The Funk Brothers

	Email		Print
	Bookmark		Link

The Funk Brothers

The Funk Brothers was the nickname of Detroit, Michigan

Detroit, Michigan

Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Wayne County, Michigan. Detroit is a major port city on the Detroit River, in the Midwestern United States of the United States....
, session musician

Session musician

Session musicians are instrumental performers or vocalists who are available for hire for live performances or recording sessions, as opposed to musicians who are either permanent members of a musical ensemble or who have acquired fame in their own right as bandleaders....
s who performed the backing to most Motown Records

Motown Records

Motown Records is a record label originally based in Detroit, Michigan, USA. Founded by Berry Gordy, Jr. on January 12, 1959 as Tamla Records, the company was incorporated as Motown Record Corporation on April 14, 1960....
recordings from 1959 until 1972, when the company moved to Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California

Los Angeles is the largest city in the U.S. state of California and the List of United States cities by population in the United States. Often abbreviated as L.A. and nicknamed The City of Angels, Los Angeles is rated as a beta global city, has an estimated population of 3.8 million and spans over in Southern California....
. The Funk Brothers played on Motown hits such as "My Girl

My Girl

My Girl may refer to:In music:* My Girl , a 1964 song by The Temptations, composed by Smokey Robinson and Ronald White.** A cover of the Robinson/White song performed by Michael Jackson, included in the album Ben ....
", "I Heard It Through the Grapevine

I Heard It through the Grapevine

Baby Love

"Baby Love" is a 1964 number-one hit recorded by The Supremes for the Motown label. Written and produced by Motown's main production team Holland-Dozier-Holland, "Baby Love," one of the most popular songs of the late 20th century, was the Supremes' most successful single....
", "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours

Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours

"Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours" is a Soul music single by USA musician Stevie Wonder, recorded for Motown's Tamla label. Released in June of 1970, the song spent six weeks at number one on the Billboard Black Singles chart and peaked at number three on the Billboard Pop Singles chart....
", "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone

Papa Was a Rollin' Stone

"Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" is a soul music song, written by Motown songwriters Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong as a single for Motown act The Undisputed Truth in 1971....
", "The Tears of a Clown

The Tears of a Clown

"The Tears of a Clown" is a 1967 song by The Miracles for the Tamla label, originally released on the 1967 album Make It Happen . The song was re-released in the United Kingdom as a single in September 1970, where it became a number-one hit on the UK singles chart....
", and "(Love is Like a) Heat Wave

(Love is Like a) Heat Wave

" Heat Wave" is a 1963 hit single by Holland-Dozier-Holland made popular by Motown girl group Martha and the Vandellas on the Gordy label and later by Rock music vocalist Linda Ronstadt from her Platinum 1975 album Prisoner In Disguise....
".

The role of the Funk Brothers is described in Paul Justman's 2002 documentary film

Documentary film

Documentary film is a broad category of visual expression that is based on the attempt, in one fashion or another, to "document" reality. Although "documentary film" originally referred to movies shot on film stock, it has subsequently expanded to include video and new media productions that can be either direct-to-video or made for a televis...
Standing in the Shadows of Motown
Standing in the Shadows of Motown (film)

Standing in the Shadows of Motown is a 2002 documentary film directed by Paul Justman. It recounts the story of The Funk Brothers, the uncredited and largely unheralded studio musicians who performed on Motown Records' recordings from 1959 to 1972....
, based on Allan Slutsky

Allan Slutsky

Allan Slutsky, also known as Dr. Licks, is a Grammy Award winning United States Arrangement, guitarist, music producer, and historian....
's book of the same name. The opening titles proclaim the Funk Brothers as "having played on more number-one records than The Beatles

The Beatles

The Beatles were a rock music and pop music band from Liverpool, England that formed in 1960. During their career, the group primarily consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr ....
, Elvis, The Rolling Stones

The Rolling Stones

The Rolling Stones are an English rock music band formed in 1962 in London when multi-instrumentalist Brian Jones and pianist Ian Stewart were joined by vocalist Mick Jagger and guitarist Keith Richards....
, and The Beach Boys

The Beach Boys

The Beach Boys are an American rock band. Formed in 1961, the group gained popularity for its close harmony and lyrics reflecting a California youth culture of cars and surfing....
combined."

y members included bandleader Joe Hunter

Joe Hunter (musician)

