Elite Entertainment
Motown Funk Brother Jack Ashford: A Legend for All Times
Legendary Motown Funk Brother, Jack Ashford is a world-wide celebrated musician who has left an indelible fingerprint on the music industry. He and a group of other incredibly talented musicians known as “The Funk Brothers” played on a plethora of Motown hits that were released in the 1960s and early 1970s. Together they created music for a generation that was embraced all around the world and helped to define the popular music era of the sixties and beyond. Jack's unique tambourine techniques were one of the dominant instruments that gave Motown Records its distinguishable "Motown Sound" with songs performed by such legendary performers as Stevie Wonder, The Temptations, The Four Tops, Diana Ross, and The Supremes, Jr. Walker, Marvin Gaye and many more.
To this day, Motown’s songs are still regarded as all-time favorites in the lives of millions and millions of people around the globe. Meanwhile, “The Funk Brothers” one-of-a-kind classic rhythms, melodies, and sophistication have remained a vital influence for over 60 years and are consistently chosen as the soundtrack for countless weddings, anniversaries, and other meaningful occasions. Every two minutes, somewhere in the world a Motown record is being played.
Some of Jack’s impressive and notable career accomplishments include two Grammy Awards, a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, and several gold records. In addition, in 2013, the history of “The Funk Brothers” was sealed with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. They were also inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville in 2007 and the Rhythm and Blues Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio in 2014. Jack’s book, Motown: A View From The Bottom, provides an engaging, authentic, and personal account of his life’s journey as a consummate musician who found himself on Grand Boulevard in Detroit making music that has transcended time and has been forever etched into the storied legacy of Motown!
"Standing in the Shadows of Motown,” a documentary that features Jack along with the other late members of “The Funk Brothers” highlights their individual stories which include exclusive interviews, and archival footage, and features updated live performances of several Motown hit songs. "Standing in the Shadows of Motown,” also offers viewers a front-seat ticket to the Funk Brothers performing live with the late Gerald Levert, Me'shell Ndegeocello, Joan Osborne, Ben Harper, Bootsy Collins, Chaka Khan, and, Montell Jordan vividly recapturing Motown history. The documentary ultimately won two Grammy awards in 2002 for Best Traditional R&B Performance for "What's Going On" with Chaka Khan, and Best Compilation Soundtrack Album.
Finally, after decades of making hit after hit and traveling all over the world performing the songs that made Motown famous for millions of adoring fans. At age 90, this last surviving Funk Brother and Soul Master is still in demand, which is proof that the magic of Motown will never go out of style!
Serious Inquiries Only: for booking information please contact Mr. Ashford’s management team Tamika Johnson: Business Manager and Event Director or Larry Johnson: Performance Manager and Personal Emcee aka (“The Navigator”) at support@elitebizagency.com or call (770) 866-1169.