Joe Weaver | |
---|---|
Birth name | Joseph Weaver |
Born |
Detroit, Michigan, United States |
August 27, 1934
Died | July 5, 2006 Southfield, Michigan, United States |
(aged 71)
Genres | Detroit blues, R&B, electric blues |
Occupation(s) | Pianist, singer, bandleader, songwriter |
Instruments | Piano, vocals |
Years active | 1952–1966; 1999–2006 |
Labels | Various |
Joe Weaver (August 27, 1934 – July 5, 2006) was an American Detroit blues, electric blues and R&B pianist, singer and bandleader. His best known recording was "Baby I Love You So" (1955), and he was a founding member of both The Blue Note Orchestra and The Motor City Rhythm & Blues Pioneers. Over his lengthy but staggered career, Weaver worked with various musicians including The Four Tops, Marvin Gaye, John Lee Hooker, Nathaniel Mayer, The Miracles, Martha Reeves, Nolan Strong & The Diablos, Andre Williams, Nancy Wilson, and Stevie Wonder. In addition, Weaver was a session musician in the early days of Motown Records and played in the house band at Fortune Records. He was a key component in the 1950s Detroit R&B scene.
Born in Detroit, Michigan, Weaver learned to play the piano from age nine. While at Northwestern High School he teamed up with fellow student Johnnie Bassett to form Joe Weaver and the Blue Notes. They played jump blues and jazz numbers in the early 1950s, and won numerous talent contests, including several at the Warfield Theater in Hastings Street. This led to becoming the house band there, backing both Little Willie John and John Lee Hooker. In 1953, Joe Von Battle, owner of JVB Records recorded their instrumental "1540 Special", which ended up being released by De Luxe Records. Weaver and his band later became session musicians for Fortune Records. During this time they provided accompaniment to Nolan Strong & The Diablos and Andre Williams. Their debut album A Fortune of Blues (1954) was accredited to Joe Weaver & His Blue Note Orchestra, and Baby I Love You So was issued the following year. Neither release was a commercial success, but they brought Weaver to the attention of Berry Gordy Jr. They played on early Tamla recordings, most notably The Miracles million-selling "Shop Around". Their tenure there was short-lived, although Blue Note Orchestra members James Jamerson, Eddie Willis, and Benny Benjamin, all later worked as part of Motown's in-house backing musicians, The Funk Brothers.