Joseph Edward Hunter Born in Jackson, Tennessee was an African-American musician, known for his recording session work as a pianist in Motown Records' in-house studio band, the Funk Brothers....
and Earl Van Dyke

Earl Van Dyke

Earl Van Dyke was an African American musician, most notable as the main keyboardist for Motown' in-house The Funk Brothers band during the late 1960s and early 1970s....
(piano

Piano

The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard instrument. Widely used in Western music for solo performance, ensemble use, chamber music, and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to musical composition and rehearsal....
); James Jamerson

James Jamerson

James Lee Jamerson was an American bassist. He was the uncredited bass guitarist on most of Motown Records' hits in the 1960s and early 1970s , and he has become regarded as one of the most influential bass guitar players in modern music history....
(bass guitar

Bass guitar

The electric bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a plectrum.The bass guitar is similar in appearance and construction to an electric guitar, but with a larger body, a longer neck and Scale length, and usually four strings tuned to the same pitches as those of the double bass, whic...
); Benny "Papa Zita" Benjamin

Benny Benjamin

William "Benny" Benjamin , nicknamed Papa Zita, was an American musician, most notable as the main drummer for the Motown studio band known as The Funk Brothers....
and Richard "Pistol" Allen (drums

Drum kit

A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and sometimes other percussion instruments, such as cowbell s, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single drummer....
); Robert White

Robert White (guitarist)

Robert White was an African-American musician. Of note for being one of the main guitarists for Motown Records' in-house studio band, the Funk Brothers, White is best known for performing the familiar guitar riff on The Temptations' number-one hit single "My Girl ", but played the guitar on many successful Motown records, including "Can I Ge...
, Eddie Willis

Eddie Willis

Eddie "Chank" Willis is an African-American musician. Willis played electric guitar and occasional electric sitar for Motown Records' in-house studio band, the Funk Brothers, during the 1960s and early 1970s....
, and Joe Messina

Joe Messina

Joe Messina is an United States guitarist. Dubbed the "white brother with soul music", Messina was one of the most prolific guitarists in Motown Records' in-house studio band, the Funk Brothers....
(guitar

Guitar

The guitar is a musical instrument with ancient roots that is used in a wide variety of musical styles. It typically has six Strings , but Tenor guitar, Seven-string guitar, Eight-string guitar, Ten-string guitar, Eleven-string guitar, Twelve-string guitar, Thirteen-string guitar and doubleneck guitar string guitars also exist....
); Jack Ashford

Jack Ashford

Jack Ashford is an African-American musician, widely known as the percussionist for Motown Records' in-house Funk Brothers band during the 1960s and early 1970s....
(tambourine

Tambourine

The tambourine or Marine is a musical instrument of the Percussion instrument family consisting of a frame, often of wood or plastic, with pairs of small metal jingles, called "zils"....
, percussion

Percussion instrument

A percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound by being hit with an implement, shaken, rubbed, scraped, or by any other action which sets the object into vibration....
, vibraphone

Vibraphone

The vibraphone, sometimes called the vibraharp or simply the vibes, is a musical instrument in the mallet subfamily of the percussion instrument family....
, marimba

Marimba

The marimba is a musical instrument in the percussion instrument family. Keys or bars are struck with mallets to produce musical tones. The keys are arranged as those of a piano, with the accidentals raised vertically and overlapping the natural keys to aid the performer both visually and physically....
); Jack Brokensha

Jack Brokensha

John Joseph "Jack" Brokensha is a jazz vibraphone born in Adelaide, Australia.Brokensha studied percussion under his father initially, and played xylophone in vaudeville shows and on radio....
(vibraphone

Vibraphone

The vibraphone, sometimes called the vibraharp or simply the vibes, is a musical instrument in the mallet subfamily of the percussion instrument family....
, marimba

Marimba

Percussion instrument

A percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound by being hit with an implement, shaken, rubbed, scraped, or by any other action which sets the object into vibration....
).

Discussion

Ask a question about 'The Funk Brothers'

Start a new discussion about 'The Funk Brothers'

Answer questions from other users

Full Discussion Forum

Encyclopedia

The Funk Brothers was the nickname of Detroit, Michigan

Detroit, Michigan

Session musician

Motown Records

Los Angeles, California

My Girl

I Heard It through the Grapevine

Baby Love

Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours

Papa Was a Rollin' Stone

The Tears of a Clown

(Love is Like a) Heat Wave

Documentary film

Allan Slutsky

The Beatles

The Rolling Stones

The Beach Boys

The Beach Boys are an American rock band. Formed in 1961, the group gained popularity for its close harmony and lyrics reflecting a California youth culture of cars and surfing....
combined."

