Berry Gordy & The Funk Brothers. How Motown Started with Joe Hunter
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- Опубліковано 7 лис 2020
- This interview was shot in 2005 in Detroit, Michigan. It's with one of the first two founding members of The Funk Brothers, keyboardist, Joe Hunter.
Joe talks about how he and James Jamison and Berry Gordy all got started.
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The traffic was a perfect background for The Motor City interview.
*The Hitsville musicians and the Funk Brothers are nothing less than LEGENDS!*
Great interview Joe, it was so nice of Mr. Hunter to compliment you for your recognizing his contributions to some of greatest music ever recorded! Too bad he didn’t get credit publicly at the time, unfortunately most of the great session players didn’t! Thanks to you, many of these folks will never be forgotten!💫
Hi Larry... Yes that was very kind of Joe to mention me.... was totally not expecting it and looking back now 15 years later it really means something to me... Joe passed away not too long after this interview.... Thanks again Larry.... Joe
Beautiful interview ... I'm so glad to hear him thank you for helping keep the music alive.
Joe Hunter , Johnny Griffith , Earl Van Dyk , James Jameison , Bob Babbit ,Eddy Willis , Robert White , Joe Messina , Benny Benjamin , Ariel Jones ,Richard Allen ,Jack Ashford ,Eddy Brown , the Funk Brothers I have committed to my memory cause they all my Daddy
I met Joe Hunter in Bonn Germany at a Funk Brothers show in 2004. He was a very cool laid back level-headed people’s person. And he appeared to be really enthusiastic about being on the gig that particular evening. I was honored to be onstage with some of the actual Funk Brothers of Motown. R.I.P. Mr Hunter. I enjoyed watching this interview. Thanks for posting it.
Joe, the title of this video has to put a smile on the face of any serious musician or songwriter...
Atta boy Joe!! Who’s gonna worry about a little traffic noise! Thanks Joe.
No apologies - the setting was real. Great share.
Thanks Bold.... Joe
Motown Royalty! Once again you done it! Joe! 🎤
I was at the studio about 4 times ... lots of magic happened in that building ..... The Funk Brothers is probably the most famous band that no one ever heard about ..... The Funk Brothers ???? WOW !!!! What would music be like today without the Funk Brothers !!!!
Thanks for watching Brian... Joe
That was a wonderful look inside the very foundation of Motown. Jamerson and later Babbitt taught me so very much. They are among the pantheon of my Bass Heroes. Thanks Joe, you just keep on giving!.
Thanks Bass.... Joe
hes every thing you see here i met him at the back door of a club i played at the Attic in Hamtramic he was knocking on the door i came and helped him bring in his rig i said who are you he said im.the piano player tonight my name is Joe Hunter. I got jam with this star all night and at the time i had no clue who he was .. he asked me at the end of the night to play a tour in europe with him .i was like so stunned i didnt know if he was real or not .. he was that was his last tour before he passed away sadly i didnt take the offer ... my biggest and only regret in. music .. RIP Mr .Hunter i could see God in his eyes .. his transition .. is obvious in the interveiw ..
Thanks for the great story DB....Joe
What a truly lovely man, a person who’s been part of all that music and history and still has the grace to say ‘thank you’ to yourself Joe, wonderful interview, my best regards from Chesterfield in the UK..❤️👍
Thanks Paul... Joe
Excellent informational interview. Thanks for sharing. Motown was a magical era of music. It's always a little bit of heaven to hear these gems of interviews. ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE ❤
What a wonderful interview with an awesome man! The way you just let him give us his memories was a blessing for us all ❤️ Brought tears to my eyes. Thank you once again Joe for such heart warming videos 🙋🏼♀️👏🏻🤗
Thanks 70’Gal.... Merry Christmas.. joe
I've been to Hitsville, USA....It makes you shiver realizing those Motown hits you heard on your car radio in the 60's were made in the very spot you are standing! The snake pit was actually, barely a two car garage converted into a studio.
Great musician ,one of the last of the original Funk Brothers.
