The Funk Brothers
The Funk Brothers | |
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The Funk Brothers were a group of Detroit-based session musicians who performed the backing to most Motown recordings from 1959 until the company moved to Los Angeles in 1972.
Its members are considered among the most successful groups of studio musicians in music history. Among their hits are "My Girl", "I Heard It Through the Grapevine", "Baby Love", " I Was Made to Love Her", "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone", "The Tears of a Clown", "Ain't No Mountain High Enough", and "Heat Wave". Some combination of the members played on each of Motown's 100-plus U.S. R&B number one singles[1] and 50-plus U.S. Pop number ones released from 1961 to 1972.
There is no undisputed list of the members of the group. Some writers have claimed that virtually every musician who ever played on a Motown track was a "Funk Brother". There are 13 Funk Brothers identified in Paul Justman's 2002 documentary film Standing in the Shadows of Motown, based on Allan Slutsky's book of the same name. These 13 members were identified by NARAS for the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and were recognized with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
In 2007, the Funk Brothers were inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum.
History
Early members included bandleader
While most of Motown's backing musicians were African American, and many originally from Detroit, the Funk Brothers included white players as well, such as Messina (who was the featured guitarist on Soupy Sales's nighttime jazz TV show in the 1950s), Brokensha (originally from Australia), Coffey, and Pittsburgh-born Babbitt.
Fame and Funk Brothers name
Unlike their
Alternatively, the name "Funk Brothers" could have been given to the band
The Funk Brothers often moonlighted for other labels, recording in Detroit and elsewhere, in bids to augment their Motown salaries. It became a worst-kept secret that
Dissolution
During the mid- to late-1960s, one-fifth of Motown records began using session musicians based in Los Angeles, usually covers and tributes of mainstream pop songs and showtunes.[citation needed] By 1970, Motown sessions were increasingly scheduled in Los Angeles instead of Detroit, including all of those for the Jackson 5's hit recordings. Nevertheless, Motown producers such as Norman Whitfield, Frank Wilson, Marvin Gaye, and Smokey Robinson steadfastly continued to record in Detroit.
The Funk Brothers were dismissed in 1972, when Berry Gordy moved the entire Motown label to Los Angeles; a development some of the musicians discovered only from a notice on the studio door. A few members, including Jamerson, followed to the West Coast, but found the environment uncomfortable. For many of the L.A. recordings, members of the Wrecking Crew worked for Motown, including drummer Earl Palmer, percussionist Gary Coleman, bassist Carol Kaye, guitarist Tommy Tedesco, and keyboardist Larry Knechtel.
Later years
In February 2004, surviving members of the Funk Brothers were presented the
In 2008, Ashford and Riser played on Raphael Saadiq's album The Way I See It, recorded in the style of the Motown Sound.[3] That same year, the Funk Brothers' surviving members recorded Live in Orlando, an album and video.
In 2010, surviving members of the Funk Brothers accompanied Phil Collins on his Motown covers album, Going Back, and appear in the live Going Back concert DVD.
In 2010, the Funk Brothers were voted into the Michigan Rock and Roll Legends Hall of Fame.[4]
Awards and recognition
The Funk Brothers have received three
- Lifetime Achievement Award in 2004
- What's Going On" with Chaka Khan, 2002
- Best Compilation Soundtrack Album For A Motion Picture, Television Or Other Visual Media for Standing in the Shadows of Motown, 2002.
Bassist James Jamerson was inducted into the
In 2007, the Funk Brothers were inducted into the
Members
As discussed above, the name "The Funk Brothers" was a loosely applied designation. The National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences recognizes 13 musicians as official "Funk Brothers", but the name is often casually used as a catch-all designation to cover any musician who played on a Motown record.
