Died On This Date (August 2, 1983) James Jamerson / Bassist On Many Early Motown Hits; The Funk Brothers
themusicsover James Jamerson
January 29, 1936 – August 2, 1983
Born in South Carolina, James Jamerson moved to Detroit where learned to play the bass in high school. He soon started playing in the local jazz and blues clubs and by the early ’60s, he was working at Berry Gordy’s studio. He, along with some of popular music’s greatest musicians were called the Funk Brothers and they can be heard on nearly every Motown record throughout the ’60s. Jamerson played on literally hundreds of Motown songs including such hits as “My Girl” (the Temptations), “You Can’t Hurry Love (the Supremes), “I Heard It Through The Grapevine” (Gladys Knight), and “What’s Goin’ On” (Marvin Gaye). It has been said that Jamerson played on more #1 pop hits than the Beatles, who own that actual record. Many of the world’s greatest bass players have pointed to Jamerson as their main influence. That list includes John Entwistle, John Paul Jones, Paul McCartney, and Jack Bruce. Jamerson and Motown parted company in 1973 after which, he found work playing on such disco hits as “Boogie Fever” and “Don’t Rock The Boat.” A longtime drinker, James Jamerson died of cirrhosis of the liver, heart failure and pneumonia at the age of 47.
Richard “Pistol” Allen was a drummer for Motown’s Funk Brothers, the acclaimed session band the provided the sound for many of the greatest songs in American history. His shuffle style drumming could be heard on such classics as the Supremes’ “Baby Love,” 
Benny Benjamin was the primary drummer for famed Motown session group, the Funk Brothers. Along with 
Uriel Jones was the phenomenal drummer for the Funk Brothers, Motown’s house band, throughout the ’60s and early ’70s. There were of course, other drummers during this time period, but it was Jones’ funky beats that were heard on “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” (
Samuel George was the lead singer and drummer for early ’60s soul vocal trio, the Capitols. They were initially signed to Detroit’s Karen Records, and in 1963, they released their first single, “Dog and Cat.” After the record failed to catch on, the group split up. But in 1966, the group re-formed to record a song called “Cool Jerk” which was written to capitalize on a current Detroit dance craze. Backed by Motown’s legendary house band, the Funk Brothers, the Capitols delivered a single that shot to #7 on the pop charts and #2 on the R&B charts. The song remains a staple at oldies radio and has been covered by the likes of the Go-Go’s, Todd Rundgren and the Creation. On March 17, 1982, Samuel George died of stab wounds suffered during a domestic dispute.
