Eddie Willis, guitarist and founding member of Motown record label house band, the Funk Brothers, has died aged 82.
Willis had been suffering complications from his lifelong battle with polio.
The guitarist, known as ‘Chank’, joined the Motown house band in 1959, and lent his choppy, syncopated style to hits including The Marvelettes’ Mr. Postman, The Supremes’ You Keep Me Hangin’ On, the Temptations’ The Way You Do The Things You Do, and Stevie Wonder’s I Was Made To Love Her and My Cherie Amour.
Willis left the label in 1972, but continued to tour with The Temptations’ Eddie Kendricks and also played with The Four Tops.
In 2013, Willis - along with other surviving Funk Brothers - received a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame.
“It’s the best guitar in the world”: The Silver Sparkle Gibson Les Paul Florentine that Noel Gallagher played on Be Here Now fetches over $280,000 at auction
“I love Bowie, but I was a kleptomaniac. I couldn't help it!": Sex Pistols guitarist Steve Jones remembers the night he stole David Bowie’s gear
“It’s the best guitar in the world”: The Silver Sparkle Gibson Les Paul Florentine that Noel Gallagher played on Be Here Now fetches over $280,000 at auction
“I love Bowie, but I was a kleptomaniac. I couldn't help it!": Sex Pistols guitarist Steve Jones remembers the night he stole David Bowie’s gear
