The Funk Brothers were a group of

Detroit Detroit ( , ) is the List of municipalities in Michigan, most populous city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is situated on the bank of the Detroit River across from Windsor, Ontario. It had a population of 639,111 at the 2020 United State ...

-based

session musician A session musician (also known as studio musician or backing musician) is a musician hired to perform in a recording session or a live performance. The term sideman is also used in the case of live performances, such as accompanying a reco ...

s who performed the backing to most

Motown Motown is an American record label owned by the Universal Music Group. Founded by Berry Gordy, Berry Gordy Jr. as Tamla Records on January 12, 1959, it was incorporated as Motown Record Corporation on April 14, 1960. Its name, a portmanteau ...

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 "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" is a song written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong for Motown Records in 1966. The first recording of the song to be released was produced by Whitfield for Gladys Knight & the Pips and released as a ...

", " 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 A heat wave or heatwave, sometimes described as extreme heat, is a period of abnormally hot weather generally considered to be at least ''five consecutive days''. A heat wave is usually measured relative to the usual climate in the area and ...

". Some combination of the members played on each of Motown's 100-plus U.S. R&B number one singles 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 A documentary film (often described simply as a documentary) is a nonfiction Film, motion picture intended to "document reality, primarily for instruction, education or maintaining a Recorded history, historical record". The American author and ...

'' Standing in the Shadows of Motown'', based on Allan Slutsky's book of the same name. These 13 members were identified by

NARAS National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, Inc. (NARAS), doing business as The Recording Academy, is an American Learned society, learned academy of musicians, producers, recording engineers, and other musical professionals. It is widely kno ...

for the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and were recognized with a star on the

Hollywood Walk of Fame The Hollywood Walk of Fame is a landmark which consists of 2,813 five-pointed terrazzo-and-brass stars embedded in the sidewalks along 15 blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and three blocks of Vine Street in the Hollywood, Los Angeles, Hollywood dist ...

. In 2007, the Funk Brothers were inducted into the

Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum Mission Statement The Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum is a 501(c)(3) charity organization. The mission of the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum is to honor all great musicians regardless of genre or instruments. This is done by exhibiting t ...

History

Early members included bandleader Joe Hunter and Earl Van Dyke (piano and organ); Clarence Isabell (double bass);

James Jamerson James Lee Jamerson (January 29, 1936 – August 2, 1983) was an American bassist. He was the uncredited bassist on most of the Motown Records hits in the 1960s and early 1970s (Motown did not list session musician credits on their releases un ...

(bass guitar and double bass); Benny "Papa Zita" Benjamin and Richard "Pistol" Allen (drums); Mike Terry (baritone saxophone);

Paul Riser Paul Riser (born September 11, 1943) is an American trombonist and Motown musical arranger who was responsible for co-writing and arranging dozens of top ten hit records. His legacy as one of the " Funk Brothers" is similar to that of most of ...

(trombone); Robert White, Eddie Willis, and Joe Messina (guitar); Jack Ashford (tambourine, percussion,

vibraphone The vibraphone (also called the vibraharp) is a percussion instrument in the metallophone family. It consists of tuned metal bars and is typically played by using Percussion mallet, mallets to strike the bars. A person who plays the vibraphone ...

marimba The marimba ( ) is a musical instrument in the percussion family that consists of wooden bars that are struck by mallets. Below each bar is a resonator pipe that amplifies particular harmonics of its sound. Compared to the xylophone, the mari ...

); Jack Brokensha (vibraphone, marimba); and Eddie "Bongo" Brown (percussion). Hunter left in 1964, replaced on keyboards by Johnny Griffith and as bandleader by Van Dyke. Uriel Jones joined the band as a third drummer. Late-era bassist Bob Babbitt and guitarist Dennis Coffey both joined the ensemble in 1966. 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

Stax Records Stax Records is an American record company, originally based in Memphis, Tennessee. Founded in 1957 as Satellite Records, the label changed its name to Stax Records in September 1961. It also shared its operations with sister label Volt Records. ...

backing-band contemporaries Booker T. & the M.G.'s in Memphis, until the release of the '' Standing in the Shadows of Motown'' documentary, the members of the Funk Brothers were little known. Studio musicians were not credited by Motown until

Marvin Gaye Marvin Pentz Gaye Jr. (; April 2, 1939 – April 1, 1984) was an American Rhythm and blues, R&B and soul singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer. He helped shape the sound of Motown in the 1960s, first as an in-house session player an ...