The following list covers the musicians most frequently used on Motown recordings from 1959 through 1972; it is not an exhaustive list of every musician ever used. The 13 Funk Brothers recognized as official band members by NARAS are marked with an asterisk. Some also count backing vocalist trio the Andantes (Jackie Hicks, Marlene Barrow, and Louvain Demps) as notable contributors to the Funk Brothers and Motown's sound.[7]
Membership lists based upon research by Allan Slutsky, with some minor corrections.[8]
Detroit musicians
- Keyboardists:
- Joe Hunter[9] (band leader, 1959–1964)*
- Earl Van Dyke[10] (band leader, 1964–1972)*
- Richard "Popcorn" Wylie[11] (1959–1962)
- Marvin Gaye[12] (1961–1962)
- Raynoma Liles "Miss Ray" Gordy[13] (1959–1962)
- George Fowler (1962–1969)
- Leonard Caston Jr. (1969–1972)
- H. B. Barnum (1963–1972)
- Johnny Griffith[14] (1963–1972)*
- James Gittens (1959–1967)
- Ted Sheely (1967–1972)
- Guitarists:
- Robert White[15] (1959–1972)*
- Eddie "Chank" Willis[16](1959–1972)*
- Joe Messina[17] (1959–1972)*
- Larry Veeder (1959–1962)
- Dave Hamilton[18] (1959–1962)
- Huey Davis (1959–1967, the Contours' road and studio guitarist)
- Marvin Tarplin[19] (1959–1972, the Miracles' road and studio guitarist)
- Cornelius Grant (1963–1972, the Temptations' road guitarist and band leader)
- Dennis Coffey (1966–1972)
- Melvin "Wah Wah Watson" Ragin[20](1968–1972)
- Ray Parker Jr. (1968–1972)
- Ray Monette
- Paul Warren
- Bassists:
- James Jamerson[21] (1959–1972)*
- Clarence Isabell (1959–1962)
- Bob Babbitt[22] (1966–1972)*
- Greg Reeves (1966–1969, the Temptations' road bassist)
- Edward Pickens (1968–1972)
- Bill White (1969–1972, the Temptations' road bassist)
- Tweed Beard
- Joe Williams
- Michael Henderson
- Joe James
- Antonio "Tony" Newton (the Miracles' road bassist)
- Accordion:
- John "Johnnie Miles" Milewski (1965–1970)
- Drums:
- William "Benny" Benjamin[23] (1959–1969)*
- Richard "Pistol" Allen[23](1959–1972)*
- George McGregor[24] (1959–1962)
- Corey Jahns (1959–1967) bongos
- Clifford Mack (1959–1962)
- Marvin Gaye[12] (1961–1962) (also listed above)
- Uriel Jones[25] (1963–1972)*
- Freddie Waits[26] (1963–1967)
- Melvin Brown (1967–1972, the Temptations' road drummer)
- Andrew Smith (1968–1972)
- Kenneth "Spider Webb" Rice (1968–1972)
- Aaron Smith (1970–1972)
- Percussion:
- Jack Ashford (1959–1972, tambourine)*
- Eddie "Bongo" Brown[23](1959–1972, various)*
- R. Dean Taylor (1960s, tambourine)[27]
- Bobbye Hall (1963–1972, various)
- Stacey Edwards (1967–1972, the Temptations' road percussionist)
- Vibes:
- Jack Ashford (1959–1972) (also listed above)*
- Dave Hamilton[18] (1959–1962) (also listed above)
- James Gittens (1959–1967) (also listed above)
- Jack Brokensha[28] (1963–1972)
- Trumpets:
- Herbie Williams
- John "Little John" Wilson
- Marcus Belgrave[29]
- Russell Conway
- Johnny Trudell[30]
- Floyd Jones[31]
- Maurice Davis[32]
- Billy Horner
- Gordon Stump
- Don Slaughter
- Eddie Jones
- Saxophones:
- Henry "Hank" Cosby[33]
- Andrew "Mike" Terry[34]
- Norris "Kasuku Mafia" Patterson
- Thomas "Beans" Bowles[35]
- Ted Buckner[23]
- Walter "Choker" Campbell[36]
- Frank Harvey Jackson
- Ronnie Wakefield
- "Lefty" Edwards
- Eli Fountain
- Ernie Rodgers
- Eugene "BeeBee" Moore
- William "Wild Bill" Moore[23]
- Angelo Carlisi
- Dan Turner
- Bernie Peacock
- Larry Nozero[37]
- Lanny Austin
- Trombones:
- McKinley Jackson
- Bob Cousar[38]
- George Bohanon
- Paul Riser
- Jimmy Wilkens[39]
- Don White
- Carl Raetz
- Patrick Lanier
- Bill Johnson
- Ed Gooch
- Flute:
- Dayna Hartwick
- Thomas "Beans" Bowles[35]
- Piccolo:
- Dayna Hartwick
- Strings:
- Gordon Staples and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra string section
- Violins
- Violas
- Cellos
- Gordon Staples and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra string section
Los Angeles musicians
Los Angeles was an
Many of the Los Angeles players were members of the Wrecking Crew, a loose-knit group of studio musicians.
