Post by Emerald City on Jan 11, 2006 19:54:14 GMT -5
A veteran of the late 50’s and 60’s Chitlin Circuit, Earl migrated to Motown in late 1962 after having toured with Aretha Franklin and Lloyd (‘Mr Personality’) Price. Within not time, the musical sophistication and aggressive keyboard style he brought with him made Earl an integral part of The Motown Sound. Hitsville’s Steinway often had to be reconditioned after Earl played on a session because of the passion and force with which he attacked the keys.
Arrangers and producers looked upon him as a hub through which they could convey their ideas to Hitsville’s studio musicians. Motown’s management viewed him as the unofficial bandleader because - apart from his talent as a keyboardist - he always knew where to find the Funk Brothers and get them into the studio.
This was no small feat when trying to control James Jamerson, Benny Benjamin and some Funk Brothers’ other more ‘colorful’ personalities.
