Benny Benjamin
William "Benny" Benjamin (born July 25, 1925 in Detroit , † April 20, 1969 in Detroit) was an American session drummer who became famous for his work for Motown in the 1960s.
Benjamin had played in a few big bands in the 1940s and 1950s before becoming Motown's first session drummer. Together with James Jamerson he formed the core of the Funk Brothers , Motown's legendary studio band. Some producers on the Detroit R&B label, including Berry Gordy himself, even refused to record unless Jamerson and Benjamin formed the rhythm section.
The hits that Benjamin accompanied include Dancing in the Streets by Martha & the Vandellas , Do You Love Me by Contours , Baby Love and My World Is Empty Without You by Supremes , Get Ready by Temptations , Going to a Go-Go and Shop Around by the Miracles , I Heard It Through the Grapevine by Gladys Knight & the Pips , Money (That's What I Want) by Barrett Strong , My Guy by Mary Wells , Stubborn Kind of Fellow by Marvin Gaye , Uptight (Everything's Alright) by Stevie Wonder , as well as songs by the Four Tops .
Benjamin was famous for showing up late for sessions and for coming up with original excuses. Once found sleeping on his drums by a Motown producer, he woke up and started playing the instrument while shouting "Papa-Zita, Papa-Zita, Papa-Zita". That earned him the nickname "Papa Zita".
In the late 1960s Benjamin became addicted to heroin and alcohol and died of a stroke on April 20, 1969 . In 2003 he was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in the Sidemen category .
In 2016, the Rolling Stone listed Benjamin as eleventh of the 100 best drummers of all time .
Individual evidence
- ↑ 100 Greatest Drummers of All Time. Rolling Stone , March 31, 2016, accessed August 6, 2017 .
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Benjamin, Benny |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Benjamin, William (real name); Papa Zita (nickname) |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | American session drummer for Motown |
| DATE OF BIRTH | July 25, 1925 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Detroit , Michigan, USA |
| DATE OF DEATH | April 20, 1969 |
| Place of death | Detroit , Michigan, USA |