's '' What's Going On'' 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 The soul is the purported Mind–body dualism, immaterial aspect or essence of a Outline of life forms, living being. It is typically believed to be Immortality, immortal and to exist apart from the material world. The three main theories that ...

Brothers", since Motown CEO Berry Gordy, Jr. disliked the word "

funk Funk is a music genre that originated in African-American communities in the mid-1960s when musicians created a rhythmic, danceable new form of music through a mixture of various music genres that were popular among African-Americans in the ...

". Alternatively, the name "Funk Brothers" could have been given to the band ex post facto; the term "funky" as an adjective came to be associated with uptempo and

backbeat In music and music theory, the beat is the basic unit of time, the pulse (regularly repeating event), of the ''mensural level'' (or ''beat level''). The beat is often defined as the rhythm listeners would tap their toes to when listening to a pi ...

, Southern-styled soul music in the second half of the 1960s; the term "funk" as a noun is typically associated with uptempo soul music from the 1970s onwards. In the ''Standing in the Shadows of Motown'' documentary, Joe Hunter stated that the name "The Funk Brothers" came from Benny Benjamin. Hunter said that Benjamin was leaving the studio (known as the "Snake Pit", due to all the cable runs out of the ceiling) after session work, paused on the stairs, turned and said to his fellow musicians, "You all are the Funk Brothers." The band was then informally named. 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 Jackie Wilson's 1967 hit "

(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher "(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher" is an R&B song written by Gary Jackson, Raynard Miner, and Carl Smith. It was recorded by Jackie Wilson for his album '' Higher and Higher'' (1967), produced by Carl Davis, and became a Top 1 ...

" did not have a Motown influence quite by accident—the Funk Brothers migrated to do the Wilson session, in an interesting reference to Motown's early history: Berry Gordy, Jr got his first music break by getting Wilson to record some of his songs (including " Reet Petite") in the 1950s. Various Funk Brothers also appeared on such non-Motown hits as The San Remo Golden Strings "Hungry For Love", " Cool Jerk" (

the Capitols The Capitols were an American, Detroit, Michigan-based soul trio, widely known in 1966 for their '' Billboard'' hit single " Cool Jerk". Formation and disbandment The R&B trio formed in 1962 as "The Three Caps," with Samuel George as the le ...

), "Agent Double-O Soul" (

Edwin Starr Charles Edwin Hatcher (January 21, 1942 – April 2, 2003), known by his stage name Edwin Starr, was an American singer and songwriter. He is best remembered for his Norman Whitfield-produced Motown singles of the 1970s, most notably the num ...

, before that singer joined Motown itself), "(I Just Wanna) Testify" by the Parliaments, " Band Of Gold" (

Freda Payne Freda Charcilia Payne (born September 19, 1942Some sources give a birth year of 1945, but this appears to be an error as all sources agree that she is older than her sister Scherrie, born 1944.) is an American singer and actress. Payne is best ...

), "

Give Me Just a Little More Time "Give Me Just a Little More Time" is the debut single by Chairmen of the Board, released in 1970 through Capitol Records on Holland–Dozier–Holland's Invictus Records label. "Give Me Just a Little More Time", backed with "Since the Days of P ...

" ( The Chairmen of the Board), and blues musician

John Lee Hooker John Lee Hooker (August 22, 1912 or 1917 – June 21, 2001) was an American blues singer, songwriter, and guitarist. The son of a sharecropper, he rose to prominence performing an electric guitar-style adaptation of Delta blues that he develo ...

