(469) STANDING IN THE SHADOWS OF MOTOWN : MOTOWN "WRECKING CREW" CALLED THE FUNK BROTHERS

A very interesting documentary IN THE SHADOWS OF MOTOWN is.

About ten years ago this DVD came out, and as I watched it, I was reminded that musicians who back stage performers and studio musicians are often responsible for a "Sound." 

Motown's definitive sound when it was Detroit based in the very early days of the label were called THE FUNK BROTHERS, and like the Wrecking Crew in Los Angeles, who listeners heard without knowing the names, this is the story of some unsung song heroes.

The funk brothers included Percussionist Jack "Black Jack" Ashford,  Bassist, Bob Babbitt,  Keyboardist, Joe Hunter,  Drummer Uriel Jones, Guitarist Joe Messina,  Guitarist Eddie "Chank" Willis,  Drummer Richard "Pistol" Allen, Drummer William "Papa Zita" Benjamin, Percussionist Eddie "Bongo" Brown, Keyboardist Johnny Griffith,  Bassist James "Igor" Jamerson, Keyboardist Earl "Chunk of Funk" Van Dyke, and Guitarist Robert White.  (We tried to list all these names in our labels but it didn't fit!)

The DVD features some re-creations of the tunes you know as Classic Motown and some interviews with those who were alive and well to tell the tale a decade ago.  There is also a nice little booklet included that tells you some of the songs these artists played on.  Most played the Blues and Jazz before Motown and brought that feel, as well as (you can tell from all those drummers and percussionists) a beat that was unique.

"They played on more #1 records than the Beatles, The Beach Boys, the Rolling Stones, and Elvis Presley combined..."

Christine Trzyna

(422) JERRY COLE ON CAPITOL : SURF GUITARIST : STUDIO GENIUS

This Youtuber did a fine job of writing about Jerry if you go right to his link on that site. He was a great studio musician and had become known for surf music but in his case he got to be the vocalist for a couple songs.

"Come Over to My Place" was a Shindig TV show theme song. Capitol was the hot record label in Los Angeles summer of '65. Jerry became a life long friend of mine.

Linking to Jerry Cole on Rockabilly Hall of Fame!

Use the Search feature of this blog to locate other Jerry Cole posts, including the Interview with Wes Bryan.

(389) JERRY COLE ON SHINDIG : THE SHINDOG

SHINDIG first premiered September 16, 2011. It was the Rock and Roll television show that some of my friends, like Jerry Cole, worked on. Jerry was part of the show band called The SHINDOGS! The band started the show out with an intro composed of a selection of hit songs, just to get the audience warmed up. They threw a few Beatles songs in there and various guests took their turn at singing four bars.

Jerry was inducted into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame in 2000 and was considered to be a charter member of the LA "Wrecking Crew," one of the best studio musicians around town.

Jerry Cole was a great friend of mine who we've blogged about before. Here he is on Shindig singing an intro to the show song called "Welcome To My Place." Oh those background singers are The Blossoms!



Wes says : Delaney Bramlett and Joey Cooper (who recorded a song I wrote called"I'm A Fool") were singers of the Shindogs. Most of the guys played their own instruments. Joey played the guitar....

(360) DEMO TREASURE CHEST! DAVID GATES, LEON RUSSEL, GLEN CAMPBELL, and ME

Here's a demo or two I would love to find and hear again!

Pat Boone paid for the session time.
David Gates was the arranger.
I was the producer.
Leon Russel played piano.
Glen Campbell and I did two instrumentals together.

I sang on two songs which were "20 Acres of Land," and "I'm Such a Fool."

Auctioneers and collectors!?

(351) DARLENE LOVE : A LOVELY PERSON TO WORK WITH : CHRISTMAS 1963

CHRISTMAS 1963

DARLENE LOVE worked a bit for me in the studio and I was lucky to have her because she had success of her own before, after, and during the period that she was a studio background singer! Like many studio singers she went uncredited for much of her work but she still has many noteworthy accomplishments. (I'm proud of my daughter Hollie and the professionalism she brings to studio work as well.)

Darlene sang lead on some of the CRYSTALS songs, produced by PHIL SPECTOR, including "He's a Rebel." She did background vocals for JOEY COOPER'S "I'm a Fool," (A song I co-wrote that we posted a Youtube video of recently). In 1968 she worked with ELVIS PRESLEY on his Welcome Back television special.

We're linking to the HISTORY OF ROCK page for DARLENE LOVE (click on the title) and here is the link for the ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME; Darlene has been nominated for induction in 2011: GO TO THE LINK FOR DARLENE ON OUR SIDEBAR!

Though studio musicians and singers are behind the scenes and many never earn the fame of stage and concert performers, they truly contribute to the sound track of our lives. They are often more professional in their attitudes and abilities than some of those who do achieve fame. I come from a time when recording took place quickly and without all the computer equipment that can help turn a mediocre performance into a better one. Darlene is one of those whose voice stood the test of immediacy and of time.

(328) JAMES BURTON GUITAR MASTER

JAMES BURTON played guitar for Rick Nelson first, and by 1963 he was my favorite, working for me as a session man. He used to borrow the XKG Jaguar that I bought from song writing residuals and take it for a little ride.

I played demos I did for Elvis and when he heard Burton on them, he said, "Wes, would you mind if I used Burton too?" James started working for Elvis by 1969 and did so famously!

We're linking to THE OFFICIAL JAMES BURTON WEB SITE - He's still so busy! And he now has his own charitable foundation as well.