History

Notable members

Early members included bandleader Joe Hunter

Joe Hunter (musician)

Earl Van Dyke

Earl Van Dyke was an African American musician, most notable as the main keyboardist for Motown' in-house The Funk Brothers band during the late 1960s and early 1970s....
(piano

Piano

James Jamerson

Bass guitar

Benny Benjamin

Drum kit

Robert White (guitarist)

Eddie Willis

Joe Messina

Guitar

Jack Ashford

Jack Ashford is an African-American musician, widely known as the percussionist for Motown Records' in-house Funk Brothers band during the 1960s and early 1970s....
(tambourine

Tambourine

Percussion instrument

A percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound by being hit with an implement, shaken, rubbed, scraped, or by any other action which sets the object into vibration....
, vibraphone

Vibraphone

The vibraphone, sometimes called the vibraharp or simply the vibes, is a musical instrument in the mallet subfamily of the percussion instrument family....
, marimba

Marimba

Jack Brokensha

Vibraphone

The vibraphone, sometimes called the vibraharp or simply the vibes, is a musical instrument in the mallet subfamily of the percussion instrument family....
, marimba

Marimba

Percussion instrument

A percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound by being hit with an implement, shaken, rubbed, scraped, or by any other action which sets the object into vibration....
). Hunter left in 1964, replaced on keyboards by Johnny Griffith

Johnny Griffith

Johnny Griffith was an African-American musician. Griffith played piano and keyboard instrument for Motown Records' in-house Funk Brothers studio band....
and as bandleader by Van Dyke. Uriel Jones

Uriel Jones

Uriel Jones is an African-American musician. Jones was a recording session drummer for Motown Records' in-house studio band, the Funk Brothers, during the 1960s and early 1970s....
joined the band as a third drummer.

In 1967, guitarists Dennis Coffey

Dennis Coffey

Dennis Coffey is an United States guitarist. He was a recording studio musician for many soul music and Rhythm and blues sound recording and reproduction....
and Melvin "Wah-Wah Watson" Ragin, who introduced the wah-wah pedal

Wah-wah pedal

A wah-wah pedal is a type of guitar effects pedal that alters the tone of the signal to create a distinctive effect, intended to mimic the human voice....
that defined Motown's psychedelic soul

Psychedelic soul

Psychedelic soul is a concept used to categorize music that features elements of psychedelic rock and soul music/funk music. This kind of music thrived during the late 1960s and early 1970s....
records, joined the band. Benny Benjamin died the next year, and Bob Babbitt

Bob Babbitt

Bob Babbitt is an United States bass guitar, most famous for his work as a member of Motown Records' studio band, the Funk Brothers, from 1966?1972....
began to replace James Jamerson on many recordings. Most members were black, while Messina, Brokensha, Babbitt, and Coffey were white.

Legacy and techniques

Until the release of the Standing in the Shadows of Motown documentary, the members of the band were not widely known. Studio musicians were not credited by Motown until Marvin Gaye

Marvin Gaye

Marvin Pentz Gay, Jr., better known by his stage name Marvin Gaye was an United States singer-songwriter and instrumentalist with a three-octave vocal range....
's What's Going On
What's Going On

What's Going On is a studio album by Soul music musician Marvin Gaye, released May 21, 1971 on the Motown-subsidiary label Tamla Records. Recording sessions for the album took place in June 1970 and March?May 1971 at Hitsville U.S.A., Golden World and United Sound Studios in Detroit, Michigan and at The Sound Factory in West Hollywood, Ca...
in 1971, although Motown released a handful of singles and LPs by Earl Van Dyke. The Funk Brothers shared billing with Van Dyke on some recordings, although they were billed as "Earl Van Dyke & the Soul Brothers", since Motown CEO Berry Gordy, Jr. disliked the word "funk". Alternatively, the name "Funk Brothers" could have been given to the band ex post facto

Ex Post Facto

Ex Post Facto may refer to:* Ex Post Facto , the eighth episode of Star Trek: Voyager* An ex post facto law, a law that retroactively changes the legal consequences of acts committed prior to the enactment of the law...
; the term "funky" as an adjective came to be associated with uptempo, southern-styled soul music in the second half of the 1960's; the term "funk" as a noun is typically associated with uptempo soul music from the 1970's onwards. It remains to be verified that the Motown session musicians were actually referred to as the Funk Brothers during the 1960's, as this name does not appear on any record label of the time, nor on any interview or article published about Motown in the 1960's.

