Motown: The View from the Bottom (Hardcover)

Throughout Motown’s glory years, as stars came and went, Jack was there with the other Funk Brothers, in the background, never missing a beat, laying the foundation – the ‘bottom’ – that their success was built on.

At long last, with the reformation of the Funk Brothers and the making of their movie, Standing In The Shadows of Motown, Jack is no longer in the background. It’s his turn to come up front and tell what he knows.

And what he knows is worth knowing. He tells untold stories from the Snakepit (Hitsville’s legendary Studio A), gives us new perspectives on the producers, musicians and artists of classic Motown and takes us with him through his extraordinary life.

It’s all there – his charmed military career, his business ventures, his early days as a jazzman, the meeting with Marvin Gaye that changed his life, touring with Motown acts at home and in Europe, freezing and starving in English hotels, memories of friends and colleagues at Hitsville, the tragic dismantling of the Detroit operation and life after Motown.

Drawn by Motown founder Berry Gordy from the ranks of the finest jazz players, they fused into the most formidable musical group in recording history.

Playing shoulder to shoulder in 'The Snake Pit' (Hitsville's Studio A) they turned the people of the world on to the relentlessly rhythmic and intricate music that became known as The Motown Sound.

The key to their uniqueness wasa shared innate sense of the whole picture that delivered superbly crafted tracks, day in, day out, each bursting with energy, soul and spontaneity.

Thundering pianos, three guitars, two or more drummers and the legendary infectious bass-lines - all were brought to life by the stunning percussion work of Jack Ashford.

Whe Motown shipped out of Detroit, the musicians were left high and dry as if their glory days had never been.

Forty years on, with some of their number now sadly passed on, their contribution is at last being recognised with documentary films, awards and honours.

After all the ups and downs, Jack's back where he belongs, bringing his unequalled talent to whole new generations.

Now it's time for him to tell his side of the story. The anger and disappointment at the betrayals of the past, the grief for absent friends are set against a life-affirming story told with unique wit and humour by a man who provided the backing track to millions of lives.