Paul Riser
Encyclopedia
Paul Riser is an American trombonist and Motown musical arranger who was responsible for co-writing and arranging dozens of top ten hit records. His legacy as one of the "Funk Brothers" is similar to that of most of the other "Brothers", as his career has been overlooked and overshadowed by the stars of Motown that became household names. Some of the Funk Brothers he worked with include: Earl Van Dyke
, Johnny Griffith
, Robert White
, Eddie Willis
, Joe Messina
, Dennis Coffey
, Wah Wah Watson, James Jamerson
, Bob Babbitt
, Eddie Watkins
, Richard "Pistol" Allen, Uriel Jones
, Andrew Smith, Jack Ashford
, Valerie Simpson, Eddie "Bongo" Brown, Benny Benjamin
, Earl Van Dyke
, Cornelius Grant
, Joe Hunter
, Richard "Popcorn" Wylie
, Marcus Belgrave
and Teddy Buckner
.
in Detroit, Michigan
where he studied classical and jazz trombone, Paul was introduced to Berry Gordy
at Motown by a friend who had already been working there. He went on to become the uncredited trombonist on most of Motown Records' hits in the late a1950s, 1960s and early 1970s (Motown did not list session musician credits on their releases until 1971), and he has become regarded as one of the most important trombone players in modern music history and his writing and arranging skills are without parallel - having written or arranged on such hits as: "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
, "Reach Out and Touch (Somebody's Hand)
written by Ashford and Simpson as performed by Diana Ross
, and "The Tears of a Clown
" by Smokey Robinson & The Miracles. The instrumental B-side to "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" earned Riser a Grammy with writer/arranger Norman Whitfield
for Best R&B Instrumental Performance.
Luther Vandross
, Phil Collins
, The Carpenters
, Carly Simon
, The Doobie Brothers
, Tom Jones
, Quincy Jones
, Natalie Cole
, Aretha Franklin
, Roberta Flack
, Michael McDonald
, Johnny Mathis
and Patti LaBelle
.
In 2003, he was a notable presence on the R. Kelly
album, "Chocolate Factory
", arranging many songs on the album including the top 10 hit, "Stop In The Name of Love".
In 2009, Riser attended the Motown 50th anniversary celebration and as of 2010, Riser is still active in the field of music - teaching and arranging.
When asked in a recent interview what his favorite musical rhythm arrangement was, he replied that it was Diana Ross' original version of "Ain't No Mountain High Enough
", which he arranged in 1970.
Earl Van Dyke
Earl Van Dyke was an African American musician, most notable as the main keyboardist for Motown Records' in-house Funk Brothers band during the late 1960s and early 1970s. Van Dyke was preceded as keyboardist and bandleader of the Funk Brothers by Joe Hunter...
, Johnny Griffith
Johnny Griffith
Johnny Griffith was an African-American musician. Griffith played piano and keyboards for Motown Records' in-house Funk Brothers studio band...
, Robert White
Robert White (guitarist)
Robert Willie White was an African-American musician. Of note for being one of the main guitarists for Motown Records' in-house studio band, the Funk Brothers, White is best known for performing the familiar guitar riff on The Temptations' number-one hit single "My Girl", but played the guitar on...
, Eddie Willis
Eddie Willis
Eddie "Chank" Willis is an African-American musician. Willis played electric guitar and occasional electric sitar for Motown Records' in-house studio band, the Funk Brothers, during the 1960s and early 1970s....
, Joe Messina
Joe Messina
Joe Messina is an American guitarist. Dubbed the "white brother with soul", Messina was one of the most prolific guitarists in Motown Records' in-house studio band, the Funk Brothers....
, Dennis Coffey
Dennis Coffey
Dennis Coffey is an American guitarist. He was a studio musician for many soul and R&B recordings.-Biography:Coffey learned to play guitar at the age of thirteen, in the Michigan Upper Peninsula town of Copper City...
, Wah Wah Watson, James Jamerson
James Jamerson
James Lee Jamerson was an American bass player. He was the uncredited bassist on most of Motown Records' hits in the 1960s and early 1970s , and he is now regarded as one of the most influential bass players in modern music history...
, Bob Babbitt
Bob Babbitt
Bob Babbitt is an American bassist, most famous for his work as a member of Motown Records' studio band, the Funk Brothers, from 1966–1972, as well as his tenure as part of MFSB for Philadelphia International Records afterwards. Also in 1968-1970, with Mike Campbell, Ray Monette and Andrew Smith...