It's guys like you that keeps us going. .Respect
That was off the charts Joe! All of the guys back in those days were really amazing musicians who started with just a dream & were catapulted into stardom. When Joe Hunter referred to you as "Mr. Chambers", that right there told me what kind of person he was. Thanks again for these videos.....👍👍😉😉
Hi Steve.... Yeah.... I had forgotten about that until I saw it last week..... I wish he’d just called me Joe like everyone else.... even my grandson:) But yes I know what you meant..... me too.... All the best... Joe
Wonderful interview, thank you for introducing me to Joe Hunter.
Thank you too Laura for watching... Joe
Joe You know how much I appreciate the interviews like this. I need not say anymore. 👍🏻😎
Thank you again David... Joe
Ditto! ❤️
Great interview. RIP Mr Joe Hunter
Your calling to do this, Joe, puts you among the greats of the Hall of Fame. Keep going.
I grew up in the 60's in the suburbs of Detroit. I started playing Bass at that time. Not many people knew who the Funk Brothers were, but from the Detroit grapevine many of us younger musicians found out before the world knew. Jamerson was and still is my Bass hero. Thanks for doing this Joe.
Ted
Thanks for watching too Ted.... Joe
Early early Motown history 👏👍
02/19/2022. Wonderful interview. Joe looks good. Mr. Joe Hunter was a blessing to me ,& other singer/songwriters. Joe was just down to earth, For Real Human Being.
Joe loved music & people. I really miss Joe. Musicians & Singers LOVED Joe.
I loved & had Great Respect for Joe.
R.I.P. JOE. 🎶💝 🎶 Barbara Mercer
In late 2021 l saw the Great Ms Carolyn Crawford,'s ( OF Motown) Performance on utube. Carolyn had Most Wonderful Mention of Joe Hunter. One could Feel her Love & Respect, for Joe 🎶🎵👏
thank you so much, great interview at very special place...!
Thanks GA..... very happy you enjoyed it.... thanks again for supporting our channel..... Best...........Joe
What an interview ! Mr. Joe Hunter. I KEEP hearing the name JAMES JAMESON(The Badest Bass Player). Mr.Hunter called Him "The Great". Leon Sylvers of "The Sylvers" & The Music behind Solar Records took on J.J's. Bass Style.
THANK YOU MR .JOE CHAMBERS. THIS AND ALL OF YOUR RESEARCH AND INTERVIEWS ARE AWESOME. SUCH AN INGENIOUS CONCEPT BY YOU.
Thanks Jan…..Joe
I'm stoked!
Joe's piano work on Marvin Gaye's "Pride And Joy" is legendary and could be played only by a happy person, as Joe obviously was.
I believe that it was Mr. Hunter hammering the hell out of those keys on The Contours "Do you love me " RIP sir ..Thanks Joe C..
Thank you blue... joe
The Contours "Do You Love Me" was Hunter, alright! He also played on Marvin Gaye "Pride And Joy", Smokey Robinson/The Miracles "Shop Around" and "You've Really Got A Hold On Me", Mary Wells "What Love Has Joined Together", and Marth Reeves And The Vandellas "Come And Get These Memories" and "Heat Wave". According to the IMBD page for the documentary of The Funk Brothers, "Standing In The Shadows Of Motown", Martha Reeves And The Vandellas "Heat Wave" was the last recording session that Joe Hunter played on before his departure from Motown.
Fantastic 🎸
The Funk Brothers made Motown. They also helped to make Berry Gordy a very rich man. Those talented musicians were being paid about $8 an hour. Unbelievable!
Gold from the vault! Guys like this were the foundation of great music! If only people knew at the time. What a sad fate but thanks for shining some light on a great player!
History is usually defined by the periods in time significant to the development of the civilization studied. The Industrial Age, Transportation Age, Computer Age, Communications Age, Technological Age, and Space Age, all immediately come to mind. Their collective impact on man and his society has been indelible. Add to that list another period just as impactive and defining. The Motown Age, circa 1960-1980!
The enormity of the music created in that relatively small building by the singers, musicians, songwriters, producers, and assorted personalities, launched a cultural and social awareness of the diamond like beauty hidden in the rough of the mean streets, smoke infused clubs, and public housing projects of Detroit in particular, and urban Black America in general. Because of what transpired from those masterful collaborations, all popular music was influenced in one format or another.
