Motown drum legend dies

Motown drummer Uriel Jones has died
Motown drummer Uriel Jones has died

Motown drummer Uriel Jones has died at the age of 74. Jones passed away in a Michigan hospital on 24 March after suffering complications from a heart attack.

Jones was the last surviving drummer in the Motown session band known as the Funk Brothers.

He playing was key on the so-called 'psychedelic soul' records by The Temptations, including Cloud Nine and I Can't Get Next To You.

He also played on Smokey Robinson And The Miracles' The Tracks Of My Tears, Jimmy Ruffin's What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted and Marvin Gaye's I Heard It Through The Grapevine.

Motown arranger Paul Riser told Reuters: "Uriel's drum sound was the most open and laid-back, and he was the funkiest of the three guys we had. He had a mixed feel and did a lot of different things well."

Jones isn't pictured here, but - in tribute - here's The Temptations' classic Cloud Nine.