The band used innovative techniques. For example, most Motown records feature two drummers, playing together or overdubbing one another — Marvin Gaye

Marvin Gaye

Marvin Pentz Gay, Jr., better known by his stage name Marvin Gaye was an United States singer-songwriter and instrumentalist with a three-octave vocal range....
's "I Heard It Through the Grapevine

I Heard It through the Grapevine

"I Heard It Through the Grapevine" is a landmark song in the history of Motown Records. Written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong in 1966, the single was first recorded by The Miracles....
" used three drummers. A number of songs utilized instrumentation and percussion unusual in soul music. The Temptations

The Temptations

The Temptations are an American vocal group that achieved fame as one of the most successful acts to record for Motown Records. The group's repertoire has included, at various times during its five-decade career, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, funk , disco, soul music, and adult contemporary music....
' "It's Growing

It's Growing

"It's Growing" is a 1965 hit single by The Temptations for the Gordy label, a follow-up to the hit single, My Girl . Written by The Miracles members Smokey Robinson and Pete Moore and produced by Robinson, the song was a top 20 pop single on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States, on which it peaked at number 18....
" features Earl Van Dyke playing a toy piano

Toy piano

The toy piano, also known as the kinderklavier , is a small piano like musical instrument. The present form of the toy piano was invented in Philadelphia by a 17-year-old Germany immigrant named Albert Schoenhut....
for the song's introduction, snow chains are used as percussion on Martha & the Vandellas' "Nowhere to Run

Nowhere to Run

"Nowhere to Run" is a 1965 Pop music single b/w "Motoring" by Martha & the Vandellas for the Gordy label and is one of the group's signature songs....
", and a custom oscillator was built to create the synthesizer sounds used to accent Diana Ross & the Supremes' "Reflections" A tire iron was used in the Martha & the Vandellas "Dancing in the Streets".

Dissolution and later years

During the mid to late-1960s, one-fifth of Motown records began utilizing session musicians based in Los Angeles

Los Ángeles

Los ?ngeles is the Capital of the Biob?o Province, in the municipality of the same name, in Regions of Chile VIII , in the center-south of Chile....
, usually covers

Cover version

In popular music, a cover version, or simply cover, is a new rendition of a previously recorded, commercially released song.In its current use, it can sometimes have a pejorative meaning — implying that the original recording should be regarded as the definitive version, usually in the sense of an "authentic" rendition, and all...
and tributes of mainstream pop songs and showtunes. By 1970, an increasing number of Motown sessions were in Los Angeles instead of Detroit, notably all The Jackson 5

The Jackson 5

The Jackson 5 was a two-time Grammy Award-nominated American popular music Jackson family Musical ensemble from Gary, Indiana. Founding group members Jackie Jackson, Tito Jackson, Jermaine Jackson, Marlon Jackson and Michael Jackson formed the group after performing in an early incarnation called The Jackson Brothers, which originally co...
's hit recordings. Nevertheless, Motown producers such as Norman Whitfield

Norman Whitfield

Norman Jesse Whitfield was an American songwriter and Record producer, best known for his work with Berry Gordy's Motown label during the 1960s....
, Frank Wilson

Frank Wilson (musician)

Frank Wilson is an African American former songwriter and record producer for Motown Records. He joined the company in 1965, working with Brenda Holloway....
, Marvin Gaye

Marvin Gaye

Marvin Pentz Gay, Jr., better known by his stage name Marvin Gaye was an United States singer-songwriter and instrumentalist with a three-octave vocal range....
, and Smokey Robinson

Smokey Robinson

William "Smokey" Robinson, Jr. is an USA R&B and soul music singer-songwriter, record producer, and former record executive. Robinson is noted for being one of the primary figures associated with Motown Records, second only to the company's founder, Berry Gordy....
steadfastly continued to record in Detroit.

