Friday Funk ~ The Funk Brothers Receive Star on Hollywood Walk Of Fame.

 

Joe Messina dies.

https://www.legacy.com/news/celebrity-deaths/joe-messina-1928-2022-guitarist-with-motowns-funk-brothers/

https://www.detroitnews.com/story/entertainment/people/2022/04/04/joe-messina-motown-guitarist-and-member-funk-brothers-has-died-age-93/7271120001/

So Saddened. you were apart of one of the greatest set of musicians in the history of Music. There wouldn’t have been a Motown Sound without all of you.

God Speed and Rest in Rock and Jazz.

 

Longshot's Blog

Yesterday March 21, 2013 Detroit’s own got their due by Hollywood’s Walk of Fame. Our treasures, musicians, sound, style, epitome of the definition of Instrumentation.

Surviving members Eddy Willis & Jack Ashford attending this honor. Joe Messina who has been said to be sick viewed the ceremony via a live stream from his Detroit suburban home. To me this should have been done long ago and about time!

Because what you heard on every single one of the Motown Hits you was the music behind the vocals and they were simply called The Funk Brothers. But what a sound they created. No one on this earth could ever duplicate them if they tried.

The were not only Detroit’s legends they were the worlds. They were musics magicians. Extraordinary talents each and every single one of them. And if I repeat myself more than one time on this blog so be…

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Motown Monday ~ The Andantes ~ Like A Nightmare

Louvain Demps, Jackie Hicks and Marlene Barrow didn’t need Ann Bogan to sing lead on the only two singles Berry Gordy ever let this group record as a group.

They had more than enough talent to be one of the biggest acts to come out of “Motown” and Gordy knew it. So he again like he did with so many other artists literally held them back and put them in the back row with The Funk Brothers.

The 2011 Detroit International Jazz Festival Is Here!

So Come Downtown And Enjoy It!

Motown Monday ~ Take Me In Your Arms ~ Kim Weston

“Take Me in Your Arms (Rock Me a Little While)”
Written by Holland / Dozier / Holland
Released in 1965

Kim Weston – vocals
The Funk Brothers – music

Another powerful voice of Motown but you wouldn’t know it since this was another artist Berry Gordy just left on the shelf.

Kim Weston born Agatha Natalie Weston was signed by Motown in 1963.

Motown Monday ~ The Velvelettes ~ Stop Beating Around The Bush

Written by Harvey Fuqua
Recorded in 1964

Mildred Gill, Bertha Barbee, Carolyn Gill, Betty Kelley & Norma Barbee

A Hot Motown Monday ~ Martha & The Vandellas ~ Heat Wave

Just the beginning of one. ENJOY IT!

Written by Holland–Dozier–Holland
Released in 1963

Martha Reeves – vocals
Rosalind Ashford – vocal
Annette Beard – vocals

Music – The Funk Brothers

Richard “Pistol” Allen: drums
James Jamerson: double bass
Joe Hunter: electric piano
Robert White: guitar
Eddie Willis: guitar
Thomas “Beans” Bowles: saxophone solo

Sultry Saturday ~ Jr. Walker & the All Stars ~ Cleo’s Mood

Written By Junior Walker, Harvey Fuqua and Willie Woods.
Originally Released in Sept. 1962 on the Harvey Label.

Junior Walker – Saxophone
Willie Woods – Guitar
Victor Thomas – Organ
James Graves – Drums

Re-Released on Tamla 1966

James Jamerson – Bass

Born Autry DeWalt Mixon, Jr., Walker Smoked on Sax.

Cleo’s Mood is my favorite song from this group.

It’s a raw, seductive, sultry bump and grind number. A combination of Blues & Jazz.

I only wished the song could of gone longer like 30 Minutes. But I’ll take what I can get.

Motown Monday ~ The Miracles ~ I’ll Try Something New

Written by Smokey Robinson.
Released off the third self titled album in 1962.

