Post by Sophisticated Lady on Apr 5, 2007 19:19:59 GMT -5
Formed in Detroit, Michigan in 1960 as the Elgins, the Temptations have always featured five African American male vocalists/dancers. The group, known for its recognizable choreography, distinct harmonies, and onstage suits, has been said to be as influential to soul as the Beatles are to rock. Having sold an estimated 22 million albums by 1982, The Temptations are one of the most successful groups in music history and were the definitive male vocal group of the 1960s. In addition, they have the second-longest tenure on Motown (behind Stevie Wonder), as they were with the label for a total of 40 years: 16 years from 1961 to 1977, and 24 more from 1980 to 2004 (from 1977 to 1980, they were signed to Atlantic Records). As of 2007, the Temptations continue to perform and record for Universal Records with only one original member, founder Otis Williams, in its lineup.
The original group included members of two local Detroit vocal groups: The Distants, which featured second tenor/baritone Otis Williams, first tenor Elbridge "Al" Bryant and bass Melvin Franklin; and first tenor/falsetto Eddie Kendricks and second tenor/baritone Paul Williams (no relation to Otis) from the Primes. Among the most notable future Temptations were lead singers David Ruffin and Dennis Edwards (both of whom became successful Motown solo artists after leaving the group), Richard Street (another former Distant), Damon Harris, Ron Tyson, Ali-Ollie Woodson, Theo Peoples, and G.C. Cameron. Like its sister female group, the Supremes, the Temptations' lineup has changed frequently over the years.
Over the course of their career, the Temptations have released four Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles and 14 Billboard R&B number-one singles. Their material has earned them three Grammy Awards, while two more awards were conferred upon the songwriters and producers who crafted their 1972 hit "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone".
Although "Come On" was a local success in the Detroit area, the Distants never saw much of their share from the record sales, and the second single was not as successful. After receiving an offer from Berry Gordy of Motown Records, the group got out of its contract with Matthews and left Northern. At the same time, it lost Mooch Harrell, Richard Street, and the rights to use its name. Street would front a new group of Distants for the local Thelma label during the early 1960s.
The Distants were acquainted with the Primes, as both groups made the same rounds to local record hops, talent shows, and concerts. The two groups were friendly rivals. During this period, the Primes disbanded when Kel Osbourne moved to California, and Eddie Kendricks and Paul Williams returned to Alabama for a spell. While in Detroit visiting relatives, Kendricks called Otis Williams who, needing two more members for an audition for Gordy, offered Kendricks a place in the Distants. Kendricks agreed, with one condition -- that he could bring Paul Williams with him. Otis Williams agreed, and Kendricks and Paul Williams moved back to Detroit to join the group.
The new lineup of Otis Williams, Franklin, Bryant, Kendricks, and Paul Williams took on the name the Elgins and auditioned for Motown in March 1961. Gordy agreed to sign the group to his Miracle Records imprint, but discovered just before signing that there was already a singing group called the Elgins. The quintet quickly began tossing about ideas for a new name on the steps of Motown's Hitsville U.S.A. headquarters. On a suggestion from Miracle Records employee Billy Mitchell and Otis Williams, the Temptations became the group's new moniker. (The Elgins name would re-surface at Motown in 1965, when Gordy renamed a quartet called the Downbeats as the Elgins.)
The Temptations released two singles on Miracle, "Oh Mother of Mine" and "Check Yourself", before it was closed and merged with the Gordy label (to avoid confusion with the Miracles singing group). All seven of the Temptations' singles released between 1961 and 1963 failed to make it onto the U.S. pop singles charts; the 1962 single "Dream Come True" made it to number 22 on the R&B chart. Paul Williams and Kendricks split most of the leads during this period, with Bryant, Otis Williams, and Franklin occasionally singing lead.
Many songwriter and producer teams had been trying to craft a hit for the Temptations, including Berry Gordy, Mickey Stevenson, Clarence Paul, and Norman Whitfield. Gordy had in fact written the song "Do You Love Me" for The Temptations in 1961, but when he was unable to get a hold of the group, he recorded the song with the Contours instead. Miracles lead singer/songwriter/producer Smokey Robinson produced his first Temptations single, the Paul Williams-led "I Want a Love I Can See", in 1963, and proved to have the best rapport with the group.
Elbridge Bryant, who preferred his day job as a milkman to performing, soon became restless and uncooperative. After a performance at the 1963 Motown company Christmas party, Bryant was fired from the group. His replacement was Whynot, Mississippi native David Ruffin, younger brother of Motown artist Jimmy Ruffin. Though both Ruffin brothers were considered, David was given an edge over Jimmy thanks to his performance skills, which David displayed when he joined the Temptations on-stage during a local Detroit performance earlier that year, Ruffin would later become a member of the temptations from 1964-until 1968 when he was dismissed from the group. Ruffin began his solo career strongly in 1969 with “My Whole World Ended,” taking both the single and accompanying album to the top of the Soul charts. The uptempo follow up single, “I’ve Lost Everything I’ve Ever Loved” was also a hit. (David Ruffin suffered an unfortunate death on June 1, 1991 at the age of 50.) Eddie kendricks would later leave the group in 1971 and later had success in a solo carreer with such hits as keep on trucking, Boogie Down, Each Day I cry a little, Eddi'es love, Shoeshine boy and Baby. October 5th, 1992 Eddie died of lung cancer at the age of 52.
In the late-1960s, Melvin Franklin, bass singer of the Temptations was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, the symptoms of which he combated with cortisone so that he could continue performing. The constant use of cortisone left his immune system open to other infections and health problems; as a result Franklin developed diabetes in the early 1980s and later contracted necrotizing fasciitis. On February 17, 1995 Franklin lapsed into a coma and died six days later on February 23 of a brain seizure, at the age of 53.
Paul Williams who sang lead on several of the group's songs, and served as lead singer during the group's early years was considered the Temptations' best dancer, He served as the group's original choreographer, devising routines for the group. Williams suffered from sickle-cell disease, which would keep him in poor health at times. Williams suffered from depression. He who previously never drank, began to drink heavily, and soon slid into alcohol dependency. Because of Williams' sickle-cell condition, which already made touring hard on him, alcohol took a stronger toll on his health. His health had deteriorated to the point that he would sometimes be unable to perform. Otis and the other Temptations decided to resort to enlisting an on-hand fill-in for Paul Williams. Richard Street, formerly lead singer of The Distants, was hired to travel with The Temptations and sing all of Paul Williams' parts, save for Williams' special numbers such as "Don't Look Back" and "For Once in My Life", from behind a curtain. When Williams was too ill to go on, Street took his place onstage. In 1971, doctors found a spot on Williams' liver, and demanded that the singer retire from The Temptations. Williams left the group and Street became his permanent replacement.
Williams never overcame his depression or his personal and health problems. On August 17, 1973, Williams, age thirty-four, was found on the ground near his car, dead from an apparently self-inflicted gunshot to the head, in a deserted parking lot near 14th Street and West Grand Blvd., not far from Hitsville.