The Motown backbeat was the Holy Grail of 1960's pop music and every two minutes,
somewhere on the planet, a Motown recording is played. At the heart of it was a group of
studio musicians known as "The Funk Brothers". They put the backbeat and the soul into
the hits of Motown Records. These musicians helped to define the era of the sixties, and
their recorded music remains a vital influence to this very day. Jack's tambourine was one
of the dominant forces that gave Motown Records the “The Motown Sound.” Funk
Brother Jack Ashford is heard on most all of the hits released in the 1960's and early
1970's for such legendary performers as Stevie Wonder, The Temptations, The Four
Tops, Diana Ross and The Supremes, Jr. Walker, Marvin Gaye and many more.
Jacks' contribution on percussion, including but not limited to vibes and tambourine, is
definitive. He delivers the foreboding rattle of his tambourine on the Marvin Gaye
version of "I Heard it Through the Grapevine". He can also be heard playing vibes on
"Where Did Our Love Go" by the Supremes and marimbas on "Just My Imagination" by
The Temptations.
Currently, Funk Brother Jack Ashford is touring internationally and in the United States
with his own "Funk Brothers" band. This sensational stellar band consists of top quality
musicians and vocalists who capture the very same sound heard on past Motown
recordings. They are an "All Star" cast of entertainers that have impressive resumes of
their own stretching from Motown to Stax, to Warner Brothers, RCA, Universal, Las
Vegas, and to all four corners of the music world.
In addition to touring, Jack has recently completed projects with Spike Lee, Aaron
Neville Raphael Saadiq and T-Bone Burnett.
The documentary entitled "Standing in the Shadows of Motown", features Jack and the
Funk Brothers telling their story with exclusive interviews and archival footage, and with
new performances of previous hit recorded songs. Look and listen for Jack on BET, PBS
radio and TV capturing hearts as he vividly recreates Motown history.
Recognition has never come quickly for the Funk Brothers, but on March 21, 2013 they
were honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Ray Parker Jr. at the
ceremony said, "Today is a day for all musicians, because this is a musicians' star,"
Jack is the recipient of two Grammy Awards, a Lifetime Achievement Award and several
gold records. His book,” Motown: A View From The Bottom”, provides a wonderful and
detailed view of the events of his life and times at Motown. Enthusiastic audiences
around the world experience the Motown energy and authenticity of the music with Funk
Brother Jack Ashford and his band's delivery. They produce the same sound and same
arrangements as the original records thereby providing "The Legendary Original Motown
Sound.” Every two minutes, somewhere in the world a Motown recording with the Funk
Brothers as the studio band is being played and to quote Jack, "We made hit records for
everybody on the planet, and that’s the excellence we strived for.”
Jack Ashford