Fan Casting Groove & Legacy: The Willie Hutch Story

Willie Hutch’s name may not immediately ring bells like Stevie Wonder or Marvin Gaye, but his contributions to Motown and beyond are the backbone of a sound that defined an era. Groove & Legacy: The Willie Hutch Story is a six-episode miniseries that delves into the life and career of this unsung hero, whose music blended social consciousness, raw emotion, and a uniquely powerful groove. The series begins in 1940s Los Angeles, where a young Willie Hutch dreams of making music. We follow his journey through the struggles of being a Black artist in America, his pivotal break as a songwriter for the Fifth Dimension, and his transformative move to Motown. As a producer, songwriter, and solo artist, Hutch crafted classics like "I'll Be There" for the Jackson 5 and unforgettable soundtracks for Blaxploitation films like The Mack and Foxy Brown. Each episode explores the highs and lows of Hutch’s career: his creative partnership with Berry Gordy, the cultural revolution sparked by his cinematic scores, and the personal sacrifices behind his relentless pursuit of greatness. At the heart of the series is the tension between his passion for creating music that uplifts and empowers and the commercial pressures of the cutthroat music industry.