The Funk Brothers

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, Tony "Touchdown" Drake- 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.