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Arrangers and conductors
- Detroit: Paul Riser, Willie Shorter, David Van De Pitte, Wade Marcus, Johnny Allen, Gil Askey, Ernie Wilkins, Jerry Long, Henry "Hank" Cosby, Slide Hampton, and H. B. Barnum
- Los Angeles: Gene Page, James Carmichael, Arthur Wright, Michael Lovesmith
Selected list of hit songs on which the Funk Brothers played
- (Tamla) Motown
- "Money" – Barrett Strong
- "Please Mr. Postman" – The Marvelettes
- "Fingertips Pt. 2" – Stevie Wonder
- "The Girl's Alright with Me" - The Temptations
- "My Guy" – Mary Wells
- "Come and Get These Memories - Martha and the Vandellas
- "Where Did Our Love Go" – The Supremes
- "Baby I Need Your Loving" - The Four Tops
- "Baby Love" – The Supremes
- "Come See About Me" – The Supremes
- "My Girl" – The Temptations
- "Stop! In the Name of Love" – The Supremes
- "Back in My Arms Again" – The Supremes
- "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)" – The Four Tops
- "I Hear a Symphony" – The Supremes
- "Love Is Like an Itching in My Heart" - The Supremes
- "You Can't Hurry Love" – The Supremes
- "Reach Out I'll Be There" – The Four Tops
- "You Keep Me Hangin' On" – The Supremes
- "Forever Came Today" – The Supremes
- "Love Child" – Diana Ross and the Supremes
- "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" – Marvin Gaye
- "I Can't Get Next to You" – The Temptations
- "Someday We'll Be Together" – Diana Ross and the Supremes
- "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" – Diana Ross
- "The Tears of a Clown" – Smokey Robinson and the Miracles
- "Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)" – The Temptations
- "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" – The Temptations
- "Let's Get It On" – Marvin Gaye
- "You Sure Love to Ball" - Marvin Gaye
- "Come Get to This" - Marvin Gaye
- "Just a Little Misunderstanding" – The Contours
- "Shop Around" – The Miracles
- "Shotgun" – Junior Walker & the All Stars
- "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)" – Marvin Gaye
- "The One Who Really Loves You" – Mary Wells
- "The Way You Do the Things You Do" – The Temptations
- "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing" – Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell
- "(I'm a) Road Runner" – Junior Walker & the All Stars
- "Ain't Too Proud to Beg" – The Temptations
- "I Wish It Would Rain" – The Temptations
- "The Happening" - The Supremes
- "Reflections" – Diana Ross & the Supremes
- "That's the Way Love Is" - Marvin Gaye
- "Heat Wave" – Martha & the Vandellas
- "Hitch Hike" – Marvin Gaye
- "Way Over There" – The Miracles
- "Who's Lovin' You" – The Jackson 5
- "What's So Good About Goodbye" – The Miracles
- "I Was Made to Love Her" – Stevie Wonder
- "It's the Same Old Song" – The Four Tops
- "You've Really Got a Hold on Me" – The Miracles
- "Standing in the Shadows of Love" – The Four Tops
