The last decade has seen a certain degree of long-delayed fame come to the Funk Brothers, the “house band” at Detroit’s Motown Records during the 1960s and early ‘70s. The movie “Standing in the Shadows of Motown” and its attendant publicity brought attention to a long-neglected group of exceptionally talented pop musicians.

One key member of the Funk Brothers in later years was Dennis Coffey. His guitar was a vital part of countless great Detroit rock and soul records in the 1960s and 1970s — for other labels as well as Motown — but he also achieved something bigger: success as a solo act. In particular, his instrumental single “Scorpio” became a big hit in its day but lives on now as an influential sound that’s a favorite sample for hip-hop artists.

The University of Michigan Press recently released a paperback edition of Coffey’s 2004 memoir, “Guitars, Bars and Motown Superstars.” It offers a fun behind-the-scenes look at an amazing time in Detroit music.

Coffey’s resume is impressive; away from Motown, his credits run from Del Shannon’s “Little Town Flirt” to the Chairmen of the Board’s “Give Me Just a Little More Time” to the Dramatics’ “In the Rain.” His famous “wah-wah” sound helped Motown stay relevant as the 1960s wore on; his guitar starts the fire on the Temptations’ “Cloud Nine” and their other “psychedelic”-era hits. And “Scorpio” sold more than a million copies and turned him into a solo star, at least for a while.

“Guitars, Bars and Motown Superstars” also covers Coffey’s post-Motown adventures, but the glory days in Detroit are probably the book’s prime attraction. Anyone interested in classic Detroit pop will probably find it interesting.

Dennis Coffey performs "Scorpio" in a TV appearance: