Music
Johnny Griffith
1936–2002 · keyboardist
Detroit-born Funk Brothers keyboardist who played the electric piano on "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" and the organ on "Stop! In the Name of Love".
- Born
Detroit, Michigan- Died
Detroit, Michigan
aged 66- Birth name
- John Ellis Griffith Jr.
- Detroit years
- 1936–2002
- Field
- Music
01 / The Detroit story
The Detroit story
Griffith was born in Detroit and spent his career in the city's studios as one of the keyboard players of Motown's house band. On hundreds of Hitsville sessions he moved between Steinway grand, Hammond B-3 organ, Wurlitzer and Fender Rhodes electric pianos, celeste and harpsichord. His electric piano is heard on Marvin Gaye's "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" and the Temptations' "Ain't Too Proud to Beg"; his organ on the Supremes' "Stop! In the Name of Love" and Junior Walker's "Shotgun". Like other Funk Brothers he also moonlighted on non-Motown Detroit records, including the Capitols' "Cool Jerk" and Jackie Wilson's "(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher". His influences ranged from Bud Powell and Oscar Peterson to Glenn Gould. He died of a heart attack in a Detroit hospital in November 2002, weeks after Standing in the Shadows of Motown premiered.
Highlights
- Electric piano on "I Heard It Through the Grapevine"
- Organ on "Stop! In the Name of Love" and "Shotgun"
- Played on the Capitols' "Cool Jerk" and Jackie Wilson's "Higher and Higher"
- Featured in Standing in the Shadows of Motown (2002)
02 / Their Detroit places
Their Detroit places 1
Where they lived, worked, performed and liked to hang out. Closed and demolished places stay here too, because they are part of the city's history.
Recorded here · 1960s–1972
Motown Museum
Played on Motown sessions in Studio A, the basement room the musicians nicknamed the "Snake Pit".