THE WRECKING CREW, an award-winning music documentary on the unknown back up musicians for some of the recording industry's most celebrated talents, is tonight's Opening Night attraction of the Connecticut Film Festival (May 4-9, website: www.ctfilmfest.com).

From the mid 1960s through the early 1970s, a group of two-dozen studio musicians shaped the sound of the American pop music industry and influenced generations of musicians to come.  The Wrecking Crew played backup for such luminaries as The Beach Boys, The Byrds, The Monkees, Frank Sinatra, Nancy Sinatra, Sonny and Cher, Jan & Dean, Gary Lewis and the Playboys, Mamas and Papas, Tijuana Brass, Ricky Nelson, Johnny Rivers and Phil Spector's Wall of Sound.

Directed by Denny Tedesco, the filmmaking son of one of the musicians of that era, this 12 year project and labor of love combines more than 140 songs, dozens of interviews and takes viewers behind the scenes of the 1960's L.A. music scene with rare archival footage.

To view the film's trailer, log on to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzP9-LJj-uY

To find out more about the film and its director Denny Tedesco, visit: http://www.wreckingcrewfilm.com/

Sandy Mandelberger, Film Connecticut Editor