The Supremes [antikvár]

An archeological expedition back through the layers of Motown history requires the help of people who can shine a light through tunnels darkened by time. This book owes its existence to many such noble souls who made the path vividly bright and easy to follow. There could not have been a better tour guide than Shelly Berger, who, as manager of the Supremes during their peak years, provided key insights and keen perspective on the business of overseeing the top female act of the '60s. My heartfelt thanks to a real industry heavyweight who made it a lot easier for Berry Gordy to chase his dreams. From inside the walls of the recording studio, equally invaluable were the overseers of the Supremes' craft and artistry. As an admittedly fanatical student of how the greatest music of our time was made and who helped to make it, I was blessed to be given the opportunity to sit at the figurative feet of arguably the greatest producer and songwriter of our time—Brian and Eddie Holland. Soaking up the glorious minutiae of their Supremes sessions was the seminar of a lifetime—one that they presented with humor, detail, and patience for the sometimes dumb questions I asked as a rank outsider. The genius of that recording process was the organically collaborative effort underpinning it. As the years have lengthened, the contributions of the Motown house band—known retrospectively as the Funk Brothers—have grown from obscure to Zeusian. The pity is that a dwindling number of these artists are alive to receive the long-delayed huzzahs due them. Thus, it was with pure joy that I took up the opportunity to spend long and wonderful hours with Jack Ashford, whose championing of the Funk Brothers' role in those sessions was as spirited as the rhythm he kept with his tambourine and vibe riffs. There is no greater rush for a rock devotee than to tap the memories of an actual Motown artist, much less one who is the sole surviving original member of the greatest male soul group of all time. My deepest appreciation goes to the Temptations' Otis Williams, a man of endless good cheer who's still kickin' it and getting younger every day. 0