The Funk Brothers were dismissed in 1972, when Berry Gordy

Berry Gordy

Berry Gordy, Jr. is an United States record producer, and the founder of the Motown record label and its many subsidiaries....
moved Motown to Los Angeles. A few members, including Jamerson, migrated to Los Angeles, but found the environment uncomfortable. Jamerson died in 1983, Brown in 1984, Van Dyke in 1992, White in 1994, Allen and Griffith in 2002, and Hunter in 2007.

Awards and recognition

The Funk Brothers have received three Grammy awards:

Lifetime Achievement Award
Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award

The Grammy Award Lifetime Achievement Award is awarded by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences to "performers who, during their lifetimes, have made creative contributions of outstanding artistic significance to the field of recording" ....
in 2004
Best Traditional R&B Performance
Grammy Award for Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance

The Grammy Award for Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance has been awarded since 1999. From 1999 to 2002 the award was known as The Grammy Award for Best Traditional R&B Vocal Album....
for "What's Going On
What's Going On (song)

"What's Going On" is a song written by Renaldo "Obie" Benson, Al Cleveland, and Marvin Gaye. It was the title track of Gaye's groundbreaking 1971 Motown Records album What's Going On, and it became a crossover hit single that reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs....
" with Chaka Khan
Chaka Khan

Chaka Khan is an American singer known for hit songs such as "I'm Every Woman", "I Feel for You" and "Through the Fire ", also sang a modernized theme song for the hit children's TV show, Reading Rainbow in the show's later years....
, 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 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is a museum located on the shores of Lake Erie in downtown Cleveland Cleveland, Ohio, United States, dedicated to recording the history of some of the best-known and most influential artists, producers, and other people who have in some major way influenced the music industry, particularly in the are...
in 2000, and drummer Benny Benjamin in 2003. In 2003, surviving members were invited to the White House

White House

The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the President of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C., it was built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the late Georgian architecture and has been the executive residence of every U.S....
to meet President

President of the United States

The President of the United States is the head of state and head of government of the United States and is the highest political official in the United States by influence and recognition....
George W. Bush

George W. Bush

George Walker Bush served as the List of Presidents of the United States President of the United States from 2001 to 2009. He was the 46th List of Governors of Texas from 1995 to 2000 before being United States presidential inauguration as President on January 20, 2001....
, Secretary of State

United States Secretary of State

The United States Secretary of State is the head of the United States Department of State, concerned with foreign affairs. The Secretary is a member of the President's United States Cabinet and the highest-ranking cabinet secretary both in United States presidential line of succession and United States order of precedence....
Colin Powell

Colin Powell

Colin Luther Powell, Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath, Meritorious Service Decoration, is an American statesman and a former four-star General in the United States Army....
, and National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice

Condoleezza Rice

Condoleezza Rice was the 66th United States Secretary of State, and the second in the administration of President of the United States George W....
, in an event tied to Black History Month

Black History Month

Black History Month is a remembrance of important people and events in the history of the African diaspora. It is celebrated annually in the United States and Canada in the month of February....
.

Members

Membership lists based upon research by Allan Slutsky, with some minor corrections.

Detroit musicians

Keyboardists:

Joe Hunter
Joe Hunter (musician)

Joseph Edward Hunter Born in Jackson, Tennessee was an African-American musician, known for his recording session work as a pianist in Motown Records' in-house studio band, the Funk Brothers....
(band leader, 1959–1964)
Earl Van Dyke
Earl Van Dyke

Earl Van Dyke was an African American musician, most notable as the main keyboardist for Motown' in-house The Funk Brothers band during the late 1960s and early 1970s....
(band leader, 1964–1972)
Richard "Popcorn" Wylie (1959–1962)
Johnny Griffith
Johnny Griffith

Johnny Griffith was an African-American musician. Griffith played piano and keyboard instrument for Motown Records' in-house Funk Brothers studio band....
(1963–1972)
Johnny Gittens (1963–1967)
Ted Sheely (1963–1967)

Guitarists:

Robert White
Robert White (guitarist)

Robert White was an African-American musician. Of note for being one of the main guitarists for Motown Records' in-house studio band, the Funk Brothers, White is best known for performing the familiar guitar riff on The Temptations' number-one hit single "My Girl ", but played the guitar on many successful Motown records, including "Can I Ge...
(1959–1972)
Eddie "Chank" Willis
Eddie Willis

