Eddie Willis

Eddie "Chank" Willis (June 3, 1936 – August 20, 2018) was an American soul musician. He played electric guitar and occasionally electric sitar for Motown's in-house studio band, The Funk Brothers, during the 1960s and early 1970s.

Early life Born in Grenada, Mississippi, he listened to WDIA radio station, and was inspired by blues and country artists to teach himself how to play guitar. He suffered from polio as a child and had to use a walking stick for the remainder of his life. He moved to Detroit when he was fourteen. In 2010, Willis played on Phil Collins' album of Motown and 1960s soul classics, Going Back.

Style Willis was known for his signature style of muted guitar riffs which added a distinctive tone or "color" to the beat. It often was timed with the snare and on hundreds of hit songs recorded at Hitsville U.S.A. for Motown artists.

Influences and instruments Willis' influences included Chet Atkins, Wes Montgomery, and Albert King.

Fellow Funk Brother bandmate Dennis Coffey said of Willis: "He was the funkster, Eddie was, he was an amazing guitar player. He had that Southern thing. He’d always come up with some funky lines. We did many sessions together and he was just an all-around nice guy. I never heard him get angry at anybody about anything. He just came in and did his job." He was survived by his wife Rose, five children, and grandchildren.