Died On This Date (April 20, 1969) Benny Benjamin / Motown’s Funk Brothers
themusicsover William “Benny” Benjamin
July 25, 1925 – April 20, 1969
Benny Benjamin was the primary drummer for famed Motown session group, the Funk Brothers. Along with James Jamerson on bass, Benjamin laid the foundation of almost every early hit to come out of Motown, including “Going To A Go-Go,” “I Heard It Through The Grapevine,” and “(Money) That’s What I Want.” Apparently many producers, including Berry Gordy refused to work on any Motown sessions that didn’t include Benjamin on drums. Benjamin was just 43 when he died of a stroke on April 20, 1969. In 2003, he was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a sideman.
At 71 in 2005, Rick Lewis was the last surviving member of doo wop group, the Silhouettes. Although credited to the entire group, Lewis was the songwriter of their huge hit, “Get A Job,” which by many accounts is the quintessential doo wop song. The group performed the song numerous times on American Bandstand, and it was later featured in movies such as American Graffiti and Stand By Me. Lewis died of multiple organ failure on April 19, 2005 at the age of 71.
Dee Holmes was a beloved singer who made a name for herself throughout the New Jersey Shore music scene and beyond. She also worked as a voice instructor. During the early ’70s Holmes sang back-up in the Bruce Springsteen Band, the legendary forerunner of the more familiar E Street Band. Holmes reunited with Springsteen when she sang with him on “My City Of Ruins” for the televised 9/11 fundraiser, America: A Tribute To Heroes. She reportedly sang with Springsteen on numerous other occasions throughout the years as well. Dee Holmes was 63 when she passed away on April 16, 2010.
Robert Brookins began singing at the tender age of four, and never looked back. After winning a Motown talent search in 1974, he joined a group called Afterbach whose debut was produced by Earth Wind & Fire’s Maurice and Verdine White. Brookin’s vocals were featured on George Duke’s self titled release of 1986. He soon signed to MCA Records for whom he recorded a handful of acclaimed R&B albums. Over his career he worked with the likes of Stephanie Mills, Deniece Williams, the Whispers, Jeffrey Osbourne, and Bobby Brown. Robert Brookins died of a heart attack at the age of 46.
Thurston Harris was an American R&B singer who fronted the South Central Los Angeles vocal group, the Lamplighters in the early ’50s. He later became what many call a “one-hit wonder”, but what a hit it was! His recording of “Little Bitty Pretty One” shot to #6 on the American pop charts and is considered to this day one of the most popular records of the era. Listen to it below; you’ll likely recognize it from a film or television program. Harris scored a couple other minor hits at the end of the ’50s, “Do What You Did,” and “Runk Bunk.” He passed away of a heart attack in 1990 at the age of 58.