In recognition of the 50th Anniversary of the Motown Record Label, we would like to spotlight probably the most prolific arranger of hits of all time! He was recently certified by Berry Gordy (founder of Motown) as an official “Funk Brother.” This unheralded group of musicians has played on more number one hits than the Beach Boys, the Rolling Stones, Elvis Presley, and the Beatles combined! The person at the helm arranging all these hits during the golden years of Motown is none other than, Paul Riser! He is one of the originators and a chief designer of the Motown Sound!
His “hit list” of credits include “My Girl & Papa Was Rollin’ Stone” (The Temptations), both versions of “I Heard It Through The Grapevine” (Marvin Gaye/Gladys Knight & The Pips), “My Cherie Amour” (Stevie Wonder), both versions of “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” (Diana Ross/Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell), “Tears Of A Clown” (Smokey Robinson & The Miracles), “What Becomes Of A Broken Heart” (Jimmy Ruffin), and “If I Were Your Woman” (Gladys Knight & The Pips) to mention a few.
Away from Motown, his credits include arrangements for artists such as Luther Vandross, Phil Collins, The Carpenters, Carly Simon, The Doobie Brothers, Tom Jones, Quincy Jones, Natalie Cole, Aretha Franklin, Roberta Flack, Michael McDonald, Johnny Mathis, Patti Labelle, and so many others, not to mention his film and television work. Whew!
Paul joined Motown in 1962 right after graduation. He attended Cass Technical High School in Detroit where he was a trombone player. Dale Warren, also a horn player was doing sessions for Motown. He invited Paul to come and do sessions also, and thus the connection and relationship began. With the progression of the next years, Paul wanted to do more than just play his “bone.” He soon found himself orchestrating and arranging songs that were being presented for recording.
As we all know, hit singles can be elusive for recording artists. Many never even have one! Paul has consistently generated hit after hit for decades, far too many to count. The Motown sound has influenced music world wide, as much or more than Big Band or any other genre or style. The success of Motown is so wide spread that even the Motown logo is as widely known as the Coco-Cola Logo. Its undeniable Paul Riser’s contribution to the legacy of this phenomenal Record Label!
In speaking with Paul, He says is time spent with Motown was a blessing. Of the many artists that were a part of the Motown Sound, Paul single’s out Stevie Wonder as one of the most inspiring to work with. In asking him which song would best define and represent his work as an arranger, he said “their are many. But if I have to single out a particular song, it would probably be Ain’t No Mountain High Enough, recorded by Diana Ross or Stevie Wonder’s Rocket Love.”Well here we are in the 21st century, is Paul still active as an arranger and composer? You bet he is! He recently completed projects with two of the hottest new stars today, namely Raphael Saadiq and Joss Stone. Yes, his desire is to get back to producing music with real musicians, putting that human feel and touch back in the music! The way Motown did it!
Although, the Motown that we have come to know and love is no longer, the feel, the sound, the emotion, and the class, that Motown created, will live on for many years to come. Look forward to the events surrounding the 50th Anniversary of Motown. Truly a legacy before, during, and after its time. For as long as Motown is around, so will be many of the artists who were apart of it all. Although so much of his work went unnoticed by the public in general, one name that will always be synonymous with Motown is Paul Riser!