They’ve had more hit records than the Beatles, the Beach Boys, the Rolling Stones and Elvis combined. Yet they’re never mobbed by screaming women, autograph seekers or paparazzi.
That’s life for the Funk Brothers, the Motown staples who provided the groove–and the background music–for Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson, the Supremes, the Temptations, Stevie Wonder and virtually everyone else who ever recorded on the Motown label. But now, at long last, the Funk Brothers–the official studio musicians of the label–are in the spotlight via the critically acclaimed documentary “Standing in the Shadows of Motown,” opening nationwide Friday.
“Now we’re coming out of the shadows and into our own,” said drummer Jack Ashford, a founding Funk Brother.
“How sweet it is,” Funk Brothers guitarist Eddie Willis said with a laugh, “to be loved by the people for the first time in our lives!”
Funk Brothers’ hit list
The back-up musicians played on every hit from Motown’s golden age. Here’s a sample of some of those classics:
– “Heat Wave,” Martha & the Vandellas (’63)
– “Baby Love,” Supremes (’64)
– “My Girl,” Temptations (’65)
– “Stop! In the Name of Love,” Supremes (’65)
– “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg,” Temptations (’66)
– “You Can’t Hurry Love,” Supremes (’66)
– “What’s Going On,” Marvin Gaye (’71)
