Eddie Willis and The Funk Brothers

Little did Eddie Willis know, that his move from Gore Springs, Ms to Detriot Michigan would result in...

• Three Grammy Awards
• A Lifetime Achievement Award
• Best Traditional Performance for "What's Going On" with Chaka Khan
• Best Compilation Soundtract Album For A Motion Picture for "Standing in the Shadows of Motown"

In 2003, the surviving members of the Funk Brothers were invited to the White House to meet and be congratulated for a Lifetime Of Achievement by President George W. Bush, Secretary Of State Colin Powell and National Security Advisor Condoleeza Rice.

Growing up in Gore Springs

A primitive one string guitar, all that was needed was a wall, a wire, three nails and a block of wood. Then the string is plucked while sliding the nail up and down the string.

Playing the Diddley Bow led to Eddie's love for music. Along with the sounds coming from the local Juke Joint.

Growing up, Eddie was infatuated with music and took every oppertunity to sneak down to the Juke Joint and soak in the music coming from the bandstand.

A few years later, at the age of fifteen Eddie moved to Detriot, Michigan and the rest is history.

A Poem For Eddie In 1936 a sound was heard in Grenada Mississippi Or was it near Grenada, Graysport perhaps It was a baby's cry The sound was unlike any other baby's cry in the world It sounded like Mississippi John Hurt Like Charley Patton, Son House and Willie Brown sliding their worn fingers across the necks of guitars fashioned out of years of marching up and down mile long rows in the cotton fields of the Mississippi delta The baby's cry twanged like the sound of Muddy Waters, Tommy Johnson or Albert King plucking the strings of home made guitars on delta Mississippi front porches in the heat of the summer The Baby's cry sounded like the sirens song leading Robert Johnson to the crossroads It sounded like smoke filled juke joints full of Mississippi plough boys chasing blues filled dreams of Going to Chicago sorry but I can't take you Chasing the dreams of stars heading to the Motor City of Dee - troit That's spelled Dee - eee - eee - eee - eee - troit The baby's cry was precise like Max Roach keeping time and Art Blakey playing the backbeat The cry of this baby was a cry that would last forever It was the cry of slaves working Mississippi landscape singing no more auction block for me or oh freedom oh freedom over me This baby's cry was Funky Funky like a big ole pot of pig feet Funky like collard greens cooking for Sunday dinner on Saturday afternoon This baby cried a funk that would last for all time like the sound of a locomotive traveling through the Mississippi Delta just before dawn This baby grew into a man and cried his funky cry on the guitar With licks seasoned by fatback Strokes feeling like sopping biscuits in molasses hot with a big old slice of fresh bacon or salt pork Passages that added flavor like a hamhock fresh out of the smokehouse adds flavor to a pot of greens And solos that provided color like hot gushy red Mississippi mud scooped from the banks of the Yalobusha River Wielding a Gibson guitar like Lancelot wielded a sword Soupbone, Chank, Eddie Willis conquered musical frontiers Like Hercules slew lions Like sorcerers slew dragons Eddie conquered musical frontiers like Rome conquered the world As a member of The Funk Brothers Eddie created musical history The Funk Brothers made the music that changed the way the world listens to music I Heard It Through The Grapevine, What's Going On, The Way You Do The Things You Do, Friendship Train And the list goes on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on Eddie played with some of the greatest musicians and singers in the world The Four Tops, The Supremes, The Temptations, Mary Wells, The Marveletts, Stevie Wonder And the list goes on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on The Williams- Mister Family is glad that baby cried in 1936 and is glad that baby tied a string to the side of the house to make music oh sweet music That had everybody Dancing in the Streets in the middle of a Heat Wave Though the millions of fans listened to your music and loved you through your work We love you for being you We love you for making music We love you and honor you for being family You are our Pride and Joy and we can't help ourselves and we Ain't To Proud To Beg you to understand That Ain't No Mountain High Enough to keep us from you And we say Mercy Mercy Me Eddie Willis, Cousin, you have kept us on Cloud 9 We salute you by saying Keep crying baby David Brian Williams FOR OUR FUNK BROTHER, David Brian Williams; Copyright @ 2003, by David Brian Williams All rights reserved.

The Funk Brothers are Born

Having perfected his guitar playing skills, Eddie chanced to meet and began playing with a group of guys who single handedly shaped what is known as "The Motown Sound".

After a recording session Richard "Pistol" Allen" made the comment... "Man you cats are some Funky Playing Brothers" Hence "The Funk Brothers"
Recently, my son and I were invited to visit Eddie and his gracious wife Rosemarie at their home.

I have to admit I was a bit apprehensive, but Eddie and Rosemarie's hospitality made us feel right at home.

Eddie Willis resume reads as hefty as a Tolstoy novel. Eddie has achieved what million seek and very few obtain.

It was quite thrilling to actually hold his Grammy's and Lifetime Achievement Award.

Eddie's humbleness speaks volumns as to his character, and in his own words, "Man we just plain folks, ain't no different than you"

Eddie "Chank" Willis

Eddie Willis on stage

Eddie Willis along with The Funk Brothers had the perfect chemistry. The Motown Sound was no accident.

The Funk Brothers were just naturally funky and knew how to groove. When the drummer laid down the beat and the bass man holds down the bottom, and Eddie Willis "Chanks" on that guitar...well, there you have it...