Like the aforementioned eras, Motown's will always remain one of the greatest historical accounts of the best of what otherwise was, and still is man's very troublesome existence.
Born and raised my whole life it in this great musical City, and still am, awesome interview! Actually better with the traffic noise in the background, Motor City baby !
Thanks for watching ES.........Joe
Thanks for the great interviews and history lesson Joe Chambers!
Thanks John.... Joe
Another fine interview Joe.
This was wonderful! Joe Hunter is so immensely talented, he makes playing the piano look easy. Thank you!
Ivy Jo Hunter wrote this song for The Spinners called I Cross My Heart which he played the drums on the session and Truly Yours also by The Spinners. Him and William Mickey Stevenson were the best writers next to Holland-Dozier-Holland and Smokey Robinson, and Norman Whitfield
This is a real treasure Joe! Thank you so much for this.
Thanks for watching William.....Best, Joe
WOW! Thank you so so much Joe for an incredible interview! May he rip such a lovely down to earth guy. The funk brothers the backbone of Berry Gordy. It's because of you they truly get the recognition they deserve. Very best wishes to you. I'm going straight to listen to the songs in your interview. Thanks again.
Thanks Trudy.... Joe
I'm seriously getting addicted to your channel... Joe Hunter, another down-to-earth awesome Talent!
I really appreciate your efforts and getting interviews with all the different session players before they pass on.
Cheers from Seattle 🍻
Thanks Keys..... Joe
As usual, I enjoyed!
Nice hearing from a guy who was "instrumental" in contributing to lots of the hit records of my youth.
Thanks for watching Buzz.... Joe
I love the ambiance and real world environment. Aces Joe!
Thanks Craig... joe
Great interview Joe. I love hearing from the musicians that contributed to the music I grew up with and loved and still love, especially musicians like Joe Hunter who were at Motown at the beginning. The Funk Brothers were an amazing band and if I'm not mistaken, but I maybe, they were actually a jazz band. Some of the best soul, pop and even rock music is created by jazz musicians. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Pamela.... Joe
Great interview, Joe!. I've really enjoyed watching all of these interviews. Best regards.
Thanks Amp Amp... Joe
VERY KOOL Joe, GREAT interview as ALWAYS!!!
Thanks 2N3...... Joe
Interesting interview and guy. Thanks for doing ALL of these interviews. Lots of cool history of the musicians that we didn't know about.
Thanks Mike.... appreciate you watching our channel... Joe
He nailed it, it’s guys like you!!!
Thank you EB...Joe
Contrary to what Joe Hunter said in this video about playing on Where Did Our Love Go, I think he meant that he played A Breathtaking Guy (which was the first single from the Where Did Our Love Go album), for it's well documented that Earl Van Dyke performed the piano part on the Where Did Our Love Go single. Not to mention that Hunter left Motown in mid-1963 (according to the IMDb website about the documentary "Standing In The Shadows Of Motown", the last song that Joe Hunter played on was Martha Reeves And The Vandellas "Heat Wave"), while "Where Did Our Love Go" wasn't recorded until April 1964. I'm pretty sure he meant that he played on "A Breathtaking Guy" (which recorded in late-1962, when Hunter was still playing for Motown, that song would later be included on the same album as "Where Did Our Love Go"), the piano part on Breathtaking Guy definitely sounds like Hunter's style, just as the piano part Where Did Our Love Go sounds very much like Earl Van Dyke's style. I'd imagine it can be difficult for some studio musicians to keep track of the sessions in which they participated, and when you played on a less successful cut from the same album that produced a chart-topping single that the album was named after, it can be very easy to get the title cut mixed up with one of the less popular singles from the album. This was a good video, nonetheless, even with the background noise from the traffic. I always enjoy watching your interviews with all these legendary studio musicians, I learn a lot from these videos.
Thanks, Joe.
Thanks Bob...Joe
Wonderful interview
Thanks 567.....joe
Great interview!!
Thanks Chris...Joe
I have the same t-shirt Joe has on!!!! The Funk Brothers!!!! So great!!!
