ArtistInfo

The Funk Brothers

Band, 1959-1972 US, Detroit
R&B/Soul
A.k.a. Detroit City Limits The Magnificent Seven (5) The Motown House Band The Soul Brothers (17)

The Funk Brothers were Motown's in-house band and are featured on fairly all the Motown records from 1959 up to 1972. Joe Hunter was the bandleader from 1959 to 1962, Earl Van Dyke from 1963 to 1972. When Motown moved from Detroit to Los Angeles in 1972, The Funk Brothers were disbanded. In 2002 a music documentary was released about The Funk Brothers, called "Standing In The Shadows Of Motown". In the booklet of the 1994 4-CD compilation "Smokey Robinson & The Miracles: 35th Anniversary Collection" there is a survey of all of the members of The Funk Brothers. It is presented by Motown scholar Harry Weinger. Weinger divides the history of the group into three parts: 1959-1962 Joe Hunter, Richard "Popcorn" Wylie, Earl Van Dyke (joining in 1962)- keyboards Robert White, Eddie Willis, Joe Messina, Marv Tarplin- guitars James Jamerson, Clarence Isabell, Joe Williams- bass Benny Benjamin, Richard "Pistol" Allen- drums Jack Ashford, James Gittens- vibes Herbie Williams, John "Little John" Wilson, Marcus Belgrave, Russell Conway, Johnny Trudell- trumpets Bob Cousar, George Bohanon, Paul Riser- trombones Hank Cosby, Andrew "Mike" Terry, Kasuka Mafia (Norris Patterson), Thomas "Beans" Bowles, Teddy Buckner, Ronnie Wakefield, Lefty Edwards, Eli Fontaine, Ernie Rodgers- saxophones Note: Dave Hamilton also played vibes. 1963-1967 Earl Van Dyke, Johnny Griffith- keyboards Robert White, Eddie Willis, Joe Messina, Marv Tarplin -guitars James Jamerson, Bob Babbitt- bass Benny Benjamin, Richard "Pistol" Allen, Uriel Jones- drums Jack Ashford, Eddie "Bongo" Brown- percussion Jack Ashford, Jack Brokensha- vibes Johnny Trudell, Herbie Williams, Floyd Jones, Maurice Davis, Billy Horner, John "Little John" Wilson, Marcus Belgrave, Russell Conway, Don Slaughter- trumpets George Bohanon, Bob Cousar, Jimmy Wilkins, Paul Riser, Don White, Carl Raetz, Patrick Lanier, Bill Johnson- trombones Dayna Hartwick- flute, piccolo Hank Cosby, Andrew "Mike" Terry, Kasuka Mafia, Thomas "Beans" Bowles, Teddy Buckner, Eugene Rodgers, Dan Turner, Bernie Peacock, Larry Nozero- saxophones 1968-1972 Earl Van Dyke, Johnny Griffith- keyboards Robert White, Eddie Willis, Joe Messina, Marv Tarplin, Dennis Coffey, Melvin "Wah Wah" Watson- guitars James Jamerson, Bob Babbitt- bass Uriel Jones, Richard "Pistol" Allen, Andrew Smith- drums Jack Ashford, Eddie "Bongo" Brown- percussion Jack Ashford, Jack Brokensha- vibes Johnny Trudell, Russell Conway, Herbie Williams, Floyd Jones, Maurice Davis, Billy Horner, John "Little John" Wilson, Marcus Belgrave, Don Slaughter, Eddie Jones- trumpets Bob Cousar, Jimmy Wilkins, Paul Riser, Don White, Carl Raetz, Patric Lanier, Bill Johnson- trombones Dayna Hartwick- flute, piccolo Hank Cosby, Kasuka Mafia, Thomas "Beans" Bowles, Teddy Buckner, Lefty Edwards, Eugene "BeeMee" Moore, William "Wild Bill" Moore, Angelo Carlisi, Ernie Rodgers, Dan Turner, Bernie Peacock, Larry Nozero, Eli Fontaine, Lanny Austin- saxophones Concertmaster Gordon Staples and the Detroit Symphony Strings handled the strings throughout the era.

Members

	Dennis Coffey g *1940 US
	Melvin Ragin g *1950 US
	Johnny Griffith key 1936-2002 US
	James Jamerson b 1936-1983 US
	Henry Cosby ts, sax 1928-2002 US
	Herbie Williams tr, fh US
	Robert White g 1936-1994 US
	Eli Fontaine sax US
	Eddie "Bongo" Brown cng, perc 1932-1984 US
	Eddie Willis g *1936 US
	Earl Van Dyke org 1930-1992 US
	Richard Allen dr 1932-2002
	Uriel Jones dr 1934-2009
	Jack Ashford perc, vib *1934 US
	Joe Messina g *1928
	Dave Hamilton g US
	Benny Benjamin dr 1925-1969 US
	Don White eb
	Kasuka Mafia sax
	Joe Hunter key *1927 US
	Andrew "Mike" Terry sax 1940-2008 US
	Larry Veeder g US
	John Wilson tr US
	Robert Kreinar b 1937-2012 US