, Eddie Watkins
Eddie Watkins
Eddie Watkins was a Welsh dual-code international rugby player who played club rugby under the union code for Cardiff and later professional league rugby with Wigan. As a union player Watkins was part of the 1939 team which won the Home Nations Championship and was more famously a member of the...
, Richard "Pistol" Allen, Uriel Jones
Uriel Jones
Uriel Jones was an African-American musician. Jones was a recording session drummer for Motown Records' in-house studio band, the Funk Brothers, during the 1960s and early 1970s....
, Andrew Smith, Jack Ashford
Jack Ashford
Jack Ashford , known to his friends as Jashford, is an African-American musician, widely known as the percussionist for Motown Records' in-house Funk Brothers band during the 1960s and early 1970s. Ashford is most famous for playing the tambourine on hundreds of Motown recordings...
, Valerie Simpson, Eddie "Bongo" Brown, Benny Benjamin
Benny Benjamin
William "Benny" Benjamin , nicknamed Papa Zita, was an American musician, most notable as the primary drummer for the Motown studio band known as The Funk Brothers. He was a native of Birmingham, Alabama....
, Earl Van Dyke
Earl Van Dyke
Earl Van Dyke was an African American musician, most notable as the main keyboardist for Motown Records' in-house Funk Brothers band during the late 1960s and early 1970s. Van Dyke was preceded as keyboardist and bandleader of the Funk Brothers by Joe Hunter...
, Cornelius Grant
Cornelius Grant
Cornelius Grant was born April 27, 1943 in Fairfield, Texas, a small town 80 miles south of Dallas. Raised by his grandmother, who he adored, he taught himself how to play guitar at the age of nine. When he was 13, his family moved to Detroit....
, Joe Hunter
Joe Hunter (musician)
Joseph Edward Hunter Born in Jackson, Tennessee was an African-American musician, known for his recording session work as a pianist in Motown Records' in-house studio band, the Funk Brothers. One of the original Funk Brothers, Hunter served as band director for the band from 1959 until 1964, when...
, Richard "Popcorn" Wylie
Richard "Popcorn" Wylie
Richard Wayne Wylie , often known as Popcorn Wylie, was an African-American pianist, bandleader, songwriter, occasional singer, and record producer who was influential in the early years of Motown Records and was later known for his work on many records in the Northern soul genre.-Life and...
, Marcus Belgrave
Marcus Belgrave
Marcus Belgrave is a jazz trumpet player from Detroit, born in Chester, Pennsylvania. He has recorded with a variety of famous musicians, bandleaders, and record labels since the 1950s. Notable among them are: Ray Charles, Charles Mingus, Gunther Schuller, Motown Records, Tribe Records, Blue Note...
and Teddy Buckner
Teddy Buckner
Teddy Buckner was a jazz trumpeter associated with Dixieland music....
.
Early career
A graduate of Cass Technical High SchoolCass Technical High School
The Cass Tech Technicians football team is a high school football program in Division 1 Public School League, representing the prestigious Cass Technical High School in Detroit, MI. Cass Tech High School has long been recognized nationwide for its extraordinary football program dating back to its...
in Detroit, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
where he studied classical and jazz trombone, Paul was introduced to Berry Gordy
Berry Gordy
Berry Gordy, Jr. is an American record producer, and the founder of the Motown record label, as well as its many subsidiaries.-Early years:...
at Motown by a friend who had already been working there. He went on to become the uncredited trombonist on most of Motown Records' hits in the late a1950s, 1960s and early 1970s (Motown did not list session musician credits on their releases until 1971), and he has become regarded as one of the most important trombone players in modern music history and his writing and arranging skills are without parallel - having written or arranged on such hits as: "My Girl" and "Papa Was A Rollin' Stone
Papa Was a Rollin' Stone
"Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" is a soul song, written by Motown songwriters Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong as a single for Motown act The Undisputed Truth in 1971...
" by The Temptations
The Temptations
The Temptations is an American vocal group having achieved fame as one of the most successful acts to record for Motown Records. The group's repertoire has included, at various times during its five-decade career, R&B, doo-wop, funk, disco, soul, and adult contemporary music.Formed in Detroit,...
