Earl Van Dyke (July 8, 1930 – September 18, 1992) was an American soul musician, most notable as the main keyboardist for Motown Records' in-house Funk Brothers band during the late 1960s and early 1970s. Though the musicians were paid well for their services, they were still well below union scale. The band can be heard on 22 number one pop hits, 48 number one R&B hits, generating sales of over 300 million records. Earl Van Dyke - Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye (Cover Song).wmv. Nicknamed the "Chunk of Funk," Earl Van Dyke was the keyboardist/bandleader for the Motown studio band of the '60s affectionately dubbed the Funk Brothers. But the Funk Brothers long wanted to release an album of their own and somewhat got their wish granted, with Earl Van Dyke Plays the Motown Sound and The Earl of Funk (September 1970), both released on Motown's subsidiary label Soul. He also saw that he wasn't the only piano player on the block. Earl Van Dyke (July 8, 1930 – September 18, 1992) was an American soul musician, most notable as the main keyboardist for Motown Records ' in-house Funk Brothers band … Jamerson had been recording for an upstart label called Motown Records headed by a young songwriter/producer named Berry Gordy. b. Earl Van Dyke, 8th July 1930, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.A.. d. 18th September 1992, Harper Hospital, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.A. Earl Van Dyke was the main keyboardist for Motown Records' in-house the Funk Brothers band in between 1961 and 1971.. He played a toy piano for the introduction of the Temptations' hit, "It's Growing". With Motown having hit after hit, you'd think that the pay scale of the Funk Brothers would've increased. (Marvin Gaye's cover held the number one R&B spot for seven weeks in December 1968 and went to number one pop.) The 23 show long tour they were due to join was to be headed by P J Proby. The band can be heard on 22 number one pop hits,…. He was the keyboardist on Motown hits such as "Bernadette", "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" and "Runaway Child Running Wild". Just after joining the label, Van Dyke's "pay" for a session was a bowl of soup. In the early 1960s, he also recorded as a jazz organist with saxophonists Fred Jackson and Ike Quebec for the Blue Note label. Neither release was what they really wanted, though, which was a straight-ahead jazz album. "With This Ring" by the Platters also featured the band. In some instances, a band member would have a part that he created replaced and recreated by a vocal line or riff. Earl played piano and organ on MoTown sessions from the late 1960's to the early 1970's. Albums include Standing in the Shadows of Motown, The In Crowd - The Story of Northern Soul, and A Cellarful of Motown!. Earl Bennett Van Dyke died Saturday at his home. Neither release was what they really wanted, though, which was a straight-ahead jazz album. Van Dyke didn't decide to join Motown until 1962, with the help of a solid 150 dollars a week job offer from Mickey Stevenson of Motown's A&R department. I have played all over the world. 1991 was the year that marked the end of Van Dyke's playing days as he succumbed to the debilitating carpal tunnel syndrome. Here, they lay down the same classic and unmistakable Motown vibe that will flood the collective memories of listeners as they relive the soundtracks to their lives. Earl was "THE" main keyboard player at Motown, and the founder member of the famous Funk Brothers. Profile: Pianist and keyboardist. 792 likes. Though a couple of years later in the mid-'80s, Van Dyke moved back to Detroit after not being able to adjust to the California lifestyle. Dollars from Motown and his outside work jamerson 's alcoholism began to its! To a head far as Warwick was concerned, this was a of... 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