Joe Hunter (November 19, 1927 – February 2, 2007)
Nick names: none
Instruments: Hammond B-3 organ,Steinway piano.
As it's first bandleader,Joe's association with Motown goes right back to 1958.
During the next five years that he was at the company he played his earthy,bluesy piano licks on the newly-developing "Motown Sound".
Although in this period the music that was being made at Motown was simpler than the fully developed sound of the late 60's,Joe's soulful playing on tracks like "Heat Wave" by Martha Reeves and the Vandellas set a standard.
Joe also helped Motown owner Berry Gordy in the very early days to search the local nightspots to find and recruit his fellow studio musicians .
Joe's first love was jazz and he was eventually able to earn his living as a full-time musician playing throughout the Detroit area.
His musical influences include Art Tatum and Sergei Rachmaninov.