Motown Monday ~ Gino Washington ~ Gino Is A Coward

Written by Ronald Davis
Released in 1963

Motown Monday ~ Reach Out, I’ll Be There ~ The Four Tops

Motown Monday ~ I Want A Love I Can See ~ The Temptations

Written by Smokey Robinson
Released in 1963

Lead vocals by Paul Williams
Background vocals by Eddie Kendricks,
Al Bryant, and Otis Williams
Instrumentation: The Funk Brothers

How in the world this didn’t become the very first hit for ” The Temptations ” is beyond me.

Motown Monday Mania ~ Get Ready ~ Rare Earth

Written by Smokey Robinson.

Rare Earth in Concert 1971.

Recorded: Civic Coliseum – Jacksonville, FL., Marine Stadium – Miami, FL., Cornell University – Ithaca, NY and At The Pharmacy – The Roostertail, Detroit, Mi.

Tuesday Trifecta ~ I’ve Been Working ~ B. Seger & Silver Bullet ~ Live

Written by Van Morrison.

Recorded at Cobo Hall, Detroit, September 4–5, 1975

Released April 1976

Bob Seger – lead vocals, guitar, piano
Drew Abbott – lead guitar, background vocals
Alto Reed – tenor saxophone, alto saxophone, baritone saxophone, percussion, background vocals
Robyn Robins – organ, clavinet, mellotron, piano
Chris Campbell – bass guitar, background vocals
Charlie Allen Martin – drums, background vocals

 

Motown Monday ~ The Satintones ‘Motor City’ and the Label of Correc-Tone.

Released in 1959 on the Tamla Label.

James Ellis
Chico Leverette
Robert Bateman
Sonny Sanders
Vernon Williams- added later

You are listening to the very first group ever signed to the ” MOTOWN ” Label in 1959. Yet Berry Gordy never ever gave this group any recognition what so ever. But that doesn’t surprise me.

Motown Monday Moment ~ I give you Levi Stubbs

If anybody can watch this video without tears flooding out of your eyes or by its end not completely breaking down when Levi hits that last high note. Then all I can say is you don’t have a heart beating within you.

From The Heart: The Four Tops – 50th Anniversary Concert (2004) Detroit, Michigan

A Snowy Motown Monday ~ Brenda Holloway ~ When I’m Gone

Motown’s The Marvelettes Singer Gladys Horton Dies

Co-founder of Marvelettes helped usher in girl group era

 

The Rationals ~ I Need You ~ Song of the Day

Released in 1967 on the  A2 Records Label/A² 402

Written by Carole King & Ray Davies

Steve Correl – lead guitar, vocals
Bill Figg – drums
Scott Morgan – guitar, vocals
Terry Trabandt – bass, vocals

Motown Monday ~ Supremes ~ A Breathtaking Guy.

Released in 1963 on the Motown Label, Written by Smokey Robinson.

Actual Title was the longest in Motown’s History.

“A Breath Taking, First Sight Soul Shaking, One Night Love Making, Next Day Heartbreaking Guy”

Michigan’s Horse Racing Dilemma. The House that wouldn’t move. A 1999 Report ignored by The House of Representatives.

This was a Report given to The House of Representatives in October 1999 about and directly on Horse Racing. 11 Years Ago

CHALLENGES TO MICHIGAN’S HORSE RACING INDUSTRY

Prepared by: Craig Thiel, Fiscal Analyst October 1999
Mitchell E. Bean, Interim Director – HOUSE FISCAL AGENCY

Sunday one more ” SOUL ” Entered Heaven. Solomon Burke ~

All the younger people know is this was the song that Baby and Johnny seductively danced to in his room in Dirty Dancing.

The voice behind the recording us older folks knew all to well.

Solmon Burke had a life time of Music behind him, way too many to even count. His journey on this earth left us Sunday Oct. 10th.

Song of the Night ~ Chimes ~ The J. Geils Band

Released in 1973 from the Ladies Invited album.