Funk Brothers Concert at the Royal Festival Hall, London, 2004
back row left to right mike terry, james jamerson ,jack ashford, front row l to right hank cosby, robert white, earl van dyke, uriel jones
The current Funk Brothers are in 2004:
Bob Babbitt - Bass
Eddie Willis - Guitar
Jack Ashford - Vibes/Percussion/Compare
Joe Hunter - Piano/B3 organ
Joe Messina - Guitar
Uriel Jones - Drums
The Motown session band last appeared in London in 1965 as the Earl Van Dyke Six.(see above) It's taken nearly 40 years for them to return as the Funk Brothers, a 16 piece band in a concert at the Royal Festival Hall, London on Friday 30 January 2004. They appeared with guests Billy Preston & Steve Winwood.
If you were there you witnessed the magic of Motown and saw some of the fine musicians that played on so many of the hit records produced by Motown Records, 2648 West Grand Boulevard in Detroit USA.
The first time the musicans were credited on any Motown recording, was on the back of the album What's Going On the masterpiece by Marvin Gaye in 1971.
Concert Play List
Uptight (Everything's Alright)
Reach Out (I'll Be There)
My Baby Loves Me
Heat Wave
Pride & Joy (Billy Preston)
Ain't Too Proud Too Beg (Billy Preston)
(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher And Higher*
Baby I Need Your Loving
What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted
It's A Shame
My Girl
For Once In My Life
How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You) (Steve Winwood)
Shotgun (Steve Winwood)
Heard It Through The Grapevine
Stop In The Name Of Love
I Was Made To Love Her
What You Gonna Do
Needle In A Haystack
Function At The Junction (Steve Winwood)
What's Going On (Steve Winwood)
Ain't No Mountain High Enough
I Know I'm Losing You
Other vocals included Carla Benson & Johnny Ingram. Billy Preston appeared in place of the billed Issac Hayes
*The Funk Brothers played on this track issued on Brunswick (Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher And Higher by Jackie Wilson
See the Funk Brothers in this DVD
Book about Bass Player James Jameson
Book By Jack Ashford, Motown The View From The Bottom
Funk Brothers CD's
Sadly, Joe Hunter died 3rd Febuary 2007, he was 79 years old. Also Uriel Jones passed away on 24th March 2009 he was 75 years old. Bob Babbitt passed away on 16th July, 2012 he was 74 years old.