Benny Benjamin

For the songwriter Claude "Bennie" Benjamin, see Bennie Benjamin.

Benny Benjamin
Background information
Birth nameWilliam Benjamin Jr.
Also known asPapa Zita
Born(1925-07-25)July 25, 1925
Birmingham, Alabama, U.S.
DiedApril 20, 1969(1969-04-20) (aged 43)
Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
GenresR&B, jazz
OccupationMusician
InstrumentDrums
Years active1940s–1969
LabelsMotown
Formerly ofThe Funk Brothers

William "Benny" Benjamin (July 25, 1925 – April 20, 1969),[1][a] nicknamed Papa Zita,[4] was an American musician, most notable as the primary drummer for the Motown Records studio band The Funk Brothers.[5] He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003 and was named the eleventh best drummer of all time by Rolling Stone magazine in 2016.[6][7]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference bb-motown-ency was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ U.S. Social Security Death Index, 377-20-0866
  3. ^ William Benjamin Jr., Applications for Headstones, 1/1/1925 - 6/30/1970; NAID: NAID 596118; Record Group Number: 92; Record Group Title: Records of the Office of the Quartermaster General
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference bb-zero-drum was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference bb-rr-hall-2019bio was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference bb-rr-hall was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference bb-stone-mag was invoked but never defined (see the help page).


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