, "I Heard It Through The Grapevine
I Heard It through the Grapevine
"I Heard It Through the Grapevine" is a landmark song in the history of Motown. Written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong in 1966, the single was first recorded by Smokey Robinson & the Miracles...
" by Marvin Gaye
Marvin Gaye
Marvin Pentz Gay, Jr. , better known by his stage name Marvin Gaye, was an American singer-songwriter and musician with a three-octave vocal range....
, "If I Were Your Woman" by Gladys Knight & The Pips
Gladys Knight & the Pips
Gladys Knight & The Pips were an R&B/soul family musical act from Atlanta, Georgia, active from 1953 to 1989. The group was best known for their string of hit singles on Motown's "Soul" record label and Buddah Records from 1967 to 1975, including "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" and "Midnight...
, "Reach Out and Touch (Somebody's Hand)
Reach Out and Touch (Somebody's Hand)
"Reach Out and Touch " was the debut solo single for Motown singer Diana Ross, released in April 1970.Ross, having just left The Supremes after a decade of serving as that group's lead singer, went through a difficult situation trying to piece a solo album together...
written by Ashford and Simpson as performed by Diana Ross
Diana Ross
Diana Ernestine Earle Ross is an American singer, record producer, and actress. Ross was lead singer of the Motown group The Supremes during the 1960s. After leaving the group in 1970, Ross began a solo career that included successful ventures into film and Broadway...
, and "The Tears of a Clown
The Tears of a Clown
"The Tears of a Clown" is a song by Smokey Robinson & the Miracles for the Tamla label, originally released on the 1967 album Make It Happen. It was re-released in the United Kingdom as a single in September 1970, where it became a #1 hit on the UK singles chart...
" by Smokey Robinson & The Miracles. The instrumental B-side to "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" earned Riser a Grammy with writer/arranger Norman Whitfield
Norman Whitfield
Norman Jesse Whitfield was an American songwriter and producer, best known for his work with Berry Gordy's Motown label during the 1960s...
for Best R&B Instrumental Performance.
Later career
After 11 years of working steadily with Motown, Riser found work with other record labels. Artists that Riser has arranged for outside of Motown include:Luther Vandross
Luther Vandross
Luther Ronzoni Vandross was an American singer-songwriter and record producer. During his career, Vandross sold over twenty-five million albums and won eight Grammy Awards including Best Male R&B Vocal Performance four times...
, Phil Collins
Phil Collins
Philip David Charles "Phil" Collins, LVO is an English singer-songwriter, drummer, pianist and actor best known as a drummer and vocalist for British progressive rock group Genesis and as a solo artist....
, The Carpenters
The Carpenters
Carpenters were an American vocal and instrumental duo, consisting of sister Karen and brother Richard Carpenter. The Carpenters were the #1 selling American music act of the 1970s. Though often referred to by the public as "The Carpenters", the duo's official name on authorized recordings and...
, Carly Simon
Carly Simon
Carly Elisabeth Simon is an American singer-songwriter, musician, and children's author. She rose to fame in the 1970s with a string of hit records, and has since been the recipient of two Grammy Awards, an Academy Award, and a Golden Globe Award for her work...
, The Doobie Brothers
The Doobie Brothers
The Doobie Brothers are an American rock band. The group has sold over 40 million units worldwide throughout their career. The Doobie Brothers were inducted into The Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2004.-Original incarnation:...
, Tom Jones
Tom Jones (singer)
Sir Thomas John Woodward, OBE , known by his stage name Tom Jones, is a Welsh singer.Since the mid 1960s, Jones has sung many styles of popular music – pop, rock, R&B, show tunes, country, dance, techno, soul and gospel – and sold over 100 million records...
, Quincy Jones
Quincy Jones
Quincy Delightt Jones, Jr. is an American record producer and musician. A conductor, musical arranger, film composer, television producer, and trumpeter. His career spans five decades in the entertainment industry and a record 79 Grammy Award nominations, 27 Grammys, including a Grammy Legend...
, Natalie Cole
Natalie Cole
Natalie Maria Cole , is an American singer, songwriter and performer. The daughter of jazz legend Nat King Cole, Cole rode to musical success in the mid-1970s as an R&B artist with the hits "This Will Be ", "Inseparable" and "Our Love"...
, Aretha Franklin
Aretha Franklin
Aretha Louise Franklin is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. Although known for her soul recordings and referred to as The Queen of Soul, Franklin is also adept at jazz, blues, R&B, gospel music, and rock. Rolling Stone magazine ranked her atop its list of The Greatest Singers of All...