's " Boom Boom". After he found out about the Edwin Starr session, Gordy fined members of the Funk Brothers band for moonlighting for another label; Eddie Wingate, owner of the Ric-Tic and Golden World labels, which released Starr's "Agent Double-O Soul", subsequently attended that year's Motown staff Christmas party and personally gave each of the fined session players double the amount of the fine in cash, on the spot. Gordy eventually bought out Wingate's label and his entire artist roster.

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. By 1970, Motown sessions were increasingly scheduled in Los Angeles instead of Detroit, including all of those for

the Jackson 5 The Jackson 5, later known as the Jacksons, are an American pop band composed of members of the Jackson family. The group was formed in Gary, Indiana in 1964, and originally consisted of brothers Jackie, Ti ...

's hit recordings. Nevertheless, Motown producers such as

Norman Whitfield Norman Jesse Whitfield (May 12, 1940 – September 16, 2008) was an American songwriter, composer, and producer, who worked with Berry Gordy's Motown labels during the 1960s. allmusic Biography/ref> He has been credited as one of the creators ...

, Frank Wilson,

, and

Smokey Robinson William "Smokey" Robinson Jr. (born February 19, 1940) is an American R&B and soul singer, songwriter, record producer, and former record executive. He was the founder and frontman of the pioneering Motown vocal group the Miracles, for which he ...

steadfastly continued to record in Detroit. The Funk Brothers were dismissed in 1972, when

Berry Gordy Berry Gordy III (born November 28, 1929), also known as Berry Gordy Jr., is an American retired record executive, record producer, songwriter, film producer and television producer. He is best known as the founder of the Motown record label and i ...

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 Earl Cyril Palmer (October 25, 1924 – September 19, 2008) was an American drummer. Considered one of the inventors of rock and roll, he is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Palmer was one of the most prolific studio musicians of al ...

, percussionist Gary Coleman, bassist Carol Kaye, guitarist Tommy Tedesco, and keyboardist

Larry Knechtel Lawrence William Knechtel (August 4, 1940 – August 20, 2009) was an American keyboard player and bassist who was a member of the Wrecking Crew, a collection of Los Angeles–based session musicians who worked with such renowned artists as Sim ...

Later years

In February 2004, surviving members of the Funk Brothers were presented the Grammy Legend Award at the

46th Annual Grammy Awards The 46th Annual Grammy Awards were held on February 8, 2004, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California honoring the best in music for the recording of the year beginning from October 1, 2002, through September 30, 2003. It recognized acc ...

at the

Staples Center Crypto.com Arena (originally and colloquially known as Staples Center) is a multi-purpose indoor arena in downtown Los Angeles. Opened on October 17, 1999, as Staples Center, it is located next to the Los Angeles Convention Center complex along F ...

in Los Angeles in March 2006, some remaining Funk Brothers were invited to perform on Philadelphia writer-producer-singer Phil Hurtt's recording session at Studio A, Dearborn Heights, Detroit, where they contributed their performances to "The Soulful Tale of Two Cities" project. The double-album sleeve notes read: "Motown's legendary Funk Brothers and members of Philadelphia's world renowned MFSB take you 'back in the day' with an album filled with classic Philly and Motown hits." Bob Babbitt, Joe Hunter, Uriel Jones, and Eddie Willis performed alongside other notable Detroit session musicians, like Ray Monette, Robert Jones, Spider Webb, and Treaty Womack. The musicians played on the Philly hits, giving their unique Detroit interpretations of the songs under the leadership of Phil Hurtt,

Bobby Eli Bobby Eli (born Eli Tatarsky; March 2, 1946 – August 17, 2023) was an American musician, arranger, composer and record producer from Philadelphia. He was a founding member and lead guitarist of Philadelphia studio band MFSB. Overview Bobby ...

, Clay McMurray and Lamont Dozier. Many other ex-Motown and Detroit artists performed vocals on the session, including the Velvelettes, Carolyn Crawford, Lamont Dozier, Bobby Taylor, Kim Weston,

, and George Clinton. In 2008, Ashford and Riser played on

Raphael Saadiq Raphael Saadiq (; born Charles Ray Wiggins; May 14, 1966) is an American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer. He rose to prominence as a vocalist and bassist for the R&B band Tony! Toni! Toné!, which he formed with h ...