- "If I Were Your Woman" – Gladys Knight & the Pips
- "I'm Livin' in Shame - The Supremes
- "Going to a Go-Go" – The Miracles
- "Heaven Must Have Sent You" – The Elgins
- "Dancing in the Street" – Martha & the Vandellas
- "Runaway Child, Running Wild" - The Temptations
- "Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)" – Marvin Gaye
- "All I Need" - The Temptations
- "Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)" – Marvin Gaye
- "Cloud Nine" – The Temptations
- "What's Goin' On" – Marvin Gaye
- "Do You Love Me" – The Contours
- "Get Ready" – The Temptations
- "Function at the Junction" – Shorty Long
- "My World Is Empty Without You" – The Supremes
- "The Tracks of My Tears" – The Miracles
- "Can I Get a Witness" – Marvin Gaye
- "Nowhere to Run" – Martha & the Vandellas
- "Here Comes the Judge" – Shorty Long
- "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours" – Stevie Wonder
- "Beechwood 4-5789" – The Marvelettes
- "Bernadette" – The Four Tops
- "Two Lovers" – Mary Wells
- "What Becomes of the Brokenhearted" – Jimmy Ruffin
- "My Cherie Amour" – Stevie Wonder
- "I Second That Emotion" – Smokey Robinson & the Miracles
- "(I Know) I'm Losing You" – The Temptations
- "First I Look at the Purse" – The Contours
- "Ooo Baby Baby" – The Miracles
- "25 Miles" – Edwin Starr
- "I'll Be Doggone" – Marvin Gaye
- "Pride and Joy" – Marvin Gaye
- "Ball of Confusion (That's What the World Is Today)" – The Temptations
- "It Takes Two" – Marvin Gaye & Kim Weston
- "This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak for You)" – The Isley Brothers
- "Uptight" – Stevie Wonder
- "Devil with a Blue Dress On" – Shorty Long
- "Jimmy Mack" – Martha & the Vandellas
- "Since I Lost My Baby" – The Temptations
- "War" – Edwin Starr
- "Stubborn Kind of Fellow" – Marvin Gaye
- "Don't Mess with Bill" – The Marvelettes
- "You Beat Me to the Punch" – Mary Wells
- "Shake Me, Wake Me (When It's Over)" – The Four Tops
- "Walk Away Renée" – The Four Tops
- "Mickey's Monkey" – The Miracles
- "Ain't That Peculiar" – Marvin Gaye
- "Shoo-Be-Doo-Be-Doo-Da-Day" – Stevie Wonder
- Other labels
- "Cool Jerk" – The Capitols (Atlantic)
- "Whispers (Gettin' Louder)" – Jackie Wilson (Brunswick)
- "(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher" – Jackie Wilson (Brunswick)
- "Bad Girl" – The Miracles (Chess)
- "Band of Gold" – Freda Payne (Invictus)
- "Crumbs off the Table" – Glass House (Invictus)
- "Give Me Just a Little More Time" – Chairmen of the Board (Invictus)
- "Someone's Been Sleeping in My Bed" – 100 Proof (Aged in Soul) (Hot Wax)
- "Boom Boom" – John Lee Hooker (Vee-Jay)
See also
References
- ^ "All Of Motown's No. 1 Hits In One Box Set For The First Time: Celebrate Motown's 50th Anniversary With The 10-CD MOTOWN: THE COMPLETE NO. 1'S". Top40-Charts.com. Retrieved September 18, 2019.
- ISBN 978-0914303190.
