Joe Hunter, the very first musician hired by Berry Gordy to back up some of Motown’s finest singers on piano, passed away at his Detroit apartment Friday at age 79.  An article in the Detroit News: http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070203/ENT01/702030388

Standing In The Shadows Of Motown is a documentary about the Funk Brothers, the backing band for groups like the Miracles and the Temptations.  Often overlooked in their importance in music history, this movie does a great job shedding light on their accomplishments and gives an inside look at the Motown scene in the early to mid 60s. http://www.standingintheshadowsofmotown.com/index.htm 

Detroit News review of “Shadows”: http://www.detnews.com/2002/entertainment/0211/14/d01-8908.htm

I’m going to pay a tribute to Mr. Hunter today by digging up all the Motown records that I can that he contributed to and giving them a closer listening to. 

Respect and condolences goes out to Joe’s family and friends.

*More pictures of the Joe and other Funk Brothers members from the Detroit News: http://forums.detnews.com/pix/photogalleries/newsgallery/2002_funk/index.htm