Scarlett Johansson, Ben Harper + More Lend Their Voices to Autism Documentary

When it came time to compose the score for 'Wretches & Jabberers' -- a touching documentary about two autistic men, Larry Bissonette and Tracy Thresher -- musician J. Ralph felt he had to create something unique.

"Being so moved by Larry and Tracy's journey it was evident that this film was clearly about searching for your own voice and finding what it means to have your own voice and expressing one's self," Ralph, who has written scores for the Oscar-winning documentaries 'The Cove' and 'Man on Wire,' tells Spinner. "I really wanted to take my experience from watching them and going on their journey with them and put it into a form of music that had words to honor them.

Ralph started by reaching out to friends Ben Harper, Scarlett Johansson and David Garza to record songs with him, and by the time he was done he had compiled an all-star soundtrack that featured Stephen Stills, Carly Simon, Antony Hegarty, Devendra Banhart and British cult hero Nic Jones' first studio recording in 30 years.

"The first person that I reached out to that I didn't know and that was so supportive and wanting to help so much was Antony," Ralph recalls. "Antony, to me, has maybe the most singular voice on the entire album. He's one of the most innovative performers and songwriters and vocalists to be involved in music. It was so magnificently important and fortunate that he wanted to be part of this."

Listen to Ben Harper's 'More Like You'

Ralph was clearly blown away by Hegarty, saying, "I'll never forget hearing his voice through the speakers in the studio. It was a transcendental experience." But there were others that moved him too. "Writing with Stephen Stills was incredible," Ralph says. "He's had such a luminary history of songs of importance and vocals of importance and sensitivity. He and I staring at a blank page together and trying to materialize the words out of that was an incredible experience."

"Obviously Nic Jones was very important because he hadn't recorded anything in 30 years," Ralph adds. "It was like the first time he was back in a studio again, which was magnificent."

For Ralph, another highlight was seeing the star-studded lineup embrace the spirit of the film. "Everyone from Nic Jones, Carly Simon, Bob Weir, they're all like, 'Stay at my house, just come, it's cool,'" he says. "They were just so mellow and down to earth and easygoing."

While the soundtrack has attracted a lot of attention, Ralph says the real stars are Bissonette and Thresher: "Having taken that journey and watched that with them and fully understanding the incredible strength, discipline and positivity to overcome something like this, I feel that the least we could've done is write some songs that help draw some attention to [autism]."

Watch the 'Wretches & Jabberers' Trailer