Jack Ashford and HIS Funk Brothers

 

 
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Funk Brother Jack Ashford is a celebrated Motown musician who recorded on mostly all 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, many, more. He played with a group of 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 day. Every two minutes, somewhere in the world a Motown recorded is being played.

Jack's tambourine was one of the dominant forces that gave Motown Records its distinguishable "Motown Sound". He has recorded for a long list of artist all over the world for more than four decades.

Currently, Funk Brother Jack Ashford is touring internationally and in the United States with a full 13 piece band. This sensational stellar band consists of top quality musicians and vocalists who capture the very same sound heard on past Motown recordings. This "All Star" cast of entertainers 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. They deliver the "Legendary Original Motown Sound"

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. The newest documentary featuring Jack entitled "Mr. Tambourine Man" is scheduled for a summer release. Look and listen for Jack on BET, PBS radio and TV capturing hearts as he vividly recreates Motown history.

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.

Audiences all over the world report total pleasure with Funk Brother Jack Ashford and his band's performance. They deliver the same sound, and same arrangements as the original records thereby providing "The Legendary Original Motown Sound".

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"Mr. Tambourine Man", Jack Ashford
The Motown backbeat was the Holy Grail of 1960's pop music, and Jack Ashford's tambourine was at the heart of it. Many have speculated that the little tambourine gripped in Jack's right hand and struck against the heel of his left hand making tremendous rhythmic sounds, was easily emulated. Those speculations have been arrested by musicians and laymen alike all over, who pay homage to a man who never set out to be a tambourine player but it was a gift brought to life by a jazz band and Marvin Gaye. Such a little thing, yet so earth-shaking in its impact, Jack's tambourine was one of the dominant forces that gave Motown Records the sound it was noted for - The Motown Sound. The 'Snake Pit' was the place where Jack recorded mostly, but many producers other than Motown producers wanted the tambourine sound or the vibe sound to challenge that Magical Motown 'Hit Factory'. Whenever he could, Jack would do 'Outside Dates' for a long list of people. The list is so long some have even been forgotten. The following is just to name some of the people Jack has recorded with.
 
Johnny Taylor
Carla Thomas
Rufus Thomas
The Soul Children
Candie Staton
Barry White
The Mighty Clouds of Joy
The Osmonds
Johnny Mathis
Boz Scaggs
Bob Seager
Parlament
Funkadelics
New Edition
The Whispers
Ray Parker Jr.
Bobbie Brown
Rose Royce
The Capitols
Undisputed Truth
Honey Cones
Chaka Khan
Lenny Williams
Barbara McNair
Liz Lands

Fantastic Four
Valerie Simpson
San Remo & Golden Strings
Michael Jackson
Aaron Neville
Starr Guard
Kenny Gamble
Marvin Gaye
Diana Ross
Smokey Robinson
The Four Tops
Gladys Knight & The Pips
Martha Reeves
Luther Vandross
Johnny Bristol
Thelma Houston
The Monitors
Marvelettes
Tammi Terrell
Jimmy Ruffin
The Spinners
Bobby Womack
Bobby "Blue" Bland
Dorothy Norwood
Glass House
Edwin Starr

Bill Withers
Jeno Parks
Hattie Little
Dusty Springfield
Yvonne Fair
Frankie Crocker
The Jackson Five
Sam & Dave
Donna Summer
Willie Hutch
Stevie Wonder
The Supremes
Shorty Long
The Miracles
The Temptations
Jr. Walker
Mary Wells
The O'Jays
The Contours
The Originals
Isley Brothers
Velvelettes
Marv Johnson
Eddie Kendricks
Star Guard
 
The list goes on, and on..... and on........ and on..........
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