's album '' The Way I See It'', recorded in the style of the Motown Sound. 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 Philip David Charles Collins (born 30 January 1951) is an English musician, songwriter, record producer and actor. He was the drummer and later became the lead singer of the rock band Genesis (band), Genesis and had a successful solo career, ac ...

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.

Awards and recognition

The Funk Brothers have received three

Grammy The Grammy Awards, stylized as GRAMMY, and often referred to as The Grammys, are awards presented by The Recording Academy of the United States to recognize outstanding achievements in music. They are regarded by many as the most prestigious a ...

awards: *

Lifetime Achievement Award Lifetime achievement awards are awarded by various organizations, to recognize contributions over the whole of a career, rather than or in addition to single contributions. Such awards, and organizations presenting them, include: A * A.C. ...

in 2004 * Best Traditional R&B Performance for " What's Going On" with

Chaka Khan Yvette Marie Stevens (born March 23, 1953), better known by her stage name Chaka Khan ( ), is an American singer. Known as the " Queen of Funk", her career has spanned more than five decades beginning in the early 1970s as the lead vocalist of ...

, 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 The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (RRHOF), also simply referred to as the Rock Hall, is a museum and hall of fame located in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, United States, on the shore of Lake Erie. The museum documents the history of rock music and the ...

in 2000, and drummer Benny Benjamin in 2003. In 2003, surviving members were invited to the

White House The White House is the official residence and workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest (Washington, D.C.), NW in Washington, D.C., it has served as the residence of every U.S. president ...

to meet President

George W. Bush George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is an American politician and businessman who was the 43rd president of the United States from 2001 to 2009. A member of the Bush family and the Republican Party (United States), Republican Party, he i ...

, Secretary of State

Colin Powell Colin Luther Powell ( ; – ) was an Americans, American diplomat, and army officer who was the 65th United States secretary of state from 2001 to 2005. He was the first African-American to hold the office. He was the 15th National Security ...

, and National Security Advisor

Condoleezza Rice Condoleezza "Condi" Rice ( ; born November 14, 1954) is an American diplomat and political scientist serving since 2020 as the 8th director of Stanford University's Hoover Institution. A member of the Republican Party, she previously served ...

, in an event tied to

Black History Month Black History Month is an annually observed commemorative month originating in the United States, where it is also known as African-American History Month. It began as a way of remembering important people and events in the history of the Af ...

. In 2007, the Funk Brothers were inducted into the

Nashville Nashville, often known as Music City, is the capital and List of municipalities in Tennessee, most populous city in the U.S. state of Tennessee. It is the county seat, seat of Davidson County, Tennessee, Davidson County in Middle Tennessee, locat ...

. On March 21, 2013, the Funk Brothers were honored with a star on the

. In August 2014, the Funk Brothers were inducted into the Rhythm and Blues Hall Of Fame at the induction ceremony, which was held in Canton, Ohio that year.

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 The Andantes were an American female session group for the Motown record label during the 1960s. Composed of Jackie Hicks, Marlene Barrow, and Louvain Demps, the group sang background vocals on numerous Motown recordings, including songs by M ...

(Jackie Hicks, Marlene Barrow, and Louvain Demps) as notable contributors to the Funk Brothers and Motown's sound. ''Membership lists based upon research by Allan Slutsky, with some minor corrections.''