- ^ Lewis, Pete (May 22, 2009). "Raphael Saadiq: This Years Vintage". Blues & Soul (1020). London. Archived from the original on September 3, 2012. Retrieved March 27, 2012.
- ^ "Michigan Rock and Roll Legends - FUNK BROTHERS". Michiganrockandrolllegends.com. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
- ^ "Educational CyberPlayGround: Funk Brothers honored by President Bush during Black History Month". Edu-cyberpg.com. June 25, 2003. Retrieved December 14, 2015.
- ^ Calvin Gilbert, "Unsung Heroes Honored at Musicians Hall of Fame Induction", CMY News, November 27, 2007.
- ^ Buskin, Richard. "Classic Tracks: Four Tops 'Reach Out I'll Be There'". SoundOnSound. Sound On Sound. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
- ^ Slutsky, Allan. "The Musicians". Hitsville USA: The Motown Singles Collection [CD Box Set]. New York: Motown Record Co., L.P.
- ^ "Funk Brothers Pianist Joe Hunter Dies". Billboard.
- ^ "Earl Van Dyke Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
- ^ "Richard 'Popcorn' Wylie: Tamla Motown pioneer who became a cult hero for Northern Soul fans", Obituary, The Independent, 14 October 2008
- ^ a b Communications, Emmis (January 1998). Dial Them For Murder. Archived from the original on July 5, 2014.
{{cite book}}
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ignored (help) - ^ Ben Sisario (December 4, 2016). "Raynoma Gordy Singleton, an Early Motown Force, Dies at 79". The New York Times. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
- ^ McLellan, Dennis (November 12, 2002). "Johnny Griffith, 66; Played Keyboard for Motown Greats". Los Angeles Times.
- ISBN 9781556527548. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
- ^ "Motown's Eddie Willis, one of last Funk Brothers, dead". EU.Freep. August 20, 2018.
- ^ Joe Messina, Motown guitarist and a member of the Funk Brothers, has died at age 93. Detroit News. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
- ^ a b David Lewis Hamilton, U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, Ancestry.com. Retrieved 2 January 2022
- ^ McKinley, JAMES C. Jr. (October 4, 2011). "Marv Tarplin, Motown Guitarist and songwriter, Dies at 70". The New York Times.
This article appeared in print on October 5, 2011, on page B13 of the New York edition with the headline: Marv Tarplin, 70, Motown Guitarist And Songwriter.
- ^ "In Memoriam: Motown guitarist Wah Wah Watson (1950-2018)". Digital Journal. October 25, 2018. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
- ^ "James Jamerson | Rock & Roll Hall of Fame". July 29, 2018. Archived from the original on July 29, 2018. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
- ^ "Bob Babbitt, Motown Bassist With Funk Brothers, Dies at 74". The New York Times. July 18, 2012. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-5964-3973-3.
- ^ "George McGregor and Big Frank Murphy RIP". Soul Source. January 2, 2017. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
- ^ Sisario, Ben (March 25, 2009). "Uriel Jones, a Motown Drummer, Dies at 74". The New York Times. p. B12.
- ^ "Freddie Waits Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
- AllMusic Guide.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on January 15, 2016. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
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- ^ Moss, Rob (October 31, 2008). "Sad News Mike Terry - SAX GOD". Soul-source.co.uk.
- ^ a b Archives, L. A. Times (February 1, 2000). "Thomas 'Beans' Bowles; Motown Musician". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
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External links
- "Standing in the Shadows of Motown WebQuest"
- Official Standing in the Shadows of Motown website
- Grammy Lifetime Achievement awards
- The Funk Brothers at AllMusic
- The Funk Brothers discography at Discogs
- The Soulful Tale of Two Cities
- Carl Dixon's Bandtraxs project
- Soulful Detroit Home page
- Motown Museum
- The Funk Brothers at IMDb
- McKinley Jackson Interview at NAMM Oral History Collection (2020)
- Dennis Coffrey Interview at NAMM Oral History Collection (2021)