Earl Van Dyke | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | July 8, 1930 Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
| Died | September 18, 1992 (aged 62) Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
| Genres |
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| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instrument(s) | Keyboards |
| Formerly of | The Funk Brothers |
Earl Van Dyke (July 8, 1930 – September 18, 1992) [1] was an American soul musician, most notable as the main keyboardist for Motown Records' in-house Funk Brothers band during the late 1960s and early 1970s. [1]
Career
Van Dyke, who was born in Detroit, Michigan, United States, [1] was preceded as keyboardist and bandleader of the Funk Brothers by Joe Hunter. In the early 1960s, he also recorded as a jazz organist with saxophonists Fred Jackson and Ike Quebec for the Blue Note label.
Besides his work as the session keyboardist on Motown hits such as " Bernadette" by The Four Tops, " I Heard It Through the Grapevine" by Marvin Gaye, " Where Did Our Love Go?" by The Supremes and " Runaway Child, Running Wild" by The Temptations, Van Dyke performed with a small band as an opening act for several Motown artists, and released instrumental singles and albums himself. [2] Several of Van Dyke's recordings feature him playing keys over the original instrumental tracks for Motown hits; [2] others are complete covers of Motown songs.
His 1967 hit "6 by 6" is a much-loved stomper on the Northern soul music scene. He was nicknamed "Big Funk", and "Chunk o Funk". [3]
Van Dyke played the Steinway grand piano, the Hammond B-3 organ, the Wurlitzer electric piano, the Fender Rhodes, and the celeste and harpsichord. He played a toy piano for the introduction of the Temptations' hit, " It's Growing". His musical influences included Tommy Flanagan, Hank Jones, and Barry Harris.
Van Dyke died of prostate cancer in Detroit, Michigan, at the age of 62. [4]
Discography
Singles
- Soul (Motown) releases
- 1964: "Soul Stomp"
- 1965: "All For You"*
- 1965: " I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)"*
- 1965: "The Flick (Part II)"*
- 1967: "6 By 6"**
- 1969: " Run Away Child, Running Wild"
(*) billed as "Earl Van Dyke & the Soul Brothers" (the billed name of the Funk Brothers band was changed by Motown head Berry Gordy, as he disliked the connotation of the word "funk")
(**) billed as "Earl Van Dyke & the Motown Brass"
Albums
- Soul (Motown) releases
- 1965: That Motown Sound (Earl Van Dyke & the Soul Brothers)
- 1970: The Earl of Funk (Earl Van Dyke Live) [2]
As sideman
With Fred Jackson
- Hootin' 'n Tootin' (Blue Note, 1962)
With Ike Quebec
- The Complete Blue Note 45 Sessions (Blue Note, 1962)
Filmography
- Justman, Paul (2002). Standing in the Shadows of Motown (Motion picture). New York: Artisan Entertainment.
References
- ^ a b c "Earl Van Dyke Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic. Retrieved October 16, 2021.
- ^ a b c Colin Larkin, ed. (1993). The Guinness Who's Who of Soul Music (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 281. ISBN 0-85112-733-9.
- ^ "Funk Brothers Come Out Of Motown's Shadows at Last". Washingtonpost.com. November 15, 2002. Retrieved August 15, 2019.
- ^ Brasier, L. L. (September 21, 1992). "Earl Van Dyke Helped Make It Motown". Detroit Free Press. p. 12.
External links
- Earl Van Dyke at AllMusic
- Earl Van Dyke discography at Discogs
- Earl Van Dyke at IMDb
- Earl Van Dyke at Find a Grave
| #1 hit singles |
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| International | |
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| National | |
| Artists | |
| Other | |
- 1930 births
- 1992 deaths
- African-American pianists
- American pop pianists
- American male pianists
- The Funk Brothers members
- American soul keyboardists
- American soul musicians
- Motown artists
- American session musicians
- P-Funk members
- Musicians from Detroit
- Northern soul musicians
- Deaths from prostate cancer in the United States
- Deaths from cancer in Michigan
- 20th-century American pianists
- American male organists
- American bandleaders
- Rhythm and blues pianists
- 20th-century American keyboardists
- 20th-century American male musicians