Earl Van Dyke | |
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Background information | |
Born | Detroit, Michigan, U.S. | July 8, 1930
Died | September 18, 1992 Detroit, Michigan, U.S. | (aged 62)
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]
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]
(*) 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"
With Fred Jackson
With Ike Quebec