Regular visitors to www.soulandjazzandfunk.com will know all about DREW SCHULTZ. We’ve regularly featured the soul drummer’s work and his crusade to support the great soul session players who maybe have never had the credit which they deserve. Mentored by EWF’S Ralph Johnson and Motown Funk Brother Uriel Jones, Drew is acknowledged as one of soul music’s finest percussionists. For five years he was drummer in the road band of The Four Tops and he’s also worked with the likes of the Temptations, Aretha Franklin, the Dramatics, the Contours, the Miracles, the Chairmen of the Board and Harold Melvin’s Bluenotes.
Right now Drew is promoting an album which he hopes will assist Motown Funk Brother guitarist EDDIE WILLIS. Eddie, now aged 81, played on countless hits but, as was the way back in the day, he receives no royalties for his work. Recently, Eddie’s wife was the victim of a dog attack that left her with several broken bones and needing reconstructive surgeries while Eddie himself has struggled his whole life with the effects of polio.
Back in 2013, Drew Schultz staged a remarkable Motown memories concert and he’s now made the live recording available with all royalties going to a fund to support Eddie and his wife. The mammoth 35 tracker features Drew’s own band, The Funk Machine, playing alongside people like Dennis Coffey and Eddie Willis himself. Amongst the vocalists are Motown’s own Carolyn Crawford (who fronts a soulful version of ‘Neither One Of Us’) and Detroit’s Spyder Turner (listen up to his remarkable impressions of David Ruffin, Smokey Robinson, Billy Stewart and others).
Amongst the tunes are ‘Dancing In The Street’, ‘Heatwave’, ‘Get Ready’ and ‘What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted’. There’s also an Earl Van Dyke inspired instrumental version of ‘Just My Imagination’ alongside versions of Earl’s ‘6 X 6’, ‘All For You’ and ‘Soul Stomp’. In short, it’s one huge Motown celebration enhanced with insightful, live comment from people like Paul Riser and engineer Ed Wolfrum about what is was really like to work at Motown.
You can learn more about this wonderful Motown fest @ www.DSdrums.com
