[msb-alumni] Motown's Eddie Willis, one of last Funk Brothers, dies at 82
- From: Steve <pipeguy920@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: <msb-alumni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 20 Aug 2018 18:18:01 -0400
BlankMotown's Eddie Willis, one of last Funk Brothers, dies at 82 Brian
McCollum
, Detroit Free Press
Guitarist Eddie Willis, who played on many of the best-known Motown hits from
the Detroit era, died Monday morning at home in Gore Springs, Miss. He was 82.
His daughter Terez Willis said he had been suffering complications from a
childhood
bout with polio.
With the death of Willis, only guitarist Joe Messina remains from the seminal,
core lineup of the Funk Brothers, the revered Motown house band that largely
worked in obscurity. Messina lives in Warren(, Michigan).
The group's legacy was brought to wider prominence with the 2002 award-winning
documentary "Standing in the Shadows of Motown."
Eddie Willis, left and Jack Ashford, center, look on as Stevie Wonder speaks,
right, during a ceremony honoring the
musicians with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on March 21, 2013 in
Hollywood, California. The Funk Brothers was the nickname of Detroit, Michigan,
session musicians who performed the backing to most Motown recordings from 1959
until the company moved to Los Angeles in 1972. (Photo: JOE KLAMAR, AFP/Getty
Images)
Willis started with Motown in 1959, and remained with the label as it moved
operations to Los Angeles in the early 1970s. Willis soon returned to Detroit,
working as a touring guitarist with Eddie Kendricks and spending about two
decades with the Four Tops. He moved back to Mississippi about 25 years ago,
Terez Willis said.
Despite the Funk Brothers' lack of wider recognition, "he knew that he was
loved," said his daughter. "He knew'that a lot
of people in the industry loved him. That's what he talked about when I saw him
two weeks ago."
Eddie Willis is survived by wife, Rosemary Willis;'children
Michael Willis, Terez Willis, Kristy Young, Julie Brock and'Rroice Willis; and
several grandchildren. Funeral arrangements will be handled by Clark-Williams
Funeral Home in Grenada, Miss.
Other related posts:
- » [msb-alumni] Motown's Eddie Willis, one of last Funk Brothers, dies at 82 - Steve
