Uriel Jones one of the most influential musicians in the history of soul music has died, aged 74.
Jones was the drummer with Motown’s house band The Funk Brothers. A flexible musician, he was responsible for driving along some of the label’s most iconic hits.
The drummer was initially brought to Motown by singer Marvin Gaye, and the pair remained firm friends throughout their spell at the label. It is a little known fact that Gaye himself began his career as a drummer, before becoming perhaps the definitive soul hero.
Uriel Jones worked with the label for many years, playing on massive hits by The Miracles and Jimmy Ruffin – including the often covered ‘What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted’. Jones stayed with the label throughout its turbulent period in the late 60s and early 70s, playing on the emerging psychedelic soul records such as ‘Cloud Nine’.
It is his work with Marvin Gaye that Jones is best remembered. The pair crafted many classics together including ‘Ain’t That Peculiar’ and the immortal ‘I Heard It Through The Grapevine’.
The Funk Brothers rarely gained the credit they deserved. Playing a pivotal role in crafting the Motown sound, the group remained hidden by the label’s biggest stars. In recent years, however, the contribution has been rewarded notably by the film ‘Standing In The Shadows Of Motown’ which told their story.
Sadly, Uriel Jones was the last surviving member of the Funk Brothers.
In a report on the news service Reuters, Jones took ill in February and despite some improvement his condition worsened and the musician died on March 24th at Oakwood Hospital and Medical Centre in Michigan.
