Joe Hunter

Biography

Joe Hunter — never to end up being confused with the Texas-born R&B musician/label owner Ivory Joe Hunter of “We Almost Shed My Brain” and “Since We Met You Baby” popularity — was Motown Information’ initial pianist, preceding both Johnny Griffith and Motown mainstay Earl Truck Dyke. He was created Joseph E. Hunter on November 19, 1927, towards the union of Vada Idona Hunter and John G. Hunter in Jackson,TN. Right before his twelfth birthday, Hunter and his family members transferred to Detroit. Hunter originally learned how exactly to play piano by viewing his mother provide piano lessons. Afterwards in the military, Hunter performed in rings with after that up-and-coming jazz drummer Elvin Jones and upcoming Motown pianist Earl Truck Dyke. Both he and Truck Dyke learned in the band’s pianist Dwight Mitchell. After his release, Hunter came back to Detroit and started playing in night clubs through the week and playing body organ in churches on Sundays. In 1956, he started playing for Hank Ballard & the Midnighters (“USE Me Annie,” “Sexy Methods,” “Annie Acquired a Baby,” “Annie’s Aunt Fannie,” “It’s Like Baby (24 hours per day)”). In nov 1958, local maker Berry Gordy enlisted Hunter for his fledgling Hitsville (later on Motown Information) label after hearing him at Small Sams, a favorite golf club on Detroit’s east part. Hunter was a rehearsal pianist in the label, focusing on songs using the performers before they proceeded to go into the documenting studio room. Later, he proceeded to go into the studio room to record Marv Johnson’s “Arrive if you ask me,” Motown’s 1st big strike (quantity six R&B, early 1959). Hunter may also be noticed on “Cash” by Barrett Solid (number 2 R&B for six weeks, early 1960), “CHECK AROUND” (number 1 R&B for eight weeks, number 2 pop past due 1960), and “Method Over There” from the Miracles. Due to Motown’s infrequent documenting schedule, Hunter required a job support Jackie Wilson. His following Motown documenting sessions had been for the Curves. The music “Do YOU LIKE Me” was a million-seller that kept the main R&B place for three weeks and visited quantity three play summer 1962. It had been later contained in the soundtrack from the 1987 Patrick Swayze strike movie Dirty Dance, and was reissued as an individual becoming a quantity 11 pop smash in the summertime of 1988. Additional tracks that feature Hunter’s piano stylings are “Come and obtain These Recollections” (quantity six R&B, springtime 1963) and “Temperature Influx” (number 1 R&B for four weeks, number 4 pop, summer season 1963) by Martha as well as the Vandellas. Hunter was also a bandleader during Motown’s 1st live concert trips. He helped recruit Wayne Jamerson among others for Motown’s studio room music group. In 1963, Hunter remaining Motown to be always a freelance arranger and pianist, dealing with Jimmy Ruffin, Jimmy McCracklin, Bobby “Blue” Bland (“TOO MUCH Visited CHANGE”), Al “T&T” Braggs, Junior Parker, Edwin Starr, Lonette McKee (who afterwards acted in the films Which Way Is normally Up and Malcolm X), and works on Detroit brands Golden World Information and Fortune Information, amongst others. In 1996, Hunter released his autobiography Music artists, Motown and Myself (Global Audio Publications, Detroit).

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