The Motown Funk Brothers wouldn't have been seen in NYC studios since they were constantly on duty in Detroit. I'm sure Gordy kept them busy, and probably tried to keep them anonymous enough that no one would be tempted to "stray" by more lucrative offers to play sessions on either coast.

Of all the great session players mentioned by Mike back at 2:20 am (!!) the *only* name I recognized was Eric Weisberg, who (as noted) made at least one recording under his own name. Simiarly, I suppose I could rattle off a few names of New Orleans session players that few people outside of this area would recognize. Earl Palmer . . . Lee Allen . . . Herb Hardesty . . . Walter "Papoose" Nelson . . . Anybody? Anybody?