Eddie "Chank" Willis is an African-American musician. Willis played electric guitar and occasional electric sitar for Motown Records' in-house studio band, the Funk Brothers, during the 1960s and early 1970s....
(1959–1972)
Joe Messina
Joe Messina

Joe Messina is an United States guitarist. Dubbed the "white brother with soul music", Messina was one of the most prolific guitarists in Motown Records' in-house studio band, the Funk Brothers....
(1959–1972)
Larry Veeder (1959–1962)
Dave Hamilton (1959–1962)
Huey Davis (1960-1967, The Contours
The Contours

The Contours were one of the early soul music singer groups signed to Motown Records. The group is best known for its singular Billboard Hot 100 Top 40 hit, "Do You Love Me."...
' road and studio guitarist)
Marvin Tarplin
Marv Tarplin

Marvin "Marv" Tarplin is an United States guitarist and songwriter, best known as the guitarist for The Miracles during the 1960s, and is one of the group's original members....
(1958–1973, The Miracles
The Miracles

The Miracles is an United States rhythm and blues group from Detroit, Michigan, notable as the first successful group act for Berry Gordy's Motown Records....
' road and studio guitarist).
Cornelius Grant (1963–1972, The Temptations
The Temptations

The Temptations are an American vocal group that achieved fame as one of the most successful acts to record for Motown Records. The group's repertoire has included, at various times during its five-decade career, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, funk , disco, soul music, and adult contemporary music....
' road guitarist/band leader)
Dennis Coffey
Dennis Coffey

Dennis Coffey is an United States guitarist. He was a recording studio musician for many soul music and Rhythm and blues sound recording and reproduction....
(1967–1972)
Melvin "Wah Wah Watson" Ragin (1968–1972)
Ray Parker
Ray Monette

Bassists:

James Jamerson
James Jamerson

James Lee Jamerson was an American bassist. He was the uncredited bass guitarist on most of Motown Records' hits in the 1960s and early 1970s , and he has become regarded as one of the most influential bass guitar players in modern music history....
(1959–1972)
Clarence Isabell (1959–1962)
Tony Newton (1963–1967)
Bob Babbitt
Bob Babbitt

Bob Babbitt is an United States bass guitar, most famous for his work as a member of Motown Records' studio band, the Funk Brothers, from 1966?1972....
(1967–1972)
Eddie Watkins (1968–1972)
Tweed Beard
Joe Williams
Michael Henderson
Joe James

Drums:

William "Benny" Benjamin
Benny Benjamin

William "Benny" Benjamin , nicknamed Papa Zita, was an American musician, most notable as the main drummer for the Motown studio band known as The Funk Brothers....
(1959–1969)
Richard "Pistol" Allen (1959–1972)
George McGregor (1959–1962)
Clifford Mack (1959–1962)
Marvin Gaye
Marvin Gaye

Marvin Pentz Gay, Jr., better known by his stage name Marvin Gaye was an United States singer-songwriter and instrumentalist with a three-octave vocal range....
(1959–1962)
Uriel Jones
Uriel Jones

Uriel Jones is an African-American musician. Jones was a recording session drummer for Motown Records' in-house studio band, the Funk Brothers, during the 1960s and early 1970s....
(1963–1972)
Frederick Waites (1963–1967)
Andrew Smith (1968–1972)

Percussion:

Jack Ashford
Jack Ashford

Jack Ashford is an African-American musician, widely known as the percussionist for Motown Records' in-house Funk Brothers band during the 1960s and early 1970s....
(1959–1972, tambourine
Tambourine

The tambourine or Marine is a musical instrument of the Percussion instrument family consisting of a frame, often of wood or plastic, with pairs of small metal jingles, called "zils"....
)
Eddie "Bongo" Brown (1959–1972, various)

Vibes:

Jack Ashford
Jack Ashford

Jack Ashford is an African-American musician, widely known as the percussionist for Motown Records' in-house Funk Brothers band during the 1960s and early 1970s....
(1959–1972)
Dave Hamilton (1959–1962)
James Gittens (1959–1962)
Jack Brokensha
Jack Brokensha

John Joseph "Jack" Brokensha is a jazz vibraphone born in Adelaide, Australia.Brokensha studied percussion under his father initially, and played xylophone in vaudeville shows and on radio....
(1963–1972)

Trumpets:

