The Johnny Griffith Trio - Jazz! (ws-205)

The Johnny Griffith Trio - Jazz!

Pianist Johnny Griffith can be heard on classic Motown sides, as well as on recordings from other Detroit-area labels. Like Motown's other pianists, Joe Hunter and Earl Van Dyke, Griffith's had an extensive musical background. He held musical degrees from Wayne State University and the University of Detroit. His musical influences included Oscar Peterson, Glenn Gould, and Bud Powell. Signed to Motown's Jazz Workshop label, he recorded the albums Detroit Jazz and The Right Side of Lefty Edwards. When the march of the Motown hits began, Griffith started playing on sessions for their R&B/pop acts. But rather than sign a work-for-hire contract with Motown like other musicians, Griffith remained a freelancer, doing other dates and sessions in New York and nearby Chicago.

01 I'll wind (you're blowing me no good)
02 Unknown minor
03 I mi see you later
04 Old folks
05 I did
06 Moment's notice
07 They didn't believe me
08 Willow weep for me
09 Summertime

The Johnny Griffith Trio - Jazz! (Workshop Jazz ws-205)

The Motown hits that Johnny Griffith played on include: Marvin Gaye's 'How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)" (number four R&B, number six pop, early 1965), his celeste trills are heard on "Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)" (number one R&B for two weeks, number four pop, summer 1971), adding Wurlitzer electric piano on both Gaye's "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" (number one R&B/pop for seven weeks, late 1968) and the Temptations' "Ain't Too Proud to Beg" (number one R&B for eight weeks, summer 1966), organ on the Supremes' "Stop in the Name of Love" (number two R&B for four weeks, number one pop for two weeks, early 1965), and organ and shotgun effects on Junior Walker and the All Stars' "Shotgunn' (number one R&B for four weeks, number four pop, early 1965).