Joe Hunter (musician)
Joe Hunter | |
---|---|
Detroit, Michigan, U.S. | |
Genres | R&B, soul, pop, jazz |
Occupation(s) | Musician |
Instrument(s) | Keyboards |
Years active | c. 1950–2007 |
Labels | Motown, and others |
Joseph Edward Hunter (November 19, 1927 – February 2, 2007)
Life and career
Hunter was born in Jackson, Tennessee, to Vada Idona Hunter and John G. Hunter.[3] His mother was a piano teacher and he started playing piano at an early age. At age 11, the family moved to Detroit.[1] He was drafted into the army where he played in the jazz band alongside pianist Dwike Mitchell and drummer Elvin Jones. Hunter was influenced by the music of Art Tatum, Sergei Rachmaninoff, and Nat King Cole. After the service, he performed in Detroit jazz clubs and toured with The Midnighters.[1][3][4]
In 1958 he was recruited by
He left Motown in 1964 and pursued a career as a freelance arranger and musician. Although his time with Motown and Funk Brothers was short, his keyboard playing was integral to the "
After Motown, he continued to produce and arrange for various artists.[1][2] He worked with record labels Golden World and Fortune and artists Bobby “Blue” Bland, Junior Parker, Edwin Starr, Jimmy Ruffin and others.[2][3] He was involved with Pied Piper Productions,[7] and he was affiliated with artists Dennis Edwards, The Hesitations, Freddy Butler[citation needed] and John Lee Hooker.[8]
In 1996 he authored an autobiography titled Musicians, Motown, and Myself: The Dawn of a New Sound.
In his later years, Hunter continued to perform as a musician in the Detroit area.[2] He died of natural causes on February 2, 2007, at the age of 79.[6][5] He was survived by his son Joe Hunter Jr., his daughter and grandchildren.[1][6]
Bibliography
- Joe Hunter (1996). Musicians, Motown, and Myself: The Dawn of a New Sound. Detroit: Global Sound Publications. OCLC 1049712252.
Notes
- ^ Sources credit Joe Hunter as the pianist on The Miracles' hit single "Shop Around".[1][3] Gerald Posner credits Berry Gordy as the pianist on the final recording of the song.[9]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Dave Laing (February 5, 2007). "Joe Hunter". The Guardian. Archived from the original on April 4, 2016. Retrieved August 9, 2022.
- ^ Times Online. February 13, 2007. Archived from the originalon October 15, 2008. Retrieved August 9, 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f Ed Hogan. "AllMusic: Joe Hunter – biography". AllMusic. Archived from the original on August 10, 2022. Retrieved August 10, 2022.
- ISBN 9780195348255. Retrieved August 10, 2022.
- ^ a b c "Funk Brothers Pianist Joe Hunter Dies". Billboard. February 3, 2007. Archived from the original on January 2, 2022. Retrieved August 9, 2022.
- ^ a b c "Joe Hunter, 79, Musician Who Helped Invent Motown Sound, Dies". The New York Times (by Associated Press). February 8, 2007. Archived from the original on March 25, 2014. Retrieved August 9, 2022.
- ^ Andrew Hamilton. "AllMusic: The Metros – biography". AllMusic. Archived from the original on August 11, 2022. Retrieved August 10, 2022.
- ISBN 9781466852365. Retrieved August 10, 2022.
- ISBN 9780307538628. Retrieved August 10, 2022.
External links
- Standing in the Shadows of Motown at IMDb
- Joe Hunter: First of the Motown Funk Brothers, interview by Craig Morrison, 2001
- Musicians Joe Hunter and Jack Ashford, audio interview by Terry Gross, NPR, 2002
- Joe Hunter discography at Discogs
- Joe Hunter at IMDb