Detroit musicians

*''Keyboardists:'' ** Joe Hunter (band leader, 1959–1964)* ** Earl Van Dyke (band leader, 1964–1972)* ** Richard "Popcorn" Wylie (1959–1962) **

(1961–1962) ** Raynoma Liles "Miss Ray" Gordy (1959–1962) **George Fowler (1962–1969) ** Leonard Caston Jr. (1969–1972) ** H. B. Barnum (1963–1972) ** Johnny Griffith (1963–1972)* **James Gittens (1959–1967) **Ted Sheely (1967–1972) *''Guitarists:'' ** Robert White (1959–1972)* ** Eddie "Chank" Willis (1959–1972)* ** Joe Messina (1959–1972)* **Larry Veeder (1959–1962) ** Dave HamiltonDavid Lewis Hamilton, U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, ''Ancestry.com''
Retrieved 2 January 2022 (1959–1962) **Huey Davis (1959–1967,

the Contours The Contours are an American rhythm and blues vocal group. They recorded for Motown Records. They are known for their 1962 hit single "Do You Love Me", which sold over 1 million copies and became a major hit again in 1988. History Establishment ...

' road and studio guitarist) ** Marvin Tarplin (1959–1972,

the Miracles The Miracles (later known as Smokey Robinson and the Miracles from 1965 to 1972) were an American vocal group formed in Detroit, Michigan in 1955. They were the first successful recording act for Motown Records and are considered one of the most ...

' road and studio guitarist) ** Cornelius Grant (1963–1972,

the Temptations The Temptations is an American vocal group formed in Detroit, Michigan, in 1961 as The Elgins, known for their string of successful singles and albums with Motown from the 1960s to the mid-1970s. The group's work with producer Norman Whitfield ...

' road guitarist and band leader) ** Dennis Coffey (1966–1972) ** Melvin "Wah Wah Watson" Ragin (1968–1972) ** Ray Parker Jr. (1968–1972) ** Ray Monette ** Paul Warren *''Bassists:'' **

(1959–1972)* **Clarence Isabell (1959–1962) ** Bob Babbitt (1966–1972)* ** Greg Reeves (1966–1969,

' 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 (

' road bassist) *''Accordion:'' **John "Johnnie Miles" Milewski (1965–1970) *''Drums:'' ** William "Benny" Benjamin (1959–1969)* ** Richard "Pistol" Allen (1959–1972)* **George McGregor (1959–1962) **Corey Jahns (1959–1967)

bongos Bongos (Spanish language, Spanish: ''bongó'') are an Afro-Cubans, Afro-Cuban percussion instrument consisting of a pair of small open bottomed hand drums of different sizes. The pair consists of the larger ''hembra'' () and the smaller ''macho'' ...

**Clifford Mack (1959–1962) **

(1961–1962) (also listed above) ** Uriel Jones (1963–1972)* **

Freddie Waits Frederick Douglas Waits (April 27, 1943 – November 18, 1989) was an American hard bop and post-bop drummer. Waits never officially recorded as leader, but was a prominent member and composer in Max Roach's M'Boom percussion ensemble. He work ...

(1963–1967) ** Melvin Brown (1967–1972,

' road drummer) **Andrew Smith (1968–1972) ** Kenneth "Spider Webb" Rice (1968–1972) ** Aaron Smith (1970–1972) *''Percussion:'' ** Jack Ashford (1959–1972,

tambourine The tambourine is a musical instrument in the percussion family consisting of a frame, often of wood or plastic, with pairs of small metal jingles, called "zills". Classically the term tambourine denotes an instrument with a drumhead, thoug ...

)* ** Eddie "Bongo" Brown (1959–1972, various)* ** R. Dean Taylor (1960s, tambourine) **

Bobbye Hall Bobbye Jean Hall is an American percussionist who has recorded with a variety of rock, soul, blues and jazz artists, and has appeared on 20 songs that reached the top ten in the Billboard Hot 100, ''Billboard'' Hot 100. Early career, work for ...

