[2] By his mid-twenties, he was playing in the ABC Television studio band, accompanying such guests as Sonny Stitt,[5] Charlie Parker,[2] Stan Getz,[5] Jack Teagarden, Lee Konitz,[5] Jimmy Giuffre, Pepper Adams,[6] Donald Byrd,[5] Frank Rosolino, and Dizzy Gillespie.

[2][7] In 1958, Motown Records founder Berry Gordy recruited Messina for his Hitsville U.S.A. studio musicians group, known as The Funk Brothers.

During this time, Messina worked with performers such as Diana Ross & the Supremes,[6] the Temptations,[1] Marvin Gaye, the Four Tops, Stevie Wonder,[8] and Smokey Robinson & the Miracles.

[9] Among the many Motown hits Messina played on are "Dancing in the Street" (Martha & the Vandellas, 1964),[6][10] "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)" (Four Tops, 1965),[2] and "Your Precious Love" (Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell, 1967).

[6][11] Messina stopped playing guitar for 30 years after Berry Gordy took his Motown operation to Los Angeles in 1972,[2] explaining how he "just had no interest".