How many hits did the Funk Brothers have? The opening titles claim the Funk Brothers 'played on more number-one hits than the Beatles (20), Elvis Presley (7), the Rolling Stones (8) and the Beach Boys (4) combined.'. This figure, 39 number one hits spread across several Billboard charts, is indeed dwarfed by the collection of Motown chart toppers the Funk.
How many Funk Brothers are there in the movie?
There are 13 Funk Brothers identified in the film Standing in the Shadows of Motown. The same 13 members were identified by both NARAS for the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and were recognized with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
How many Grammys did the Funk Brothers win?
The Funk Brothers have received three Grammy awards: 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 in 2000, and drummer Benny Benjamin in 2003.
Why did the Funk Brothers break up?
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.
What Motown songs did the Funk Brothers play on?
The Funk Brothers played on Motown hits such as " 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 ", " Ain't No Mountain High Enough ", and " Heat Wave ".
How many Funk Brothers were there?
13 Funk BrothersThere 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.
How many Funk Brothers are left?
While Motown recordings utilized many musicians, the film focused on 13 players, of whom five were already dead. Just four Funk Brothers are alive now. Jones is survived by his wife, June, and three children.
What made the Funk Brothers unique?
This unsung group of musicians arranged and played on more No. 1 hit songs than any other band in history. Their body of work makes them the greatest musical hit machine, and the most creative musical force in the history of popular music. The Funk Brothers created that unmistakable sound that launched a thousand hits.
Did the Funk Brothers get paid?
"I was thinking about how many songs it took to get that $5 or $10." Under union contracts, the Funk Brothers were each paid $52.50 per three-hour session, with escalators ($52.50 overtime for the next hour and a half, $52.50 for each half-hour after that).
Who was the bass player for the Funk Brothers?
James Jamerson1959 – 1972Bob Babbitt1966 – 1972The Funk Brothers/Bassists
What was the greatest success of Motown?
The Supremes 1 Billboard hit singles, including "Where Did Our Love Go," "Baby Love," "You Can't Hurry Love," "You Keep Me Hangin' On," and "Stop! In the Name of Love," The Supremes is considered Motown's greatest commercial success.
Who played guitar for Motown?
He did session work at Anna Records and later became one of the three core guitarists at Motown, along with Joe Messina and Eddie Willis. There, he performed primarily as a rhythm guitarist and played lead guitar when particular melodies needed his distinct tone....Robert White (guitarist)Robert WhiteYears activemid-1950s–1980sLabelsMotown8 more rows
How many Funk Brothers are in the Hall of Fame?
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 .
What is the Funk Brothers?
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.
When did the Funk Brothers leave Motown?
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.
When were the Funk Brothers inducted into the Hall of Fame?
In 2007, the Funk Brothers were inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville. On March 21, 2013, the Funk Brothers were honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Where did the Funk Brothers perform?
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.
Who accompanied Phil Collins on his Motown covers album?
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.
Where was Motown recorded?
During the mid- to late-1960s, one-fifth of Motown records began utilizing session musicians based in Los Angeles, usually covers 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 's hit recordings.
What year did Funk Brothers become famous?
Eventually nicknamed the Funk Brothers, this aggregation would soon become an integral part of Motown's rise to prominence and its commercial dominance during the glory years of 1963-1967.
Who were the Funk Brothers?
The Funk Brothers were the brilliant but anonymous studio band responsible for the instrumental backing on countless Motown records from 1959 up to the company's move to Los Angeles in 1972. Woefully underappreciated as architects of the fabled "Motown sound," the individual musicians were rarely credited on the records ...
When did the Funk Brothers change their sound?
Things began to change over 1967-1968. The Motown hit factory was forced to reinvent its sound to fit changing trends, and with producer Norman Whitfield 's brand of psychedelic soul guiding the label's fortunes, guitarist Wah Wah Watson came onboard to update the Funk Brothers' sound.
Who died in the Funk Brothers documentary?
The surviving core members of the Funk Brothers reunited for Paul Justman 's documentary Standing in the Shadows of Motown, which was released in 2002 to generally excellent reviews; the same year, however, Richard "Pistol" Allen and Johnny Griffith both passed away, followed by Wah Wah Watson 16 years later in 2018. 1.
Who was the drummer for Motown?
Among the early members were pianist/bandleader Joe Hunter (not to be confused with blues balladeer Ivory Joe Hunter) and the rhythm section of bassist James Jamerson and drummer William "Benny" Benjamin, who would go on to become the backbone of the Motown beat.
Who is the bassist in the Funk Brothers?
In more recent years, the Funk Brothers' legacy has begun to receive proper attention, most notably in Allen Slutsky's 1989 book Standing in the Shadows of Motown, which focused on bass genius James Jamerson, and the 2002 documentary film of the same name, which covered the group as a whole.
Who died in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?
James Jamerson passed away in 1983, and only received wider recognition posthumously; he was finally inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000 in the sideman category. Eddie "Bongo" Brown also died in 1983; Earl Van Dyke passed on in 1992 and Robert White did the same in 1994.
Sunday, June 12, 2011
When I think of the Funk Brothers, the first thing I want to know is this. Did the Funk Brothers back more hits than any other group of musicians ? Had to be.
The Funk Brothers
When I think of the Funk Brothers, the first thing I want to know is this. Did the Funk Brothers back more hits than any other group of musicians ? Had to be.
Overview
History
Early members included bandleader Joe Hunter and Earl Van Dyke (piano and organ); Clarence Isabell (double bass); James Jamerson (bass guitar and double bass); Benny "Papa Zita" Benjamin and Richard "Pistol" Allen (drums); Mike Terry (baritone saxophone); Paul Riser (trombone); Robert White, Eddie Willis, and Joe Messina (guitar); Jack Ashford (tambourine, percussion, vibraphone, marimba); J…
Awards and recognition
The Funk Brothers have received three Grammy awards:
• Lifetime Achievement Award in 2004
• Best Traditional R&B Performance for "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.
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 t…
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
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