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Funk Brothers

The Funk Brothers
Origin Detroit, Michigan, United States
Genres Soul, funk, R&B
Years active 1959–1972
Labels Motown
Associated acts The Miracles, the Temptations, the Supremes, Martha and the Vandellas, the Marvelettes, Marvin Gaye, the Contours, the Jackson 5, the Four Tops, the Spinners, the Originals, the Andantes
Members NARAS membership
Richard "Pistol" Allen
Jack Ashford
Bob Babbitt
Benny Benjamin
Eddie "Bongo" Brown
Johnny Griffith
Joe Hunter
James Jamerson
Uriel Jones
Joe Messina
Earl Van Dyke
Robert White
Eddie Willis

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.

They are considered one of the most successful groups of studio musicians in music history. 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".

The role of the Funk Brothers is described in Paul Justman's 2002 documentary film Standing in the Shadows of Motown, based on Allan Slutsky's book of the same name. The opening titles claim that the Funk Brothers have "played on more number-one hits than the Beatles, Elvis Presley, the Rolling Stones and the Beach Boys combined."

In 2008 surviving members recorded Live in Orlando, an album and video.

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); Paul Riser (trombone); Robert White, Eddie Willis, and Joe Messina (guitar); Jack Ashford (tambourine, percussion, vibraphone, marimba); 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 1967.


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