How were the Funk Brothers credited on early records?

Their names were on every cover

They were credited as The Supremes

Funk Brothers Quiz: Motown's Hidden Studio Band in Detroit

This Funk Brothers quiz goes down to the basement studio at Hitsville U.S.A. in Detroit. Play 10 interactive questions on Berry Gordy's Motown, the cramped Snakepit studio, bassist James Jamerson, drummer Benny Benjamin, keyboardist Earl Van Dyke, years without credit, What's Going On, the documentary Standing in the Shadows of Motown and a Grammy honor.

Start Funk Brothers Quiz

🎯 Daily Trivia Challenge • 🧠 10 Questions • ⏱️ 150 Seconds

Question 1 / 10 Time: 150s

Label
Which record label did the Funk Brothers play for?
City
In which city was Motown founded?
Studio
What was Motown's house called?
Pit
What was the cramped studio nicknamed?
Bass
Which bassist's lines shaped the Motown sound?
Drums
Who was a key early drummer?
Credit
How were the Funk Brothers credited on early records?
Album
Which Marvin Gaye album credited the musicians?
Film
Which 2002 documentary told their story?
Honor
Which honor did they receive in 2004?

Explanations: answer key for all 10 questions

Q1: Which record label did the Funk Brothers play for?
Answer: Motown
It was founded by Berry Gordy.
Q2: In which city was Motown founded?
Answer: Detroit
It is nicknamed Motor City.
Q3: What was Motown's house called?
Answer: Hitsville U.S.A.
It is now a museum.
Q4: What was the cramped studio nicknamed?
Answer: The Snakepit
It was in the basement.
Q5: Which bassist's lines shaped the Motown sound?
Answer: James Jamerson
He played with one finger.
Q6: Who was a key early drummer?
Answer: Benny Benjamin
He was called Papa Zita.
Q7: How were the Funk Brothers credited on early records?
Answer: They usually were not credited
Fans did not know them.
Q8: Which Marvin Gaye album credited the musicians?
Answer: What's Going On
It came out in 1971.
Q9: Which 2002 documentary told their story?
Answer: Standing in the Shadows of Motown
They reunited on stage.
Q10: Which honor did they receive in 2004?
Answer: A Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award
It recognized decades of work.

The Hidden Band Behind Motown

Berry Gordy founded Motown in Detroit in 1959 and turned a house into a studio called Hitsville U.S.A. In its cramped basement studio, nicknamed the Snakepit, a group of session musicians known as the Funk Brothers played on countless hits.

Bassist James Jamerson's inventive lines, drummer Benny Benjamin's grooves and keyboardist Earl Van Dyke's leadership shaped the Motown sound behind the Supremes, the Temptations, Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye. Yet for years the musicians were usually not credited on records.

Marvin Gaye's What's Going On in 1971 credited them, a rare exception. The 2002 documentary Standing in the Shadows of Motown finally told their story, and they received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2004. Hitsville U.S.A. is now the Motown Museum.

What This Quiz Teaches

Soul music fans will enjoy these questions.

Where they played
Who the key players were
Why they were unknown
Which album credited them
How they were honored

Did You Know?

Many were jazz musicians.
Motown moved to Los Angeles in 1972.
Tambourines added sparkle.
Sessions ran day and night.
Fans visit the Snakepit today.