Stevie Wonder attends Funk Brothers Walk of Fame star ceremony and talks on gun control

(22 Mar 2013) SHOTLIST AP Entertainment Los Angeles, 21 March 2013 1. Wide exterior Hollywood Boulevard site of Funk Brothers Walk of Fame star 2. UPSOUND Wide zoom to close Funk Brothers Walk of Fame star unveiled with Stevie Wonder 3. Medium pan right Ray Parker Jr. with surviving Funk Brothers Jack Ashford, Eddie Willis, with Stevie Wonder 4. Cuatway audience 5. SOUNDBITE (English) Stevie Wonder/Recording artist: "Witnessing our Vice President Biden talking about how we have to put an end to gun violence and not make weapons that really are war weapons accessible to people. Equally as important to that is: when I think about the Funk Brothers, I think about how many people that have died, that could have been musicians, that had great possibilities and because of violence they're not here. Truly we must put an end to that, but as well we must give young people a purpose." 6. Close on star tilt up to Funk Brothers Jack Ashford, Eddie Willis 7. Cutaway crowd cheering 8. SOUNDBITE (English) Ray Parker Jr./Recording artist: "I just want to say that these guys have been unbelievable ever since I was a kid. And guess what -- here we are in old age and they're still unbelievable. Ladies and gentlemen, from Detroit -- and by the way -- today is a day for all musicians. Because this is a musician star. And if you from Detroit it's even a better thing if you're a Detroit musician. So God bless the Funk Brothers. Congratulations, my boys." 9. Cutaway audience cheering 10. SOUNDBITE (English) Eddie Willis/Recording artist: "I know the Funk Brothers, they are looking at us -- I want you to know that. They are here. And I'm sorry. Because every time I start talking about these guys, I get so emotional. Unbelievable!" 11. Wide zoom to medium Funk Brothers with Stevie Wonder STORYLINE STEVIE WONDER TALKS GUN VIOLENCE AT FUNK BROTHERS STAR CEREMONY A star commemorating Motown's studio band the Funk Brothers has been unveiled in the sidewalk on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Thirteen members of the band were named as official star honorees by Hollywood Chamber of Commerce President Leron Gubler on Thursday (21 March) in Los Angeles. Many of the Funk Brothers have died, but Eddie Willis and Jack Ashford were on hand for the ceremony. Stevie Wonder, a contingent of Motown figures and fans also attended. Wonder addressed gun violence during his turn to speak. "Witnessing our Vice President Biden talking about how we have to put an end to gun violence and not make weapons that really are war weapons accessible to people," Wonder said. "Equally as important to that is: When I think about the Funk Brothers, I think about how many people that have died, that could have been musicians, that had great possibilities and because of violence they're not here. Truly we must put an end to that, but as well we must give young people a purpose." An emotional Willis told the crowd that the Funk Brothers were "looking at us" during the ceremony. "I know the Funk Brothers, they are looking at us -- I want you to know that. They are here," he said. "And I'm sorry. Because every time I start talking about these guys, I get so emotional. Unbelievable!" A number of the deceased Funk Brothers were represented by family members. It was the 2,493rd star on the 18-block Walk of Fame. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_Archive Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APArchives ​​ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/APNews/ You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/30a493ddb9fe345c9661a04c025d720f

Added 3 Apr 2026