, Roberta Flack
Roberta Flack
Roberta Flack is an American singer, songwriter, and musician who is notable for jazz, soul, R&B, and folk music...
, Michael McDonald
Michael McDonald (singer)
Michael McDonald is a five-time Grammy Award winning American singer and songwriter. McDonald is known for a soulful baritone singing style and a multi-octave range. He began his career singing back-up vocals with Steely Dan...
, Johnny Mathis
Johnny Mathis
John Royce "Johnny" Mathis is an American singer of popular music. Starting his career with singles of standards, he became highly popular as an album artist, with several dozen of his albums achieving gold or platinum status, and 73 making the Billboard charts...
and Patti LaBelle
Patti LaBelle
Patricia Louise Holte-Edwards , better known under the stage name, Patti LaBelle, is a Grammy Award winning American singer, author and actress who has spent over 50 years in the music industry...
.
In 2003, he was a notable presence on the R. Kelly
R. Kelly
Robert Sylvester Kelly , better known by his stage name R. Kelly, is an American singer-songwriter and record producer. A native of Chicago, Kelly began performing during the late 1980s and debuted in 1992 with the group Public Announcement. In 1993, Kelly went solo with the album 12 Play...
album, "Chocolate Factory
Chocolate Factory
Chocolate Factory is the fifth studio album by American R&B and soul musician R. Kelly, released February 18, 2003 on Jive Records. Recording sessions for the album took place mainly at Rockland Studios and Chicago Recording Company in Chicago, Illinois during 2001 to 2003. It was primarily...
", arranging many songs on the album including the top 10 hit, "Stop In The Name of Love".
In 2009, Riser attended the Motown 50th anniversary celebration and as of 2010, Riser is still active in the field of music - teaching and arranging.
When asked in a recent interview what his favorite musical rhythm arrangement was, he replied that it was Diana Ross' original version of "Ain't No Mountain High Enough
Ain't No Mountain High Enough
"Ain't No Mountain High Enough" is an R&B/soul song written by Nickolas Ashford & Valerie Simpson in 1966 for the Tamla Motown label. The composition was first successful as a 1967 hit single recorded by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, becoming a hit again in 1970 when recorded by former Supremes...
", which he arranged in 1970.
Partial discography
- Diana Ross Joins The Temptations and The Supremes LP (Co-arranger - Motown, 1968)
- Soul Spin LP by The Four Tops (Co-arranger - Motown MS 695, 1969)
- War and Peace LP by Edwin StarrEdwin StarrEdwin Starr was an American soul music singer. Starr is most famous for his Norman Whitfield produced singles of the 1970s, most notably the number one hit "War".-Biography:...
(Co-arranger - Motown, 1970) - The Return of the Magnificent Seven LP by The SupremesThe SupremesThe Supremes, an American female singing group, were the premier act of Motown Records during the 1960s.Originally founded as The Primettes in Detroit, Michigan, in 1959, The Supremes' repertoire included doo-wop, pop, soul, Broadway show tunes, psychedelic soul, and disco...
& The Four Tops (Co-arranger - Motown, 1971) - If I Were Your Woman LP by Gladys Knight & the PipsGladys Knight & the PipsGladys Knight & The Pips were an R&B/soul family musical act from Atlanta, Georgia, active from 1953 to 1989. The group was best known for their string of hit singles on Motown's "Soul" record label and Buddah Records from 1967 to 1975, including "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" and "Midnight...
(Co-arranger - Motown SS 731, 1971) - Exposed LP by Valerie Simpson (Arranger - Motown, 1971)
- Floy JoyFloy JoyFloy Joy is a 1972 album released by The Supremes on the Motown label. This was the only Supremes album solely produced and arranged by Smokey Robinson and included the U.S. top 20 hit, "Floy Joy" and the U.S...
LP by The SupremesThe SupremesThe Supremes, an American female singing group, were the premier act of Motown Records during the 1960s.Originally founded as The Primettes in Detroit, Michigan, in 1959, The Supremes' repertoire included doo-wop, pop, soul, Broadway show tunes, psychedelic soul, and disco...
