Joe Hunter (musician)
Encyclopedia
Joseph Edward Hunter Born in Jackson, Tennessee
was an African-American musician, known for his recording session work as a pianist
in Motown Records
' in-house studio band, the Funk Brothers. One of the original Funk Brothers, Hunter served as band director for the band from 1959 until 1964, when he left Motown and was replaced by Earl Van Dyke
. He is a native of Jackson, Tennessee, USA.
Though his time with the Funk Brothers was short, his unique style of piano playing was integral to the "Motown Sound" . Hunter left a lasting impression on future Motown session musicians, and artists such as Stevie Wonder
. He also produced and arranged various soul tracks during the 60's. He was involved with Pied Piper Productions. Some artists that Joe can be affiliated with are The Metros
, Dennis Edwards
, The Hesitations
, and Freddy Butler
He is not to be confused with Texas pianist Ivory Joe Hunter
, who died in 1974; or with Motown producer and song writer Ivy Jo Hunter
Hunter's influences include Art Tatum
, Sergei Rachmaninov
, and Nat King Cole
. Among the many records he performed the piano for are "Shop Around
" by The Miracles
(though the Gerald Posner
Book "Motown" credits Berry Gordy, Jr), "Do You Love Me
" by The Contours
, and "(Love is Like a) Heat Wave
" by Martha & the Vandellas.
Joe Hunter died of natural causes on February 2, 2007, at the age of 79. He was a full-time musician in the Detroit area at the time of his death. http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070202/UPDATE/702020459
Jackson, Tennessee
Jackson is a city in Madison County, Tennessee, United States. The total population was 65,211 at the 2010 census. Jackson is the primary city of the Jackson, Tennessee metropolitan area, which is included in the Jackson-Humboldt, Tennessee Combined Statistical Area...
was an African-American musician, known for his recording session work as a pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
in Motown Records
Motown Records
Motown is a record label originally founded by Berry Gordy, Jr. and incorporated as Motown Record Corporation in Detroit, Michigan, United States, on April 14, 1960. The name, a portmanteau of motor and town, is also a nickname for Detroit...
' in-house studio band, the Funk Brothers. One of the original Funk Brothers, Hunter served as band director for the band from 1959 until 1964, when he left Motown and was replaced by Earl Van Dyke
Earl Van Dyke
Earl Van Dyke was an African American musician, most notable as the main keyboardist for Motown Records' in-house Funk Brothers band during the late 1960s and early 1970s. Van Dyke was preceded as keyboardist and bandleader of the Funk Brothers by Joe Hunter...
. He is a native of Jackson, Tennessee, USA.
Though his time with the Funk Brothers was short, his unique style of piano playing was integral to the "Motown Sound" . Hunter left a lasting impression on future Motown session musicians, and artists such as Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
. He also produced and arranged various soul tracks during the 60's. He was involved with Pied Piper Productions. Some artists that Joe can be affiliated with are The Metros
The Metros
The Metros were a five-piece Indie rock band from Peckham, south London, England. Founded by vocalist Saul Adamczewski and lead guitarist Jak Payne, the band was formed while most of the members were still at school.-Background:...
, Dennis Edwards
Dennis Edwards
Dennis Edwards is a soul and R&B singer, most noted for being one of Motown act The Temptations' lead singers replacing David Ruffin. He is the father of Issa Pointer, whose mother is Ruth Pointer of The Pointer Sisters.-Career:...
, The Hesitations
The Hesitations
The Hesitations are an American R&B group from Cleveland, Ohio. Formed in 1965, they scored several hits in 1967 and 1968, the biggest being their gospel-infused version of the title track to the movie Born Free. After lead singer George "King" Scott was accidentally shot and killed in February...
, and Freddy Butler
He is not to be confused with Texas pianist Ivory Joe Hunter
Ivory Joe Hunter
Ivory Joe Hunter was an American rhythm and blues singer, songwriter, and pianist. After a series of hits on the US R&B chart starting in the mid 1940s, he became more widely known for his hit recording, "Since I Met You Baby" . He was billed as The Baron of the Boogie, and also known as The...
, who died in 1974; or with Motown producer and song writer Ivy Jo Hunter
Ivy Jo Hunter
Ivy Jo Hunter, born George Ivy Hunter and sometimes credited as Ivy Hunter, is a former R&B songwriter, record producer and singer, most associated with his work for the Motown label in the 1960s....
Hunter's influences include Art Tatum
Art Tatum
Arthur "Art" Tatum, Jr. was an American jazz pianist and virtuoso who played with phenomenal facility despite being nearly blind.Tatum is widely acknowledged as one of the greatest jazz pianists of all time...
, Sergei Rachmaninov
Sergei Rachmaninoff
Sergei Vasilievich Rachmaninoff was a Russian composer, pianist, and conductor. Rachmaninoff is widely considered one of the finest pianists of his day and, as a composer, one of the last great representatives of Romanticism in Russian classical music...
, and Nat King Cole
Nat King Cole
Nathaniel Adams Coles , known professionally as Nat King Cole, was an American musician who first came to prominence as a leading jazz pianist. Although an accomplished pianist, he owes most of his popular musical fame to his soft baritone voice, which he used to perform in big band and jazz genres...
. Among the many records he performed the piano for are "Shop Around
Shop Around
"Shop Around" is a 1960 single by The Miracles for the Tamla label, catalog number T 54034. It is notable as being the label's first #1 hit on the Billboard magazine R&B singles chart, and also hit #2 on the Hot 100....
" by The Miracles
The Miracles
The Miracles are an American rhythm and blues group from Detroit, Michigan, notable as the first successful group act for Berry Gordy's Motown Record Corporation . Their single "Shop Around" was Motown's first million-selling hit record, and the group went on to become one of Motown's signature...
(though the Gerald Posner
Gerald Posner
Gerald Posner is an investigative journalist and author of several books, including Case Closed: Lee Harvey Oswald and the Assassination of JFK which explores the John F...
Book "Motown" credits Berry Gordy, Jr), "Do You Love Me
Do You Love Me
"Do You Love Me" is a 1962 hit single recorded by The Contours for Motown's Gordy Records label. Written and produced by Motown CEO Berry Gordy, Jr., "Do You Love Me?" was the Contours' only Top 40 single on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States. Notably, the record achieved this feat...
" by The Contours
The Contours
The Contours were one of the early African-American soul singing groups signed to Motown Records.The group is best known for its Billboard Top 10 hit, "Do You Love Me," a million-selling song that peaked twice in the Top 20....
, and "(Love is Like a) Heat Wave
(Love is Like a) Heat Wave
" Heat Wave" is a 1963 hit single penned by the Holland–Dozier–Holland songwriting team and made popular by Motown girl group Martha and the Vandellas. It was originally released in July 1963, on the Motown subsidiary label Gordy, peaking at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on the Billboard Hot...
" by Martha & the Vandellas.
Joe Hunter died of natural causes on February 2, 2007, at the age of 79. He was a full-time musician in the Detroit area at the time of his death. http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070202/UPDATE/702020459