Thanks for watching Greg... joe
@@MusiciansHallofFameMuseum I sent you a message on the Museum Website about I have Buddy Holly's Jr & Sr. Yearbooks if you have interest in getting photos.....My Aunt went to Lubbock High with Buddy and I have gotten them on loan from my Cousin if you have interest we can see about getting connected
Hi Greg... yes I responded to your email... Thanks... Joe
It took a while, but a decade a go I thought I got all my Joe Hunters right, but after a while I keep forgetting and must refer to my notes yet again whenever I hear the name Joe Hunter!
Joe Hunter-Motown-Funk Bros-pianist (the above)
Ivory Jo Hunter-Motown-Song writer/pianist/arranger (wished he'd kept his given name-George or dropped the Jo!) :>)-Kidding!
Ivory Joe Hunter-Songwriter and pianist-(the one that is not Motown).
Wow, so there's three Jo(e) Hunters. I knew there was two, with one of them having recorded at Stax Records.
@@bholaoates1542 > Which meant Motown had TWO of them and adding a bit of confusion (to me anyway). I remember the Four Tops had a song "Ask the Lonely," the music was written by Ivy Jo Hunter, lyrics by William Hunter. I wonder if Joe Hunter (OG above) was playing the piano on that session, or if it was Ivy Jo Hunter the composer playing. There is a UA-cam "Extended Version" by UA-camr Mosogotam where only the instrumental elements are heard. The Funk Brothers are playing the music, but I don't know Joe above is on the keys are if Jo took control of his composition. I wonder if royalty checks ever get sent to the wrong guy, ha ha! Ivory-Ivy-Joe-Jo, whatever!
Oops! the lyrics for "Ask the Lonely" were by William Stevenson, further proof how I get confused with these Hunters.
@@delstanley1349 haha Good stuff, Del.
Standing In The Shadows Of Motown was an incredible book, then a movie. They finally got credit for their contributions, but for some it was too late. As of Feb 2023, only Jack Ashford is left of the main musicians, although there are horn players left like Paul Riser, Bobbye Hall is still here, a fine conga player from the 60's, and of course the only child of the Funk Brothers, Stevie Wonder.
Joe, have you thought to interview Ray Parker Jr? He was never an official Funk Brother but was taken under their wing. He has a rich history being born and raised in Detroit and in the studio by the age of 14. Hilarious stories about James Jamerson.
.
Hi Mpg...... actually no... I have not had the opportunity or thought about Ray before but I’ll keep him in mind...best, Joe
Joe...Have you ever interviewed Vic Flick??? He's another guy who's played on tons of hits!
Hi brp.... yeah Vic would be great.... He was on a episode of Pawn Stars. He was selling his 60’s strat... he was living in Vegas at the time. Best... Joe
That's one cool dude.
Black music is a creative goldmine.
Historically Motown
THE FUNKS RULE
Great interview Joe. I'm curious, do you know what Mr. Hunter did after he left Motown?
Hi mtc.... to be very honest I don’t know... I just assumed he continued to play in one way or another. Usually players of his caliber don’t stop at least for very long. When I met Joe different members of the Funk Brothers were still performing all over the world with the fame they richly deserved following their documentary “Standing In The Shadows Of Motown”. They really didn’t make a lot of money from the success of the movie. The guy/s who put it together really made the money from the documentary which caused a lot of dissension between everyone including the Funk Brothers themselves. They eventually split up into two Funk Brothers bands and toured separately for years. They didn’t get paid for the movie but the movie did get them the Recognition that allowed them to cash in so to speak in the latter part of their lives for what they achieved when they were young. Joe Hunter passed away sitting at his piano either after or before a tour in Japan best I can remember......Best... Joe
@@MusiciansHallofFameMuseum From what I understand, Alan "Dr Licks" Slutsky was financially ruined by "standing" and if that's so, perhaps the money went to people on the more executive side of things. It has to be emphasised that what the funks needed more than anything (from what I've witnessed them saying) was recognition. Jamerson and Benjamin both had drug/drink habits which may have drained their bank accounts but the others were - allegedly - paid well and invested their money wisely by and large (Joe Messina opened a chain of car washes for instance). Of course, this wouldn't necessarily apply to Mr Hunter, who left the set-up early before Motown took off big-time. All of the aforementioned is conjecture based on second-hand information; I could be woefully wrong on many/all counts.
