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Sad News - Eddie Willis RIP

Sad News

By Mike in News Archives
Published 21 Aug 2018

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Sad News - Eddie Willis RIP magazine cover

More sad news.

Eddie Willis passed on 20th Aug 2018

One of the original Motown Funk Brothers died Monday (Aug. 20) at the age of 82

 

Willis was known for his parts on Motown classics such as The Temptations' "The Way You Do the Things You Do," The Supremes' "You Keep Me Hanging On," The Marvelettes' "Please Mr. Postman" and Stevie Wonder's "I Was Made to Love Her."

"He was the funkster, Eddie was," fellow Funk Brother Dennis Coffey, who did recording sessions with Willis before and during their days at Motown, tells Billboard. "He was an amazing guitar player. He had that Southern thing. He'd always come up with some funky lines. We did many sessions together and he was just an all-around nice guy. I never heard him get angry at anybody about anything. He just came in and did his job."

 

https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/obituary/8471293/eddie-willis-motown-funk-brothers-dead

 

 

 



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Seano

Sad to hear. I'm glad that he was still alive to see The Funk Brothers at least get belated acclaim  via 'Standing in the Shadows' etc, though those who worked with him like Dennis Coffey quoted in the article clearly didn't need that to know his qualities.

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Tomangoes

Lots of great tributes to this uniquely talented artist on you tube. Such a shame these guys never got the financial rewards they should have.

 

RIP and thanks for the memories.

 

Ed

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Wilxy

I can only echo the previous posts, I was very priviliged to have witnessed the "Funk Brothers" UK tour, some years back.....I can only hope they are the welcoming band at the "golden gates".....in the long distant future!

Rest Well Sir.........

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Steve W

Very sad at this news. His opening guitar Intro to "Its a Shame" at the Funk Brothers UK Tour was very special. RIP Eddie and thanks for a great memory.

 

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