Standing in the Shadows of Motown: The Funk Brothers

In 1959 Berry Gordy began to gather Detroit's best musicians from the thriving blues and jazz scene to cut songs for his new record company. This group became known as the Funk Brothers, and they are the heartbeat behind nearly every Motown song. By hiring a mixed race group, Motown once again displayed its attitude on the subject of integration. According to their documentary, the Funk Brothers played on more #1 hits than the Beach Boys, Rolling Stones, Elvis and the Beatles combined. With this skill and talent of these musicians, Motown tracks were produced one after another. These musical geniuses made the Motown song. Almost anyone could have sang a great hit on the tracks provided by this group. The Funk Brothers came from all over the country bringing different musical influences with them. Many moved from Boston, Mississippi, Tennessee, and South Carolina in order to work in the car factories in Detroit. Gospel music and other regional music (Afro-cuban, Caribbean congo, Native American) greatly influenced this group. Several of the Brothers played in jazz clubs for additional money in the evenings. From their jam sessions in local night clubs, the Funk Brothers brought new textures and sounds into the recording studio. The musicians in this group were so talented that often times, Motown writers would come to them with general ideas for a song and the Brothers would begin to jam and would have a complete song within an hour. The band became so close to one another that they were all in sync. Although, often overlooked and unknown, the Funk Brothers introduced America to the world of powerful, inspiring soul music.