@@MusiciansHallofFameMuseum Thanks Joe, it would appear a lot of musicians were more famous than rich and the studio guys quite often neither. You did well to broaden your horizons. You have a lot of famous friends, did any of them suggest you get a back-up plan?
Hi ML.... I’m just saying all the FB that were still alive when I met them said the same thing. I’m not aware of Alan’s fate but I do know there are two sides to every story. Basically.... the thing that got the Funk Brothers upset was they felt mislead about the documentary. If they had been told that they would not actually make money from the making of the movie which I’m pretty sure Alan was paid..( which I totally agree with... he should’ve made bank as that was the only way he could’ve got paid) if they had been told “ look... this will ok make you famous and give you the opportunity to go play and make your own money they would’ve happily agreed to the deal.
Hi mtc.... many years ago songwriter and record producer Billy Sherrill said “Joe... you’ll never get rich songwriting but you can make enough money in a short time to get wealthy if you invest
Was this Ivy Joe Hunter?
Did he play the piano
I've met and played in the basement of Ivy Jo Hunter of Motown (not the Atlantic musician) I can't tell if this is Ivy or not.
Hi Roger... No ... this is Joe Hunter. Lots of people get the two confused. Thanks for watching...Best...Joe
@@MusiciansHallofFameMuseum I want to clarify, Ivy co wrote Dancing in the Street, and there is yet another JO HUNTER???
George Ivy Hunter (born August 28, 1940), known as Ivy Jo Hunter.
And then the Ivy who recorded for Atlantic? And after reading forums there is Jo Hunter. And I think I saw a football player named Ivy Hunter. Popular name.
Would like to see more of the live stuff. Sounds like a lot of fun.
Roger.... Joe Hunter was a keyboard player in Detroit. While playing night clubs in the area, Berry Gordy went to the club where Joe was performing and told him he was starting a record label and asked Joe if he’d like to be a studio musician. Joe said do I get paid and Berry said yes. Joe was the first or second studio musician hired by Berry Gordy to work at Motown. Thanks again for watching...Joe
What instrument did joe. Hunter play
Falana... Thanks for watching... Joe played piano....Best, Joe
wish someone would do an interview with Joe Messina
Hi Jennifur.... hey I did a interview with Joe Messina.... he was one of my earliest interviews. Just look it up on Musicianshalloffame “Backstage” the Vault Series. best, Joe
@@MusiciansHallofFameMuseum ok thanks
I hope you will enjoy it Jennifur...... Joe
@@MusiciansHallofFameMuseum Joe messina
Ivory Joe!
Hi Bozo... thanks for watching but this Joe is not Ivory Joe Hunter. Lots of people make the same mistake. Best, Joe
What traffic noise? Lol
Indeed!
ISN'T MR..JOE HUNTER ORIGINALLY FROM MEMPHIS TENNESSEE. ??????????
Hi Jan…. He may be from Memphis… I don’t remember but I know he did spend a lot of time in the South. Best, Joe
Genes are an amazing thing. My( white)blood-relation uncle looks just like him, eyes and all. This guy is much nicer though, and funny too.
Is this the Ivory Joe Hunter?/
Hi Colleen...... that’s a great question and one that’s often mistaken for Motown’s Joe Hunter. The answer is they are two totally different people.... best..............Joe
I liked the Motown songs, but... Hitsville was a domestic house. How could they run a commercial business in a residential neighborhood? The traffic must have been awful. No place to park your car on the street, as they had many employees and visitors taking up the parking spots on the street. No parking lot. In a residential neighborhood, one can not put up a barber pole and start cutting hair. What did the tax paying neighbors think? To perform a business, one must be in a commercial zoned area.
Hardly a residential neighborhood, within a block of General Motors building and the majestic Fisher building housing a motor city gem the Fisher Theatre. Hitsville is on West Grand Blvd ,, a very busy road