(1963–1972, various) **Stacey Edwards (1967–1972,

' road percussionist) *''Vibes:'' ** Jack Ashford (1959–1972) (also listed above)* ** Dave Hamilton (1959–1962) (also listed above) **James Gittens (1959–1967) (also listed above) ** Jack Brokensha (1963–1972) *''Trumpets:'' **Herbie Williams **John "Little John" Wilson ** Marcus Belgrave **Russell Conway ** Johnny Trudell **Floyd Jones **Maurice Davis **Billy Horner **Gordon Stump **Don Slaughter **Eddie Jones *''Saxophones:'' ** Henry "Hank" Cosby ** Andrew "Mike" Terry **Norris "Kasuku Mafia" Patterson **Thomas "Beans" Bowles ** Ted Buckner ** Walter "Choker" Campbell **Frank Harvey Jackson **Ronnie Wakefield **"Lefty" Edwards **George F. Benson **Eli Fountain **Ernie Rodgers **Eugene "BeeBee" Moore ** William "Wild Bill" Moore **Angelo Carlisi **Dan Turner **Bernie Peacock **Larry Nozero **Lanny Austin *''Trombones:'' **McKinley Jackson **Bob Cousar **

George Bohanon George Roland Bohanon Jr. (August 7, 1937 – November 8, 2024) was an American jazz trombonist and session musician from Detroit, Michigan. Biography In the early 1960s, he participated in Detroit's Workshop Jazz ensemble, with Johnny Griffith, ...

**Jimmy Wilkens **Don White **Carl Raetz **Patrick Lanier **Bill Johnson **Ed Gooch *''Flute:'' **Dayna Hartwick **Thomas "Beans" Bowles *''Piccolo:'' **Dayna Hartwick *''Strings:'' **

Gordon Staples Gordon Staples was an American violinist and past concertmaster for the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. He was known for his work as a leader and conductor of the string section on recording sessions for Motown Records during their heyday in the 196 ...

and the

Detroit Symphony Orchestra The Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO) is an American orchestra based in Detroit, Detroit, Michigan. Its primary performance venue is Orchestra Hall (Detroit, Michigan), Orchestra Hall at the Max M. Fisher Music Center in Detroit's Midtown, Detroit, ...

string section ***''Violins'' ****Zinovi Bistritzky ****Beatriz Budinsky ****Lillian Downs ****Virginia Halfmann ****Richard Margitza ****Felix Resnick ****Alvin Score ****Linda Sneeden Smith ****James Waring ***''Violas'' ****Nathan Gordon ****David Ireland ****Eduard Kesner ****Anne Mischakoff ****Meyer Shapiro ***''Cellos'' ****Italo Babini ****Edward Korkigian ****Thaddeus Markiewicz ****Marcy Schweickhardt

Los Angeles musicians

Los Angeles was an alternate recording center for Motown artists beginning in the mid-1960s, utilizing a different set of musicians. Hit tracks recorded in L.A. include

' " More Love", many of

Brenda Holloway Brenda Holloway (born June 26, 1946) is an American soul singer who was a recording artist for Motown Records during the 1960s. Her best-known recordings are the hits " Every Little Bit Hurts", " When I'm Gone", and " You've Made Me So Very H ...

's songs, and all the early hits of

. Many of the Los Angeles players were members of the Wrecking Crew, a loose-knit group of studio musicians.

Arrangers and conductors

*''Detroit:''

, Willie Shorter, David Van De Pitte,

Wade Marcus Wade Marcus was a music producer and arranger associated with the Motown (music style), Motown sound during the 1970s. He composed the music to the film ''The Final Comedown'' with Grant Green. He also produced albums by The Blackbyrds, Gary Bartz ...

, Johnny Allen,

Gil Askey Gilbert Askey (March 9, 1925 – April 9, 2014) was an American jazz trumpeter, composer, producer and musical director who was born in Austin, Texas, and emigrated to Australia in 1988. Early and personal life Askey was born in Austin, Texas, ...

, Ernie Wilkins, Jerry Long, Henry "Hank" Cosby,

Slide Hampton Locksley Wellington Hampton (April 21, 1932 – November 18, 2021) was an American jazz trombone, jazz trombonist, composer and arranger. As his nickname implies, Hampton's main instrument was slide trombone, but he also occasionally played tub ...

