Filmmaker sacrifices all to tell story of iconic guitarist dad and “The Wrecking Crew”

Legendary guitarist Tommy Tedesco and bassist Carol Kaye, two members of the prolific studio musicians known as “The Wrecking Crew.” (Image courtesy Denny Tedesco)

Growing up, Denny Tedesco didn’t think it was a big deal
when his dad Tommy would go off to work or bring his
friends by after.

It was only when he got a little older that he realized
who they were. The Wrecking Crew. A group of studio
musicians who played on hundreds of the biggest hits of
the 60’s and 70’s.

“A lot of people don’t know that so many of these
musicians were the recording group for the Beach Boys, the
Phil Spector Wall of Sound, Jan and Dean, Sam Cooke, the
Mamas and the Papas. They did the Byrds’ Mr. Tambourine
Man,” Denny says.

Along with all that amazing music were the amazing
stories. And when Denny’s dad was diagnosed with cancer,
he decided to gather as many members of the Wrecking Crew
as he could muster, including his father.

“I always wanted to do a story of my father and his
friends. I thought, if I don’t do it now it’s never going
to happen, because we knew he didn’t have much time.”

Legendary guitarist Tommy Tedesco died in 1997, before
Denny could finish his film. And
Denny was committed to honoring his father the incredible
music he helped make. But rather than cut corners, he was
determined to include as much music as possible.

“I said you have to have the music. You can’t do it without
it, and you have to have the quantity. I have 133 song
cues in it and you’ll know 130. These musicians put so
much music out there,” Denny says.

But it would almost prove to be his undoing. The price
tag is over $300,000 just to use all that music. And
despite tremendous critical response (including winning
the audience favorite award at the 2008 Seattle
International Film Festival), no studios or investors have
stepped forward to help cover the costs for songs like
California Dreaming, Good Vibrations and Mr. Tambourine
Man.

So he’s done it himself, putting everything he has and
starting a non-profit to take donations to finance the
film.

“My wife worries this is the most expensive home movie in
history. We did everything you’re not supposed to do as a
filmmaker, put your own money into it, do the house you
do this and do that,” Denny says.

He’s been scratching and clawing for a number of years,
and admits he’s thought about giving up a number of times.

But Denny says his father’s words to a music student he
met after Tommy died inspired him to keep going.

“He said, ‘Success goes to the person who’s standing last.’
That was really inspiring for me. I gotta keep going.
I’m not going to give up.”

So Denny will continue crossing the country, screening the
Wrecking Crew for all to see including Thursday at EMP in
Seattle. And he keeps getting a little closer to making
the dream of bringing his father’s story to the screen a
reality.

“We’re really close. I want the musicians to get the love
that they deserve. They gave us so much.”

The Wrecking Crew screens Thursday night May 24th at
EMP Museum.