Remembering a Band of Brothers From Detroit

The Rock and Roll Alphabet continues with a look at a category that the Hall calls ‘Sideman.’ Although not all the Funk Brothers are in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, we dedicate this article to the talents of this Motor City band. Many of the Motown artists were born in various parts of the country. Not many were Detroit born and raised The Funk Brothers however, were all Detroit born and raised.

The Funk Brothers were primarily Joe Hunter, Earl Van Dyke, Clarence Isabell, James Jamerson, Benny “Papa Zita” Benjamin, Richard “Pistol” Allen, Paul Riser, Robert White, Eddie Willis, Joe Messina, Jack Ashford, Jack Brokensha, Eddie “Bongo” Brown, Johnny Griffith, Uriel Jones, Bob Babbitt and Dennis Coffey.

The Funk Brothers literally played on every Motown single and song from the early days up to the move to Los Angeles.

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