Documentaries are some of the most talked-about films in the streaming world. Examining true stories is a great way to open up the creative mind and learn something new, and music documentaries have a special way of inspiring viewers.
Whether someone is musically inclined or not, nearly everyone has some favorite artists they would probably like to better understand. If those musicians are featured in documentaries, now's the time to catch up on their journeys. Here are 10 must-see music documentaries, according to IMDb ratings.
Chasing Trane: The John Coltrane Documentary (2016) - 7.3
Everyone should know something about John Coltrane. The jazz composer and saxophonist rose to prominence in the 1940s and 50s, working the bebop rhythms of that era. He played in Miles Davis's band from 1955 to 1959 and spent the summer of 1957 working with composer and pianist Thelonious Monk. After that, Coltrane started to embark on his own albums and signed with Impulse Records.
Biographer Ashley Kahn writes, "Coltrane's Impulse recordings, from 1961 through most of '64, show him with one foot in the more traditional jazz world, playing standards (Ballads) and collaborating with the likes of the legendary Duke Ellington and vocalist Johnny Hartman, while the other foot rested in more avant-garde territory." Always a multi-faceted musician, Coltrane's journey through history and music is available on Netflix, rated 7.3 on IMDb.
20 Feet from Stardom (2013) - 7.4
A production that presents something new is 20 Feet from Stardom. Available on Netflix, this documentary moves backup singers out of the background and into the spotlight.
It's a thought-provoking and wonderful idea, finally putting faces and names to the extraordinary voices of our music. The best part is that all of these singers are women with powerful stories to tell.
Mr. Dynamite: The Rise of James Brown (2014) - 7.4
Mr. Dynamite: The Rise of James Brown is rated 7.4 on IMDb and can currently be bought or rented on Amazon Prime. The documentary unpacks the life and music of the funk singer behind hits like "I Got You (I Feel Good)" and "Get Up Offa That Thing."
James Brown led a storied life and created music that has proven truly timeless. His story may surprise many people, and his music will move most.
Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool (2019) - 7.4
Available on Netflix, Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool delivers unseen behind-the-scenes footage, archives, and interviews. Miles Davis was a famous jazz trumpeter with a long and distinguished career.
Davis played with bebop saxophonist Charlie Parker in the 1940s (under the auspices of attending Juilliard), he cultivated his own sound with muted trumpet recordings, and into the 1970s and '80s, Davis made "kaleidoscopic" music infused with the times, as detailed by the biographer on Davis's website. The recent documentary about Davis also comes in at 7.4 on IMDb.
What Happened, Miss Simone? (2015) - 7.6
Netflix's original documentary on Nina Simone has a 7.6 rating on IMDb. Netflix boasts of Nina's "never-before-heard recordings, rare archival footage, and her best-known songs..."
The renowned High Priestess of Soul was a civil rights activist and classically trained musician. She studied at Juilliard but was denied admission from Curtis Institute of Music, which Nina's website says she attributed to racism. Watch the documentary to see how Miss Simone's star kept rising.
Quincy (2018) - 7.6
Quincy is rated 7.6 on IMDb and chronicles the life and work of Quincy Jones, a musician, conductor, composer, arranger, film/television/record producer, and more.
Jones's accolades are many, and he is a master in each of his crafts. A man who studied with master composer and teacher Nadia Boulanger and executive produced The Fresh Prince of Bel-air in the same lifetime is a true jack of all trades, and there is so much more to this living legend. Enjoy the documentary today on Netflix.
Heart Like a Hand Grenade (2015) - 7.6
The 7.6-rated Green Day documentary Heart Like a Hand Grenade can be bought or rented on Amazon Prime. The film walks with Green Day over the course of nine months and documents their process for creating the American Idiot album.
Founded in 1987, the band is an institution that is still together today.
Elvis Presley: The Searcher (2018) - 7.7
News of Elvis Presley's life ebbs and flows in popular culture, but a 2018 HBO documentary took an in-depth look at the King. The two-part special is on Amazon Prime right now and is over three hours long.
Even the most knowledgeable fans will find something new; the documentary offers twenty new interviews with primary sources like Priscilla Presley, Red West, Scotty Moore, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty, and more. Along with new footage and photos, beautiful Graceland scenery is shown.
Amy (2015) - 7.8
Amy has a 7.8 IMDb rating. The Amy in question is Amy Winehouse, the British singer/songwriter who died at the age of 27 in 2011.
Interviews and home videos help tell the story of this singer whose music touched many genres and impacted her listeners deeply. The two-hour film is an account of Amy's life from those who knew her well.
Foo Fighters: Back and Forth (2011) - 8.3
Foo Fighters: Back and Forth can be rented or bought on Amazon Prime. The documentary takes viewers on the sixteen-year journey of this band founded in Seattle.
It includes interviews with current and former band members. Nine years after the documentary's release, the band is still making music.