(Arranger - Motown M751L, 1972) - All DirectionsAll Directions-Personnel:* Dennis Edwards: vocals* Damon Harris: vocals* Richard Street: vocals* Melvin Franklin: vocals* Otis Williams: vocals* The Andantes: Additional background vocals on "Love Woke Me Up This Morning"* Norman Whitfield: producer...
LP by The Temptations (Arranger and conductor - Motown, 1972) - Masterpiece LP by The Temptations (Arranger - Motown, 1973)
- Diana & MarvinDiana & MarvinDiana & Marvin is a duets album by soul musicians Diana Ross and Marvin Gaye, released October 26, 1973 on Motown. Recording sessions for the album took place in 1972 and 1973 at Motown Recording Studios in Hollywood, California. Featuring vocal collaborations by Gaye and Ross, widely recognized at...
LP by Diana Ross & Marvin GayeMarvin GayeMarvin Pentz Gay, Jr. , better known by his stage name Marvin Gaye, was an American singer-songwriter and musician with a three-octave vocal range....
(Arranger - "Just Say, Just Say" - Motown, 1973) - Eddie Kendricks - LP by Eddie KendricksEddie KendricksEddie Kendricks was an American singer and songwriter. Noted for his distinctive falsetto singing style, Kendricks co-founded the Motown singing group The Temptations, and was one of their lead singers from 1960 until 1971. His was the lead voice on such famous songs as "The Way You Do The Things...
(Arranger - "Where Do You Go (Baby)" - Motown, 1973) - Everybody Likes Some Kind of MusicEverybody Likes Some Kind of MusicThe album includes the instrumental "Space Race", which was released as a single and was a sequel of sorts to Preston's 1971 hit "Outa-Space". The instrumental proved popular enough that the musical variety show American Bandstand used it as the song for its mid-broadcast break from the mid 1970s...
- LP by Billy PrestonBilly PrestonWilliam Everett "Billy" Preston was a musician who gained notoriety and fame, first as a session musician for the likes of Sam Cooke, Ray Charles and The Beatles, and later finding fame as a solo artist with hits such as "Space Race", "Will It Go Round in Circles" and "Nothing from...
(String and horn arrangements - A&MA&M-College and universities:*An "Agricultural and Mechanical" university is one that includes a college of agriculture and a college of engineering, provided for by the Morrill Land-Grant Colleges Act of 1862. -College and universities:*An "Agricultural and Mechanical" university is one that...
, 1973) - Syreeta LP by Syreeta and Stevie WonderStevie WonderStevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
(String arrangements, Motown, 1974) - Any Way You Like It LP by Thelma HoustonThelma HoustonThelma Houston is an American singer-songwriter and actress. She scored a number-one hit in 1976 with her cover version of the song "Don't Leave Me This Way", which won the 1978 Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance.-Early life & career:Houston is the daughter of a cotton picking mother...
(Writer, Arranger, Motown 2643-S, 1976) - Keep It Comin LP by Valerie Simpson (Arranger, Tamla/Motown, 1977)
- Shake It Well LP by The DramaticsThe DramaticsThe Dramatics are an American soul music vocal group, formed in Detroit, Michigan in 1962. They are best known for their 1970s hit songs "In the Rain" and "Whatcha See is Whatcha Get", both of which were #1 R&B and Top 10 Pop hits.-Career:The Dramatics originally formed in 1962 recording as the...
(Co-arranger, ABC RecordsABC RecordsABC Records was an American record label, founded in New York City in 1955 as ABC-Paramount Records. It originated as the main popular music label operated the Am-Par Record Corporation, the music subsidiary of the American Broadcasting Company . ABC-Paramount Records' first president was Samuel H....
, 1977) - Who's Zoomin' Who?Who's Zoomin' Who?Who's Zoomin' Who? is the ever first million-selling, Platinum-certified album by Aretha Franklin, originally released in the summer of 1985. It was the first of four Platinum records in Franklin's 50-plus year recording career....
LP by Aretha Franklin (String arrangements, Arista, 1985) - In Square CircleIn Square CircleIn Square Circle is a 1985 album released by Grammy Award-winning American R&B/soul singer-songwriter Stevie Wonder...
LP by Stevie Wonder (String arrangements, Tamla/Motown, 1985)
External links
- http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0728247/ Overview at IMDb.
- http://apps.detnews.com/apps/multimedia/player/index.php?id=3019 Detnews.com interview
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEnKEcBvBvw "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" on YouTube
- Video interview - In the original Motown studio.