To Motown's stars, the four wooden steps leading down to Hitsville's basement were a bridge to a land of dreams. But to the studio musicians who shaped the Motown sound, the stairs were a gateway to a workplace, a cramped, smoke stained, dimly lit room they affectionately dubbed "The Snakepit."

For almost fourteen years on a daily and nightly basis, the musicians transformed that basement into a hit factory. They rolled masterpieces off the production line in an hour or less, trading friendly insults as they worked. Known as the "Funk Brothers", they were utterly unknown.

So yes, you could say that these legendary session musicians known as the Funk Brothers have long been considered Motown's best kept secret. Though their names were never officially in lights, as the label's "house band" the players provided the backing tracks for a long list of hits including "Signed, Sealed, Delivered," "Dancing in the Street," and "Heatwave."

'LIVE IN ORLANDO' - recorded live in front of a wildly enthusiastic New Year's Eve crowd in Orlando - puts the surviving members of Motown's legendary house band - guitarist Eddie Willis, bassist Bob Babbitt and drummer Uriel Jones - front and center, playing the songs that they helped make famous.