, and H. B. Barnum *''Los Angeles:'' Gene Page, James Carmichael, Arthur Wright,

Michael Lovesmith Michael Lovesmith (born Michael Larry Smith, 1953) is an American R&B singer, songwriter, musician, record producer and executive. He has sometimes been credited as Michael L. Smith. Life and career Born in St Louis, Missouri, he wrote songs for ...

Selected list of hit songs on which the Funk Brothers played

;(Tamla) Motown *"

Money Money is any item or verifiable record that is generally accepted as payment for goods and services and repayment of debts, such as taxes, in a particular country or socio-economic context. The primary functions which distinguish money are: m ...

" – Barrett Strong *" Please Mr. Postman" –

The Marvelettes The Marvelettes were an American girl group formed in Inkster, Michigan, Inkster, Michigan in 1960, consisting of schoolmates Gladys Horton, Katherine Anderson, Georgeanna Tillman, Juanita Cowart (now Cowart Motley), and Georgia Dobbins, who was ...

*" Fingertips Pt. 2" – Stevie Wonder *" The Girl's Alright with Me" - The Temptations *" My Guy" –

Mary Wells Mary Esther Wells (May 13, 1943 – July 26, 1992) was an American singer, who helped to define the emerging sound of Motown in the early 1960s. Along with the Supremes, the Miracles, the Temptations, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, and the F ...

Come and Get These Memories "Come and Get These Memories" is an R&B song by Motown girl group Martha and the Vandellas. Their second single released under Motown's Gordy Records subsidiary, "Memories" became the group's first hit single, reaching number 29 on the ''Bill ...

" -

Martha and the Vandellas Martha and the Vandellas (known from 1967 to 1973 as Martha Reeves & the Vandellas) were an American girl group formed in Detroit, Michigan in 1957. The group achieved fame in the 1960s as a major act for Motown Records. Formed by friends Annett ...

*" Where Did Our Love Go" – The Supremes *"

Baby I Need Your Loving "Baby I Need Your Loving" is a 1964 hit single recorded by the Four Tops for the Motown label. Written and produced by Motown's main production team Holland–Dozier–Holland, the song was the group's first Motown single and their first pop Top ...

" - The Four Tops *" Baby Love" – The Supremes *"

Come See About Me "Come See About Me" is a 1964 song recorded by the Supremes for the Motown label. The track opens with a fade-in, marking one of the first times the technique had been used on a studio recording. The song became third of five consecutively rel ...

" – The Supremes *" My Girl" – The Temptations *"

Stop! In the Name of Love "Stop! In the Name of Love" is a 1965 song recorded by the Supremes for the Motown label. Written and produced by Motown's main production team Holland–Dozier–Holland, "Stop! In the Name of Love" held the number 1 position on the Billboard ...

" – The Supremes *" Back in My Arms Again" – The Supremes *"

I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch) "I Can't Help Myself" is a 1965 song recorded by the Four Tops for the Motown label. Written and produced by Motown's main production team Holland–Dozier–Holland, "I Can't Help Myself" is one of the most well-known Motown recordings of the 1 ...

" – The Four Tops *" I Hear a Symphony" – The Supremes *" Love Is Like an Itching in My Heart" - The Supremes *"

You Can't Hurry Love "You Can't Hurry Love" is a song originally recorded by the Supremes on the Motown label. It was released on July 25, 1966 as the second single (music), single from their studio album ''The Supremes A' Go-Go''. Written and produced by Motown p ...

" – The Supremes *" Reach Out I'll Be There" – The Four Tops *" You Keep Me Hangin' On" – The Supremes *"

Forever Came Today "Forever Came Today" is a 1968 song written and produced by the Motown collective of Holland–Dozier–Holland, and was first made into a hit as a single for Diana Ross & the Supremes in early 1968. A disco version of the song was released as a ...

" – The Supremes *" Love Child" – Diana Ross and the Supremes *"

" – Marvin Gaye *"

I Can't Get Next to You "I Can't Get Next to You" is a 1969 Single (music), single recorded by the Temptations and written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong for the Gordy (Motown) label. The song was a No. 1 single on the Billboard Hot 100, ''Billboard'' Top Pop ...