Herbie Williams, John "Little John" Wilson, Marcus Belgrave, Russell Conway, Johnny Trudell, Floyd Jones, Maurice Davis, Billy Horner, Don Slaughter, Eddie Jones

Saxophones:

Henry "Hank" Cosby
Henry Cosby

Henry "Hank" Cosby was an African American songwriter and record producer for Motown Records. Although he worked with many of the label's artists, from The Supremes to The Temptations, Cosby is best known for helming many of Stevie Wonder's early hits, including "My Cherie Amour", "I Was Made to Love Her", and "Uptight "....
, Andrew "Mike" Terry, Norris Patterson, Thomas "Beans" Bowles, Teddy Buckner, Ronnie Wakefield, "Lefty" Edwards, Eli Fountain, Ernie Rodgers, Kasuka Malia, Eugene "BeeBee" Moore, William "Wild Bill" Moore
Wild Bill Moore

William M. Moore , known as Wild Bill Moore, was an American R&B tenor saxophone player.Living in Detroit, he was Michigan's amateur Golden Gloves light heavyweight champion in 1937, and turned professional for a while, but also played alto sax....
, Angelo Carlisi, Dan Turner, Bernie Peacock, Larry Nozero, Lanny Austin

Trombones:

Bob Cousar, George Bohanon, Paul Riser, Jimmy Wilkens, Don White, Carl Raetz, Patrick Lanier, Bill Johnson, Ed Gooch

Flute:

Dayna Hartwick

Strings:

Gordon Staples and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra Strings Section

Los Angeles musicians

Many of the Los Angeles players were members of The Wrecking Crew
The Wrecking Crew (music)

The Wrecking Crew was a nickname given to a group of session musicians in Los Angeles, California, who earned wide acclaim in the 1960s. They backed dozens of popular singers, and were one of the most successful "groups" of studio musicians in music history....
collective of studio musicians.

Keyboards:
Mike Rubini
Joe Sample
Joe Sample

Joseph Leslie "Joe" Sample is an United States pianist, keyboard player and composer. He was one of the founding members of the Jazz Crusaders, the band which became simply The Crusaders in 1971, and remained a part of the group until its final album in 1991 ....
Clarence McDonald
Don Randi
Larry Knechtel
Larry Knechtel

Larry Knechtel is a keyboard player and bassist, best known for his work as a session musician with Simon and Garfunkel, The Beach Boys , The Mamas and the Papas, The Doors, and as a member of the 1970s musical band, Bread ....
Guitars:
Arthur Wright
David T. Walker
Tommy Tedesco
Tommy Tedesco

Thomas J. Tedesco was an United States master session musician and renowned jazz and bebop guitarist.Born in Niagara Falls, New York, Tedesco made his way to the U.S....
Louie Shelton
Adolph Green
Weldon T. Parks
Bass:
Wilton Felder
Wilton Felder

Wilton Felder is both a saxophone and bass guitar player, and is best known as a founding member of The Crusaders, initially called the Jazz Crusaders....
Carol Kaye
Carol Kaye

Carol Kaye is an United States musician, best known as one of the most prolific and widely heard bass guitarists in history, playing on an estimated 10,000 recording sessions....
Bill Pitman
Jacob Aaron Greenberg
Ron Brown
Drums:
Earl Palmer
Earl Palmer

Earl Cyril Palmer was an United States drummer and member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.Palmer played on many recording sessions, including Little Richard's first several albums and Tom Waits' 1978 album Blue Valentine....
Jacob Greenberg
Gene Pello
Paul Humphreys
Percussion:
Gary Coleman
Bobbye Porter
King Errisson
Joe Clayton
Sandra Crouch
Jerry Steinholtz
Emil Richards

Arrangers and conductors

Detroit: Paul Riser, Willie Shorter, Dave Van DePitte, Wade Marcus, Johnny Allen, Gil Askey, Ernie Wilkins, Jerry Long
Jerry Long, Sr.

Jerry Long, Sr. is a former United States composer and musical arrangment for Berry Gordy's Motown Records. He is the father of Jerry Long, Jr., aka the rapper Kokane....
, Henry "Hank" Cosby, Slide Hampton, and H. B. Barnum
H. B. Barnum

H. B. Barnum is an United States pianist, arrangement, record producer, songwriter, and former child actor. Older Brother to backup singer Billie Barnum....
Los Angeles: Gene Page, James Carmichael, and Arthur Wright

External links