FUNK BROTHERS CATALOGUE

The Funk Brothers created the music listeners hear today on their favorite Motown records. While these musicians played on memorable hits by artists including The Supremes, The Four Tops and and The Miracles, their names went unrecognized. The following is a list of those who brought those sounds to life - both in Detroit and California.

This list is an ongoing process. If you know of information currently not listed, please email motownvault.@gmail.com.

List provided by Funk Brother, Tony Newton.

DETROIT MOTOWN MUSICIANS

Keyboardists:
Joe Hunter (band leader, 1959–1964)*
Earl Van Dyke (band leader, 1964–1972)*
Richard "Popcorn" Wylie (1959–1962)
Johnny Griffith (1963–1972)*
Johnny Gittens (1963–1967)
Ted Sheely (1963–1967)

Guitarists:
Robert White (1959–1972)*
Eddie "Chank" Willis (1959–1972)*
Joe Messina (1959–1972)*
Larry Veeder (1959–1962)
Dave Hamilton (1959–1962)
Huey Davis (1959–1967, The Contours' road and studio guitarist)
Marvin Tarplin (1958–1973, The Miracles' road and studio guitarist).
Cornelius Grant (1963–1972, The Temptations' road guitarist/band leader)
Dennis Coffey (1967–1972)
Melvin "Wah Wah Watson" Ragin (1968–1972)
Ray Parker Jr. (1968-1972)
Ray Monette

Bassists:
James Jamerson (1959–1972)*
Clarence Isabell (1959–1962)
Bob Babbitt (1967–1972)*
Edward Pickens (1968–1972)
Tweed Beard
Joe Williams
Michael Henderson
Joe James
Antonio "Tony" Newton

Drums:
William "Benny" Benjamin (1959–1969)*
Richard "Pistol" Allen (1959–1972)*
George McGregor (1959–1962)
Corey Jahns (1959–1967) bongos
Clifford Mack (1959–1962)
Marvin Gaye (1959–1962)
Uriel Jones (1963–1972)*
Freddie Waits (1963–1967)
Andrew Smith (1968–1972)

Percussion:
Jack Ashford (1959–1972, tambourine)*
Eddie "Bongo" Brown (1959–1972, various)*

Vibes:
Jack Ashford (1959–1972) (also listed above)*
Dave Hamilton (1959–1962)
James Gittens (1959–1962)
Jack Brokensha (1963–1972)

Trumpets:
Herbie Williams
John "Little John" Wilson
Marcus Belgrave
Russell Conway
Johnny Trudell
Floyd Jones
Maurice Davis
Billy Horner
Don Slaughter
Eddie Jones

Trombones:
Bob Cousar
George Bohanon
Paul Riser
Jimmy Wilkens
Don White
Carl Raetz
Patrick Lanier
Bill Johnson
Ed Gooch

Saxophones:
Henry "Hank" Cosby
Andrew "Mike" Terry
Norris Patterson
Thomas "Beans" Bowles
Teddy Buckner
Walter "Choker" Campbell
Ronnie Wakefield
"Lefty" Edwards
Eli Fountain
Ernie Rodgers
Kasuku Mafia
Eugene "BeeBee" Moore
William "Wild Bill" Moore
Angelo Carlisi
Dan Turner
Bernie Peacock
Larry Nozero
Lanny Austin

Trombones:
Bob Cousar
George Bohanon
Paul Riser
Jimmy Wilkens
Don White
Carl Raetz
Patrick Lanier
Bill Johnson
Ed Gooch

Flute:
Dayna Hartwick
Thomas "Beans" Bowles

Strings:
Gordon Staples and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra Strings Section
Trumpets:
Herbie Williams
John "Little John" Wilson
Marcus Belgrave
Russell Conway
Johnny Trudell
Floyd Jones
Maurice Davis
Billy Horner
Don Slaughter
Eddie Jones

Saxophones:
Henry "Hank" Cosby
Andrew "Mike" Terry
Norris Patterson
Thomas "Beans" Bowles
Teddy Buckner
Walter "Choker" Campbell
Ronnie Wakefield
"Lefty" Edwards
Eli Fountain
Ernie Rodgers
Kasuku Mafia
Eugene "BeeBee" Moore
William "Wild Bill" Moore
Angelo Carlisi
Dan Turner
Bernie Peacock
Larry Nozero
Lanny Austin

Flute:
Dayna Hartwick
Thomas "Beans" Bowles

Strings:
Gordon Staples and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra Strings Section

LOS ANGELES MOTOWN MUSICIANS

Keyboards:
Mike Rubini
Joe Sample
Clarence McDonald
Don Randi
Larry Knechtel

Drums:
Earl Palmer
Jacob Greenberg
Gene Pello
Paul Humphreys
James Gadson
Melvin Webb

Bass:
Wilton Felder
Bill Pitman
Jacob Aaron Greenberg
Ron Brown

Percussion:
Gary Coleman
Bobbye Hall Porter
King Errisson
Joe Clayton
Sandra Crouch
Jerry Steinholtz
Emil Richards

Guitars:
Ray Parker Jr
Melvin "Wah Wah Watson" Ragin
Arthur Wright
Doug Bartenfeld
David T. Walker
Tommy Tedesco
Louie Shelton
Adolph Green
Weldon T. Parks
Dennis Coffey