The Music Behind The Voices
Growing up in the 50’s and 60’s there was no shortage of great bands. With rock and roll emerging from the late 50’s and with the British Invasion in the 60’s we were also privy to some pretty great music from Motown.
Speaking of Motown do you what Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, The Temptations, Gladys Knight and the Pips, The Supremes, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, and Stevie Wonder just to name a few have in common? They all had hit songs that were backed up by The Funk Brothers.
The Funk Brothers made their home in Detroit, Michigan and were probably the best session musicians of the time. One of the greatest electric guitar riffs came from Robert White one of the original guitarists for the band, it is his familiar playing on The Temptations “My Girl” that makes that song catch yor attention as soon as it’s played.
Playing bass guitarfor the band originally was James Jamerson. If you are looking for one bass guitarist for inspiration look no further. It’s his bass playing you are listening to when you hear songs such as “Shotgun” by Jr. Walker and the Allstars, “My Girl”, and the sensational bass line for Stevie Wonders “For Once in My Life”.