chose to make our countdown.

10. The Glenn Miller Story. Directed by Anthony Mann and released in January,1954, this war-time epic about a talented musician from Iowa is one of my all-time favorites. James Stewart plays the Big Band Leader, Glenn Miller, and June Allyson, his wife, Helen. Born Alton Glenn Miller, his 1930's, 1940's Big Band Sound was recognizable with such well-known tunes as: Tuxedo Junction, In The Mood, Chattanooga Choo-Choo, and Moonlight Serenade. He led the Army Air Corps Band, as a featured trombonist, then became a missing person in an airplane crash on December 15, 1944. The plane disappeared and no wreckage was ever found over the English Channel.

9. Walk The Line. This is a movie about drug addiction, love, hidden romance, music, and jail. Joaquin Phoenix stars as Johnny Cash and Reese Witherspoon, who won an Oscar as best actress for the role, plays June Carter Cash. Amazingly, all songs are performed by the stars themselves.

8. The Doors. Val Kilmer was cast as the lead singer from Melbourne, Florida. Talented and tragic Jim Morrison of the well known rock band, The Doors. Kilmer's performance was incredible. So good, in fact, that the real band members found it difficult to distinguish their voices. And, Val Kilmer used his own voice to do the musical numbers required for the film. An Oliver Stone production, it was released in 1991. I thought it was a very good interpretation of the very troubled Jim Morrison. Val nailed it!

7. Dreamgirls. Director Bill Condon has a hit with this loose interpretation of the life and times of Diana Ross and The Supremes, released in theatres in 2006. It is a rags to riches story, a story about big dreams, stardom, and opportunity, shrouded in controversy and cut-throat tactics encountered in the entertainment industry. Jamie Foxx, Beyoncé Knowles, Eddie Murphy, and Danny Glover are among a few of the actors who lend their talents to this very entertaining movie.

6. What's Love Got To Do With It? Laurence Fishbourne and Angela Bassett rock in their portrayal of the music icons Ike and Tina Turner. This movie chronicles the start of Ike's career with Tina and the tumultuous relationship they shared, on and off the stage. The scenes are vivid and extremely graphic, so be prepared.

5. Ray. In 2004, multi-talented Jamie Foxx stared as accomplished pianist, Ray Charles. Nominated for 8 Academy Awards, Jamie Foxx took home the Oscar for best actor. Ray Charles, who was blinded in an accident at age 7, took to Rhythm and Blues music at an early age. Again, Jamie Foxx performs his own music and plays the piano in all the music scenes. Awesome flick!

4.Coal Miner's Daughter. When you see this movie you will never forget it. It is moving and it is real, with a brilliant performance from Sissy Spacek, as Loretta Lynn. The movie begins in the remote backwoods of Kentucky and takes you all the way to Country-Music fame! Loretta Lynn actually co-wrote this biographical movie.

3. The Buddy Holly Story. Another one of my all-time favorites. Gary Busey was nominated for an Academy Award for his real-life performance of Buddy Holly, the singer, songwriter, and guitarist from Lubbock, Texas.Gary really shines in his portrayal in this film, putting himself totally into the character. And, to make his role unbelievably convincing, he sang all the musical arrangements and played all the instruments for the movie! One scene you will especially like: their appearance at the famed Apollo Theatre in Harlem, New York.

2. La Bamba. I have watched this movie several times, and that is unusual for me. Lou Diamond Philips plays the role of Ritchie Valenzuela, aka, Ritchie Valens, the tragic rock and roll star who died at the tender age of 17. On February 3, 1959, Ritchie, Buddy Holly, and The Big Bopper, went down in a private plane crash on their way to a gig in North Dakota. Ritchie only had a very successful 8 month career! This movie was released in 1987 and is a classic. It was nominated for a Golden Globe Award.

1. Selena. This movie is unforgettable probably because it deals with a musician from this era, young, beautiful, talented, and had everything going her way. Enter: betrayal, lies, deceit, envy, control and, finally, murder! Selena Quintanilla Pérez was gunned down at 23 by her "friend" and president of her fan club. Jennifer López's uncanny resemblance to the Tex-Mex singing star is remarkable! The movie was released in 1997, only two years after her death.

Other musicians worth mentioning who have good movies, (again, there are many), are: The Temptations, The Jacksons, Elvis Presley, Benny Goodman, Nat King Cole, Sammy Davis Jr.,Little Richard, Charlie Parker, George Cohan, (Yankee Doodle Dandy), and George Gershwin. Oh, I almost forgot another classic, Lady Sings The Blues, a movie based on the life of Billie Holiday. See? So many movies! Lot's of excitement to enjoy and most of all, lots of music!

Rhonda Manning, www.biography.com, Associated Content.