Listen to this man. Seven years of college, you know. Trying to reason with 2020 and, now, 2022.

Friday, August 5, 2022

Music Deaths: Joe Messina of Motown's Funk Brothers

JOE MESSINA, 93

Died April 4, 2022

Guitarist, played with Motown's in-house studio band, The Funk Brothers.

Dubbed the "White Brother with Soul."  He was one of the most prolific guitarists ever.  In 1959, Motown founder Berry Gordy recruited Messina for his Hitsville USA studio musicians group known as The Funk Brothers.  He was one of three guitarists.

These were the guys you heard on most every Motown hit in the 1960s and early 1970s.  So, if you have any favorite Motown songs from that era, most like it was Messina playing guitar.

Just some of the songs he played on:

"Dancing in the Street"-  Martha & the Vandellas

"Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)"--  Four Tops

"Someday We'll Be Together"--  Diana Ross & the Supremes

"Your Precious Love"--  Marvin Gaye and TammiTerrell

"Ain't Too Proud"--  Temptations


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