Paul Riser facts for kids

Paul Riser, born on September 11, 1943, is an American trombonist and music arranger. He is famous for his work with Motown Records, where he helped create many hit songs. Paul Riser was a key member of a group of talented musicians known as the "Funk Brothers." These musicians played on almost all of Motown's famous recordings, even though their names weren't always listed.

Paul Riser's Musical Journey

Starting Out in Music

Paul Riser grew up in Detroit, Michigan. He went to Cass Technical High School, where he studied how to play the trombone in both classical and jazz styles. After school, a friend who already worked at Motown Records introduced him to Berry Gordy, the founder of Motown.

Paul soon started working as a trombonist for Motown. He played on many of their hit songs in the mid-1960s and early 1970s. For a long time, the names of these studio musicians, like Paul, were not put on the record labels.

Creating Hit Songs

Paul Riser was a very important part of the Motown sound. He helped arrange many famous songs, which means he helped decide how the different instruments and voices would sound together. Some of the well-known songs he arranged include:

• "My Girl" and "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" by The Temptations
• "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" by Marvin Gaye
• "If I Were Your Woman" by Gladys Knight & the Pips
• "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" by Diana Ross

For his work on the instrumental part of "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone," Paul Riser won a Grammy Award. He also helped write Jimmy Ruffin's hit song "What Becomes of the Brokenhearted."

Beyond Motown

After working with Motown for 11 years, Paul Riser began to work with other record companies and many different artists. He arranged music for famous singers like Luther Vandross, Phil Collins, The Carpenters, Aretha Franklin, and Natalie Cole.

In 1996, he arranged and conducted the strings for the song "I Believe I Can Fly" by R. Kelly, which also won a Grammy Award. Paul Riser continued to work on R. Kelly's album "Chocolate Factory" in 2003, arranging several songs, including "Step in the Name of Love."

Recent Years

In 2009, Paul Riser was honored by being added to the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum. He also attended the Motown 50th anniversary celebration, marking 50 years since Motown Records began. As of 2010, Paul Riser was still active in music, teaching and arranging.

When asked about his favorite musical arrangement, he said it was Diana Ross's version of "Ain't No Mountain High Enough," which he arranged in 1970.

Paul Riser's Discography

Here are some of the albums Paul Riser worked on as an arranger or co-arranger:

• Diana Ross & the Supremes Join The Temptations LP (Motown, 1968)
• Soul Spin LP by The Four Tops (Motown MS 695, 1969)
• Signed, Sealed & Delivered LP by Stevie Wonder (Motown TS 304, 1970)
• Naturally Together LP by The Originals (band) (Motown SS729, 1970)
• Natural Resources LP by Martha Reeves & The Vandellas (Gordy 952, 1970)
• Great Expectations LP by Kiki Dee (Tamla 303, 1970)
• War and Peace LP by Edwin Starr (Motown, 1970)
• The Return of the Magnificent Seven LP by The Supremes & The Four Tops (Motown, 1971)
• If I Were Your Woman LP by Gladys Knight & the Pips (Motown SS 731, 1971)
• One Dozen Roses LP by Smokey Robinson & The Miracles (Tamla 312L)
• Surrender (Motown, 1971)
• Exposed LP by Valerie Simpson (Motown, 1971)
• Floy Joy LP by The Supremes (Motown M751L, 1972)
• All Directions LP by The Temptations (Motown, 1972)
• Neither One Of Us LP by Gladys Knight & The Pips (Motown, 1973)
• Masterpiece LP by The Temptations (Motown, 1973)
• All I Need Is Time LP by Gladys Knight & The Pips (Motown, 1973)
• Diana & Marvin LP by Diana Ross & Marvin Gaye (Motown, 1973)
• Eddie Kendricks LP by Eddie Kendricks (Motown, 1973)
• Share My Love LP by Gloria Jones (Motown, 1973)
• Everybody Likes Some Kind of Music - LP by Billy Preston (A&M, 1973)
• Syreeta LP by Syreeta and Stevie Wonder (Motown, 1974)
• Love Trip LP by Tamiko Jones (Arista Records AL 4040, 1975)
• I Want You (Marvin Gaye album) - LP by Marvin Gaye (Motown, 1976)
• Look Out for #1 LP by The Brothers Johnson (A&M, 1976)
• Any Way You Like It LP by Thelma Houston (Motown 2643-S, 1976)
• Keep It Comin' LP by Valerie Simpson (Tamla/Motown, 1977)
• Shake It Well LP by The Dramatics (ABC Records, 1977)
• Who's Zoomin' Who? LP by Aretha Franklin (Arista, 1985)
• In Square Circle LP by Stevie Wonder (Tamla/Motown, 1985)
• Anomie & Bonhomie-LP by "Scritti Politti" (Virgin 1999)