The Best of Motown Instrumental Music
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Looking for some amazing Motown instrumental music to listen to? Look no further than this blog post! We’ve rounded up some of the best Motown instrumentals for your enjoyment.
Hitsville U.S.A. (The Birthplace of Motown)
In the late 1950s, an up-and-coming musician named Berry Gordy started a record label in Detroit, Michigan. He called it Motown. The name “Motown” was a combination of “motor” and “town,” which made sense because Detroit was known as the Motor City.
At first, Gordy’s label did not have much success. But then he had the idea to focus on creating music for a specific audience: African Americans who were living in cities and looking for something to connect with. He signed some local talent, and soon Motown became one of the most successful record labels in the country.
The Motown sound was a uniquely African American take on popular music. It featured catchy melodies, soulful lyrics, and tight harmonies. And it was perfect for dancing! The Motown sound dominated the charts in the 1960s and 1970s, and many of Motown’s biggest hits were sung by groups like The Supremes, The Temptations, and Stevie Wonder.
If you’re looking for some great Motown tunes to dance to, or just to listen to, check out our list of the best Motown instrumental songs below.
The Funk Brothers
The Funk Brothers were a group of Detroit-based session musicians who performed the backing tracks for most of the hit recordings made by Motown Records during the 1960s and early 1970s. They are considered one of the most successful and prolific studio bands in popular music history. During their heyday, the Funk Brothers comprised some of Detroit’s most talented professional musicians, many of whom have been inducted into the Michigan Rock and Roll Legends online Hall of Fame.
The House Band
The House Band was the in-house band for Motown Records. The band members were some of the most talented and versatile musicians in the business. They could play any style of music, from pop to soul to R&B to rock. They were also responsible for creating the famous Motown sound.
The House Band was made up of a team of session musicians who worked together on a regular basis. The core members of the band were brothers James Jamerson (bass) and Bobby Rogers (guitar), along with brothers Earl Van Dyke (keyboards) and Richard “Pistol” Allen (drums). Other members of the band included trombone player Joseph “Joe” Hunter, trumpeter Johnny Griffith, and saxophonist David Ruffin.
The House Band recorded on many of Motown’s most famous songs, including “My Girl,” “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” and “I Heard It Through the Grapevine.” The band’s signature sound was a key part of Motown’s success in the 1960s and 1970s.
The Sound of Young America
In the late 1950s and early 1960s, a new style of music emerged from the streets of Detroit that would come to be known as Motown. This soulful sound would go on to conquer the world, and its impact is still felt today.
The Motown sound was created by a group of immensely talented musicians, many of whom were African American. These artists were led by the visionary producer Berry Gordy, who founded Motown Records in 1959.
The Motown sound is characterized by a heavy backbeat, catchy hooks, and irresistible melodies. It is both soulful and funky, and it has been hugely influential on popular music over the past 50 years.
If you’re a fan of Motown, then you’re sure to enjoy this collection of instrumental tracks from some of the label’s greatest hits. From the Temptations’ “My Girl” to Marvin Gaye’s “I Heard It Through the Grapevine,” these songs will take you back to a time when soul music ruled the charts.