Bluesfest: Opening "The Funk Brothers" 2009

[marantz7]

i am a musician.. i have ears for this sort of thing. were you a big 8 jock ?

[windsorwindow]

@marantz7 The topic here is the Funk Brothers, not me.Tamla Motown used NUMEROUS musicians for their music all though the Motown era. The Funk Brothers where not the stars, they were simply a house band of musicians backing the stars. MANY musicians passed through that house band. What more would you want? Where you expecting all of the now dead to arise? It was not fair of you to say the audience was mislead. No further comment on this matter. I fairly gave you your say.

[KellyCraigSextet]

@marantz7 There are only 4 Funk Bros. left. Bob Babbitt, Eddie Willis, Jack Ashford, and Joe Mesina, I count myself self among the privileged to have played many shows with the band on Trumpet and horn section contractor. Since 2004 I have played over 100 shows with the band and have rarely come across an more interesting group of people. It should also be mentioned that in addition to those Funk Brothers Alan Selected for the movie, many others have played on the records.

[KellyCraigSextet]

@marantz7 In early 2005 the band split into two parts, One of the bands consisted of; Joe Hunter(deceased) and Jack Ashford, The other, Bob Babbitt, Uriel Jones(deceased), and Eddie Willis. If you have a working knowledge of Motown acts, this type of tragic spiting of great musicians is common. Huge talent, breeds strong opinions. I was put in the awkwardly flattering position of being called by both factions to provide a horn section.

[KellyCraigSextet]

@marantz7 The band split was a total surprise and I only found out after accepting a series of gigs with the Ashford/Hunter unit, that the band has split. That unit had none of the other members from the movie, or the existing band for which I was originally hired. However, there were some very heavy hitters on stage including Ralphe Armstrong, Nate Neblett, and George Roundtree (Deceased).

[KellyCraigSextet]

@marantz7 I had not been called by the Babbitt/Jones/Willis unit for sometime and later found out they were seeking new management as the previous management was originally secured by Jack Ashford. I dreaded having to choose which Funk Brothers unit to play with if I were ever contacted again by Bob Babbitt and the other Funk Brothers.



[KellyCraigSextet]

@marantz7

The decision as to which band to play with was made by an error on my part in late 2005, when I neglected to renew my passport and was unable to travel to Japan with the Ashford/Hunter unit. I regret not having played with Joe hunter on those last gigs, he passed away soon thereafter. By a strange turn of events I was contacted by the B/J/W unit for a Canadian date the same day my passport was renewed.

[marantz7]

I was there that night.. i stood behind the soundconsole. bottom line is that only bob babbit and eddie willis were present that evening. the other few remaining alive members obviously did not attend. the show was great but really not much to do with motown or funk bros IMHO

[windsorwindow]

@marantz7 Well I would be inclined to believe most people would not agree with you. It was the Funk Brothers. We very well can not ask the dead to come back and perform. Unfortunately what you are saying is a current phenomenon happening with all of the great Motown groups. Believe me, I am a former radio jock of the era and what I heard was amazingly the Funk Brothers. They did a splendid job by all of their peers' standards and I only wish for their soon return. I totally enjoyed the evening.

[marantz7]

too bad it's NOT the funkbros.. there are only 2 guys on this stage that are original

the audience was mislead

[windsorwindow]

@marantz7 Sorry to inform you but you are mistaken. The audience was not mislead. Being the video producer I only captured a brief portion of the show for YouTube. In the earlier introductions we were inform of the passing of many of the original Fuck Brothers. There are only a few still remaining with us today. Those few were backed up by other Motown artists of the same genre. The show was.. "The Funk Brothers".. and it was a BLAST!

[savivafosho]

Rock on Funk Brothers!

[atomixrecords]

Looking forward to Port Credit in September!

I wish I could have hit Windsor & London, used to bring the Funk there on a regular basis.

[atomixrecords]

Doesn't matter if it is on LP, CD, DVD, YouTube or in person. The Funk Brothers always bring pure, uncut joy to the party and it`s not a party until the Funk Brothers are in the house and our hearts.

Much love for ALL the Funk's and their all-star line up.

[titsywatoo]

Thank you for all the good comments on this show. I enjoyed being there and look forward to the next time...and yes, Ain't no party like a Funk Brother party cuz a Funk Brother party don't stop!..FYI...I'm the singer on the right.