" – 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) "Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)" is a song by American soul group the Temptations, written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong. Released on the Gordy (Motown) label, and produced by Norman Whitfield, it features on the group ...

" – 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 A shotgun (also known as a scattergun, peppergun, or historically as a fowling piece) is a long gun, long-barreled firearm designed to shoot a straight-walled cartridge (firearms), cartridge known as a shotshell, which discharges numerous small ...

" – Junior Walker & the All Stars *" How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)" – Marvin Gaye *" The One Who Really Loves You" –

*" 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 *"

" – 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 Gladys Knight & the Pips were an American Rhythm and blues, R&B, soul music, soul, and funk family music group from Atlanta, Georgia, that remained active on the music charts and performing circuit for over three decades starting from the early ...

*" 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) "Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)" is the second single from American singer-songwriter Marvin Gaye's 1971 album, '' What's Going On''. Following the breakthrough of the title track's success, the song, written solely by Gaye, became regarded as one ...

" – 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 "Do You Love Me" is a rhythm and blues song recorded by the Contours in 1962. Written and produced by Motown, Motown Records owner Berry Gordy Jr., it appeared twice on the Billboard Hot 100, ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart, reaching numbers three ...

" – 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 "Can I Get a Witness" is a song composed by Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, and Eddie Holland and produced by Brian Holland and Lamont Dozier as a non-album single for American recording vocalist Marvin Gaye, who issued the record on Motown's T ...

" – 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 Bernadette is a French language, French name, a female form of the name Bernard, which means "brave bear". Notable persons with the name include: People * Bernadette (singer) (born 1959), Dutch singer * Bernadette Allen (born 1956), American for ...

" – The Four Tops *"Two Lovers" –

*" 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 War is an armed conflict between the armed forces of states, or between governmental forces and armed groups that are organized under a certain command structure and have the capacity to sustain military operations, or between such organi ...

" – Edwin Starr *" Stubborn Kind of Fellow" – Marvin Gaye *"

Don't Mess with Bill "Don't Mess with Bill" is a song recorded by the Marvelettes for Motown Records' Tamla label.The Complete Motown Singles Vol 5: 1965 D liner notes New York: Hip-O Select/Motown/Universal Records. Written and produced by Smokey Robinson, "Don' ...

" – The Marvelettes *" You Beat Me to the Punch" –

Shake Me, Wake Me (When It's Over) "Shake Me, Wake Me (When It's Over)" is a song recorded by the American quartet Four Tops for their third studio album, '' On Top'' (1966). It was released in February 1966 as a 7" vinyl single through Motown records. It was written and produced ...

" – 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 "Shoo-Be-Doo-Be-Doo-Da-Day" is a 1968 Single (music), single released by American and Motown Records, Motown recording artist Stevie Wonder. The song, co-written by Wonder and produced by Henry Cosby and Sylvia Moy, was the first to showcase Wonde ...

" – Stevie Wonder ;Other labels *" Cool Jerk" – The Capitols (Atlantic) *" Whispers (Gettin' Louder)" – Jackie Wilson (Brunswick) *"

" – Jackie Wilson (Brunswick) *" Bad Girl" – The Miracles (Chess) *" Band of Gold" – Freda Payne (Invictus) *"Crumbs off the Table" – Glass House (Invictus) *"

" – 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)

References

External links

"Standing in the Shadows of Motown WebQuest"Grammy Lifetime Achievement awards
* *
The Soulful Tale of Two CitiesCarl Dixon's Bandtraxs projectSoulful Detroit Home pageMotown Museum
*
McKinley Jackson Interview
at NAMM Oral History Collection (2020)
Dennis Coffrey Interview
at NAMM Oral History Collection (2021) {{DEFAULTSORT:Funk Brothers, The American session musicians Grammy Award winners Motown artists Musical collectives American soul musical groups Musical groups from Detroit Musical groups established in 1959 Musical groups disestablished in 1972 1959 establishments in Michigan 1972 disestablishments in Michigan