Joe Messina facts for kids

Joe Messina (born December 13, 1928 – died April 4, 2022) was a talented American guitarist. He was known as the "white brother with soul" because of his amazing musical style. Joe Messina was a very important guitarist for Motown Records. He played on many hit songs as part of Motown's special studio band, called the Funk Brothers.

Joe Messina's Musical Journey

Early Life and Music

Joe Messina started playing the guitar when he was a teenager. By his mid-twenties, he was already a professional musician. He played in the ABC Television studio band. This meant he got to play with famous jazz musicians. Some of these included Sonny Stitt, Charlie Parker, and Dizzy Gillespie.

Joe also played on The Soupy Sales Show. This was a popular TV show. He performed alongside other music legends like Miles Davis.

Joining Motown's Funk Brothers

In 1958, Berry Gordy started Motown Records. He asked Joe Messina to join his studio musicians. This group became known as the Funk Brothers. They were the main band for Motown.

During the 1960s and early 1970s, the Funk Brothers recorded music for hundreds of Motown's hit songs. Joe Messina worked with many famous singers. These included Diana Ross & The Supremes, The Temptations, Marvin Gaye, the Four Tops, and Stevie Wonder.

Famous Songs He Played On

Joe Messina played guitar on many classic Motown songs. Some of these include:

• "Dancing in the Street" by Martha & The Vandellas (1964)
• "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)" by the Four Tops (1965)
• "Your Precious Love" by Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell (1967)

In 1972, Motown Records moved its operations to Los Angeles. After this, Joe Messina stopped playing guitar for 30 years. He said he just lost interest in playing.

The Interval Study Method

Joe Messina also created his own music technique. He called it The Interval Study Method. This method uses different musical scales to create new music. He used both chromatic and diatonic scales.

Joe Messina lived in Detroit for the rest of his life. He played jazz music there for many years.

Awards and Recognition

The Funk Brothers received a special honor on March 21, 2013. They were given a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame. This shows how important their music was.

The Funk Brothers were also featured in a movie. It was a 2002 documentary called Standing in the Shadows of Motown. This film helped tell their story to the world.

His Passing

Joe Messina passed away on April 4, 2022. He was 93 years old. He died at his son's home in Northville, Michigan.

See also

In Spanish: Joe Messina para niños