Post by Emerald City on Apr 3, 2005 16:41:01 GMT -5
Motown Mourns Pianist At Service
The Detroit News
DETROIT -- Laughter mixed with tears and some hot playing Sunday at the funeral service for Motown piano player Johnny Griffith. Griffith, 66, died a week ago Sunday, just as the film he appears in, "Standing in the Shadows of Motown," premiered.
Aptly, the services took place at the James H. Cole Funeral Home, next door to the Motown Museum and a frequent hiding place of the studio musicians (known as the Funk Brothers) when they wanted to sneak off for a drink and a break from the studio. Before Griffith, a Detroit native, joined Motown he played piano on the road with Sarah Vaughan, Dinah Washington and Aretha Franklin.
Friends and family described his sense of humor and his natty appearance. His were the deft hands that played keyboard on such Motown hits as "Stop in the Name of Love," "I Heard it Through the Grapevine" and "Wonderful One." Almost all recalled with laughter Griffith's determination to get paid. Said bass player Ralphe Armstrong: "I've seen Johnny chase Aretha (Franklin) all over the house to the basement to get paid. Finally she'd go, 'Here! Take your money!' "
Teddy Harris and others played as Duke Fakir of the Four Tops, Esther Gordy Edwards, "Standing in the Shadows of Motown" producer Allan Slutsky and director Paul Justman paid their respects. Also there was Lottie the Body, the Detroit exotic dancer for whom Griffith and the Funk Brothers played backup.
Funk Brother Joe Messina recalled Griffith's laid-back quality: "He once said he'd jump over the guitar section to get to another keyboard; (producer) Norman Whitfield said, 'Don't do it, you'll fall asleep in mid-air!' " Parliament-Funkadelic bassist Bootsy Collins said: "These are my heroes, the Funk Brothers. I don't know if you realize the greatness that is in Detroit, but you'd better. Give them a hug, because you never know how long they'll be here."