Uriel Jones, whose muscular, hard-rocking drum style was an integral part of the Motown sound on classics such as "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell and "Ain't Too Proud to Beg" and "Cloud Nine" by the Temptations.



Born in Detroit, Jones always credited music with saving him; like many musicians of his generation, including Levi Stubbs of the Four Tops, Jones did a stint at Moore School for Boys, which was for Detroit public school boys with a discipline problem.



But Moore had a strong music program, and it was there that Jones found himself, using the drums as an outlet for his energy. Jones started out backing Marvin Gaye on the road, and segued into a role as a session drummer at Motown in 1964, the year when the label had exploded on the national pop charts.



Uriel Jones died at Oakwood Hospital on March 24. He was 74.