Joe Messina, Motown legend and Funk Brothers guitarist, dies aged 93

Joe Messina
(Image credit: Brian Rasic/Getty Images)

Joe Messina, guitarist for the Funk Brothers and Motown session legend, has died at the age of 93.

As per The Detroit News, the news was confirmed by Messina’s son, Joel. It’s been reported Joe died of natural causes linked to a kidney disease he had been battling for 12 years.

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Matt Owen
Senior Staff Writer, GuitarWorld.com

Matt is a Senior Staff Writer, writing for Guitar World, Guitarist and Total Guitar. He has a Masters in the guitar, a degree in history, and has spent the last 16 years playing everything from blues and jazz to indie and pop. When he’s not combining his passion for writing and music during his day job, Matt records for a number of UK-based bands and songwriters as a session musician.