‘Ricki’ features NJ natives Streep, Worrell

How did music legend Bernie Worrell like working with acting legend Meryl Streep?

“She’s a sweetheart,” reports Worrell, who appears in the new Streep movie, “Ricki and the Flash,” opening today in movie theaters.

Worrell plays the keyboardist in Streep’s fictional band. The two became fast friends on the set, which makes sense. They’re only five years apart in age, grew up about 10 miles apart from each other — Worrell in Plainfield and Streep in Bernardsville — and they’ve both have reached the highest echelons of their professions.

“The woman is phenomenal, mild mannered,” Worrell said. “We became real close. She always hugged me and I was surprise because she’s such a star.

“I gave her my last solo CD (‘Elevation’), just me, myself on acoustic baby grand — it’s kind of meditative music. She came back, ‘Bernie, I love it, thank you so much. You don’t know what this does for me.’ She wanted more copies to give to her friends.”

Streep plays the lead in “Ricki and the Flash,” which depicts a California rocker who never made the big time, but instead has some big-time family issues. The film is partly based on singer Terry Cieri of Toms River, who is also the mother-in-law of screenwriter Diablo Cody.

Worrell was brought into the film by director Jonathan Demme, who made the Talking Heads documentary “Stop Making Sense” in 1984 when Worrell was a member of the band.

“I’m the keyboards and I have a few lines, I’m acting,” said Worrell of his “Ricki and the Flames” role. “Jonathan said I did well, but he’s generous. I guess I did OK.”

Mamie Gummer, Streep’s real-life daughter, plays her daughter in the movie. Kevin Kline, Audra McDonald and Rick Springfield are also in “Ricki,” as well as Worrell’s granddaughter, Stephanie Oliver, who plays an extra in a wedding scene.

Sadly, Rick Rosas, who plays the band’s bass player, passed away shortly after filming in late 2014. He was 65.

“It was a shock,” Worrell said. “It was our last day of filming and the musicians and everybody went home and I got a phone call saying Rick had passed way.”

Worrell is the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer who lives in Hampton. He’s also worked with Bill Laswell, Keith Richards, the Pretenders, Jack Bruce, Deee-Lite and more. Yet, he’s best known as the keyboard maestro of Parliament-Funkadelic. That’s him featured on tracks like “Flash Light,” “Mothership Connection (Star Child)” and “Aqua Boogie.”

He’s busier than ever these days, having released three albums in the past couple of years, “Melodestra” and “Prequel,” in addition to the “Elevation.”

Also, he’s relocating from Hampton to the state of Washington by the end of the summer for family reasons.

He performs around the world, but one show he’d especially like to be a part of is a Streep-fronted Ricki and the Flash concert.

“She was able to learn the guitar and play live,” Worrell said. “She was nervous but we were her support system.”

Chris Jordan: cjordan@app.com

RICKI AND THE FLASH

WHEN: Now playing

INFO: www.rickiandtheflash

movie.com