Benny Benjamin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Benny Benjamin
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | William Benjamin Jr. |
| Also known as | Papa Zita |
| Born | July 25, 1925 Birmingham, Alabama, U.S. |
| Died | April 20, 1969 (aged 43) Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
| Genres | R&B, jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Drums |
| Years active | 1940s–1969 |
| Labels | Motown |
| Associated acts | The Funk Brothers |
William "Benny" Benjamin (born July 25, 1925 – died April 20, 1969) was a super talented American musician. People often called him Papa Zita. He was best known as the main drummer for the famous Motown Records studio band, The Funk Brothers. Imagine playing drums on so many hit songs!
Benny Benjamin was honored for his amazing work. He was added to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003. Also, Rolling Stone magazine, a very popular music magazine, named him the eleventh best drummer of all time in 2016. That's a huge achievement!
Contents
Benny's Life and Music Career
Benny Benjamin grew up in Birmingham, Alabama. When he was young, he learned to play drums by listening to the big band jazz groups of the 1940s. These bands were very popular and had a powerful, exciting sound.
Becoming Motown's First Drummer
In 1958, Benny made history. He became the very first studio drummer for Motown Records. Motown was a new and exciting record company. Benny was known for his energetic and unique drumming style. He could make any song sound amazing!
Many important people at Motown, like Berry Gordy (who started Motown), really wanted Benny to play on their songs. They often wouldn't start recording unless Benny was there on drums and James Jamerson was on bass. This shows how important Benny was to the Motown sound. Even The Beatles, a super famous band from the UK, noticed Benny's drumming when they met Berry Gordy.
Famous Songs Benny Played On
Benny Benjamin played drums on so many songs you might still hear today! He helped create the sound of many early Motown hits. These include:
- "Money (That's What I Want)" by Barrett Strong
- "Shop Around" by The Miracles
- "Do You Love Me" by The Contours
He also played on many later hits that became classics, such as:
- "Get Ready" by The Temptations
- "My Girl" by The Temptations
- "Uptight (Everything's Alright)" by Stevie Wonder
- "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" by Gladys Knight & the Pips
- "Going to a Go-Go" by The Miracles
Benny's Drumming Style and Gear
Benny was inspired by other great drummers. He looked up to Buddy Rich and Tito Puente. These drummers were known for their incredible skill and energy.
When Benny played in the studio, he used a special drum kit. It was made up of parts from different famous drum companies. These included Ludwig, Slingerland, Rogers, and Gretsch. He likely used cymbals from Zildjian, which are very well-known.
Benny Benjamin passed away on April 20, 1969. He left behind an amazing legacy of music that continues to inspire people around the world.
