William Benny Benjamin was born in July 25, 1925. As a native of Birmingham, Alabama, he was nicknamed Papa Zita and known as the main drummer for The Funk Brothers in the Motown studio. He provided a rhythmic anchor for the sound and he was an essential member of the collective sessions.
He brought jazz, swing and Latin influences to Motown. He worked with artists like the Temptations, the Miracles, Four Tops, the Supremes, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Martha and the Vandellas and Marvin Gaye.
Benjamin performed many of the Motown songs for early hits like Money (Thats what I want) by Barrett Strong, the Miracles Shop Around, Do you love me by the Contours, Get Ready by the Temptations, Uptight by Stevie Wonder, I heard it through the grapevine by Gladys Knight and the Pips and Going to a go-go by the Miracles.
Benjamin was known for being late for work and his creative excuses for why he was late. He once was awoken by a Motown producer, at his drum kit. He snapped awake, began drumming and called out Papa Zita, Papa Zita, Papa Zita! thus, giving his nickname.
His inspirations were drummers Buddy Rich and Tito Puente. He had records of Ludwig, Slingerland, Rogers and Gretsch.
Benjamins drumming technique was one that no one could match. He had a knack for playing various rhythms all at the same time. Benjamin had brushwork and explosive drum fills that he brought with him from his big jazz band experiences in the 1940s. He had a steadiness that kept the tempo better than a metronome.
His beats swung much harder than other R&B and blues drummers in Detroit at that time and his time was impeccable. Even the Beatles singled out Benjamins drumming. He was known for his dynamic style that had most record producers including Berry Gordy refusing to work on sessions if he was not the drummer. Berry Gordy also mentioned in his autobiography that Benjamin was his man.
It was in the late 1960s that Benjamin was fighting his drug and alcohol addiction. By this time, fellow Funk Brothers Uriel Jones and Richard Allen had to play the drum parts for him for the studios releases. He died when he was 43 years old, on April 20, 1969 because of a stroke.
In 2003, he was inducted into the Sideman category at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Author Resource:-
Drew Mers is an advertising consultant to Empire Rehearsal Studios music rehearsal studio in Long Island City, Queens, New York.
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