The Funk Brothers
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.
For the professional wrestlers, see Dory Funk Jr. and Terry Funk.
The Funk Brothers
Detroit, Michigan, United States
1959–1972
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.
in 2004
Lifetime Achievement Award
for Standing in the Shadows of Motown, 2002.
Best Compilation Soundtrack Album For A Motion Picture, Television Or Other Visual Media
The Funk Brothers have received three Grammy awards:
Bassist James Jamerson was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000, and drummer Benny Benjamin in 2003. In 2003, surviving members were invited to the White House to meet President George W. Bush, Secretary of State Colin Powell, and National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice, in an event tied to Black History Month.[5]
In 2007, the Funk Brothers were inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville.[6] On March 21, 2013, the Funk Brothers were honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. 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.
Keyboardists:
Joe Hunter
Guitarists:
Robert White
Bassists:
James Jamerson
Accordion:
Drums:
William "Benny" Benjamin
Percussion:
Jack Ashford
Vibes:
Jack Ashford
Trumpets:
Marcus Belgrave
Saxophones:
Henry "Hank" Cosby
Trombones:
[38]
Flute:
[35]
Piccolo:
Strings:
Gordon Staples
"" – Barrett Strong
Money
" Pt. 2" – Stevie Wonder
Fingertips
"" - The Temptations
The Girl's Alright with Me
"" – The Supremes
Where Did Our Love Go
"" - The Four Tops
Baby I Need Your Loving
"" – The Supremes
Baby Love
"" – The Supremes
Come See About Me
"" – The Temptations
My Girl
"" – The Supremes
Stop! In the Name of Love
"" – The Supremes
Back in My Arms Again
"" – The Four Tops
I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)
"" – The Supremes
I Hear a Symphony
"" - The Supremes
Love Is Like an Itching in My Heart
"" – The Supremes
You Can't Hurry Love
"" – The Four Tops
Reach Out I'll Be There
"" – The Supremes
You Keep Me Hangin' On
"" – The Supremes
Forever Came Today
"" – Diana Ross and the Supremes
Love Child
"" – Marvin Gaye
I Heard It Through the Grapevine
"" – The Temptations
I Can't Get Next to You
"" – Diana Ross and the Supremes
Someday We'll Be Together
"" – Diana Ross
Ain't No Mountain High Enough
"" – Smokey Robinson and the Miracles
The Tears of a Clown
"" – The Temptations
Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)
"" – The Temptations
Papa Was a Rollin' Stone
"" – Marvin Gaye
Let's Get It On
"" - Marvin Gaye
You Sure Love to Ball
"" - Marvin Gaye
Come Get to This
"" – The Contours
Just a Little Misunderstanding
"" – The Miracles
Shop Around
"" – Junior Walker & the All Stars
Shotgun
"" – Marvin Gaye
How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)
"" – The Temptations
The Way You Do the Things You Do
"" – Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell
Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing
"" – Junior Walker & the All Stars
(I'm a) Road Runner
"" – The Temptations
Ain't Too Proud to Beg
"" – The Temptations
I Wish It Would Rain
"" - The Supremes
The Happening
"" – Diana Ross & the Supremes
Reflections
"" - Marvin Gaye
That's the Way Love Is
"" – Martha & the Vandellas
Heat Wave
"" – Marvin Gaye
Hitch Hike
"" – The Miracles
Way Over There
"" – The Jackson 5
Who's Lovin' You
"" – The Miracles
What's So Good About Goodbye
"" – Stevie Wonder
I Was Made to Love Her
"" – The Four Tops
It's the Same Old Song
"" – The Miracles
You've Really Got a Hold on Me
"" – The Four Tops
Standing in the Shadows of Love
" - The Supremes
I'm Livin' in Shame
"" – The Miracles
Going to a Go-Go
"Heaven Must Have Sent You" – The Elgins
"" – Martha & the Vandellas
Dancing in the Street
"" - The Temptations
Runaway Child, Running Wild
"" – Marvin Gaye
Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)
"" - The Temptations
All I Need
"" – Marvin Gaye
Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)
"" – The Temptations
Cloud Nine
"" – Marvin Gaye
What's Goin' On
"" – The Contours
Do You Love Me
"" – The Temptations
Get Ready
"Function at the Junction" – Shorty Long
"" – The Supremes
My World Is Empty Without You
"" – The Miracles
The Tracks of My Tears
"" – Marvin Gaye
Can I Get a Witness
"" – Martha & the Vandellas
Nowhere to Run
"Here Comes the Judge" – Shorty Long
"" – Stevie Wonder
Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours
"" – The Marvelettes
Beechwood 4-5789
"" – The Four Tops
Bernadette
"Two Lovers" –
Mary Wells
"" – Jimmy Ruffin
What Becomes of the Brokenhearted
"" – Stevie Wonder
My Cherie Amour
"" – Smokey Robinson & the Miracles
I Second That Emotion
"" – The Temptations
(I Know) I'm Losing You
"First I Look at the Purse" – The Contours
"" – The Miracles
Ooo Baby Baby
"" – Edwin Starr
25 Miles
"" – Marvin Gaye
I'll Be Doggone
"" – Marvin Gaye
Pride and Joy
"" – The Temptations
Ball of Confusion (That's What the World Is Today)
"" – Marvin Gaye & Kim Weston
It Takes Two
"" – The Isley Brothers
This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak for You)
"" – Stevie Wonder
Uptight
"" – Shorty Long
Devil with a Blue Dress On
"" – Martha & the Vandellas
Jimmy Mack
"Since I Lost My Baby" – The Temptations
"" – Edwin Starr
War
"" – Marvin Gaye
Stubborn Kind of Fellow
"" – The Marvelettes
Don't Mess with Bill
"" – The Four Tops
Shake Me, Wake Me (When It's Over)
"" – The Four Tops
Walk Away Renée
"" – The Miracles
Mickey's Monkey
"" – Marvin Gaye
Ain't That Peculiar
"" – Stevie Wonder
Shoo-Be-Doo-Be-Doo-Da-Day
Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section
The Nashville A-Team
Salsoul Orchestra
The Section
"Standing in the Shadows of Motown WebQuest"
Official Standing in the Shadows of Motown website
Grammy Lifetime Achievement awards
The Soulful Tale of Two Cities
Carl Dixon's Bandtraxs project
Soulful Detroit Home page
Motown Museum
at NAMM Oral History Collection (2021)