American rhythm and blues group
For the earlier vocal group show consideration for "Barbara" fame, see The Temptations (New York vocal group).
The Temptations is an American vocal group formed in Detroit, Michigan convoluted 1960 as The Elgins, known for their string of design singles and albums with Motown from the 1960s to say publicly mid-1970s. The group's work with producer Norman Whitfield, beginning occur to the Top 10 hit single "Cloud Nine" in October 1968, pioneered psychedelic soul, and was significant in the evolution close R&B and soul music.[2] The group members were known select their choreography, distinct harmonies, and dress style. Having sold tens of millions of albums, the Temptations are among the ultimate successful groups in popular music.[3][4][5]
Featuring five male vocalists and dancers (save for brief periods with fewer or more members), interpretation group's founding members came from two rival Detroit vocal groups: Otis Williams, Elbridge "Al" Bryant, and Melvin Franklin of (Otis Williams &) The Distants, and Eddie Kendricks and Paul Reverend of The Primes. In 1964, Bryant was replaced by King Ruffin, who was the lead vocalist on a number bank the group's biggest hits, including "My Girl" (1964), "Ain't Moreover Proud to Beg" (1966), and "I Wish It Would Rain" (1967).[6] Ruffin was replaced in 1968 by Dennis Edwards, discover whom the group continued to record hit records such translation "Cloud Nine" (1968), "I Can't Get Next to You" (1969), and "Ball of Confusion (That's What the World Is Today)" (1970). Kendricks and Paul Williams both left the group pretense 1971, with subsequent members including Richard Street, Damon Harris, Senator Leonard, Ron Tyson, and Ali-Ollie Woodson, the last of whom was the lead singer on late-period hit "Treat Her Lack a Lady" in 1984 and the theme song for description children's movement program Kids in Motion in 1987.
Over rendering course of their career, the Temptations released four Billboard Diversity 100 number-one singles and fourteen R&B number-one singles. The set was the first Motown act to win a Grammy Confer – for "Cloud Nine" in 1969[7] – and the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, received in 2013.[8] They won four Grammy Awards in total. The Temptations – specifically Edwards, Franklin, Kendricks, Ruffin, Otis Williams and Paul Williams – were inducted encouragement the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989. Triad Temptations songs, "My Girl", "Just My Imagination (Running Away sound out Me)" (1971), and "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" (1972), emblematic included among the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's Cardinal Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll. The Temptations were grade No. 68 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the "100 Greatest Artists of All Time" in 2010. In 2023, rendering group were ranked No. 1 by Billboard magazine on cause dejection list of the on the "100 Greatest R&B/Hip-Hop Artists Retard All Time".[9]
As of 2025[update], The Temptations continue to perform inspect Otis Williams in the lineup, who is the group's most recent surviving member. Williams owns the rights to "The Temptations" name.
Eddie Kendricks and Paul Ballplayer started singing together in church as children in Birmingham, Muskhogean. By their teenage years, they formed a Doo-wop quartet recovered 1955 with Kell Osborne and Wiley Waller, naming themselves The Cavaliers.[10]
After Waller left the group in 1957, the remaining triple left Birmingham to break into the music business. The appoint settled in Detroit where they changed their name to The Primes under the direction of Milton Jenkins. The Primes in the near future became well known around the Detroit area for their careful performances.[11] Jenkins later created a sister group, The Primettes, afterward known as The Supremes. Kendricks was already seen as a "matinee idol" in the Detroit area, while Williams was on top form received for his baritone vocals.[10]
Meanwhile, concurrently, Texas teenager Otis Playwright moved to Detroit as a youngster to be with his mother. By 1958, Williams was the leader of a immediate group named Otis Williams and the Siberians. The group target Elbridge "Al" Bryant, James "Pee-Wee" Crawford, Vernard Plain and Character Walton. The band recorded a song, "Pecos Kid" for a label run by radio deejay Senator Bristol Bryant.[12] Shortly name its release, the group changed its name to The League Domingoes. Subsequently, Montgomery native Melvin Franklin replaced Arthur Walton tempt bass vocalist and Detroit-born Richard Street (claimed by Melvin Historian to be his cousin)[13] replaced Vernard Plain as lead chanteuse. Signing with Johnnie Mae Matthews' Northern Records, the group esoteric their name changed again to The Distants.
The group evidence two Northern Records singles including "Come On" (1959) and "Alright" (1960).[14] Between these releases, "Come On" became a local wallop, and the Warwick Records label picked the record up misjudge national distribution.[14] Following the release of "Alright", Matthews appointed Playwright the group leader, and the group's name was changed nip in the bud Otis Williams & The Distants.[15] During this period, both Say publicly Primes and The Distants were influenced by other vocal aggregations including The Miracles.[16] Other inspirations included The Cadillacs, Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers, The Drifters, and The Isley Brothers.[17] Notwithstanding that "Come On" was a local hit in the Detroit open place, The Distants never saw much record sales, and "Alright" was not so successful. After receiving an offer from Berry Gordy to sign with Motown Records, The Distants got out be partial to their contract with Northern Records. However, James "Pee-Wee" Crawford dispatch Richard Street shortly departed from the group and the residual members lost use of "The Distant" name. Richard Street late formed another 'Distants' band who recorded for the Thelma give a ring in the early 1960s.[citation needed]
Members of The Distants were acquainted with The Primes, as both groups participated ready money the same talent shows and performed at the same gesture venues. Friendly rivals, The Primes were considered to be representation more polished and vocally stronger group of the two. Notwithstanding, this last group disbanded in 1960 after Kell Osborne vigilant to California. Eddie Kendricks and Paul Williams returned to River following the band's dissolution. While visiting relatives in Detroit, Kendricks called Otis Williams, who desperately needed two more members hold an audition for Gordy's label and offered Kendricks a key singer place in this new group, which would also embody fellow former Distants members Franklin and Bryant. Kendricks agreed debase the condition he bring Paul Williams with him. Otis Playwright happily agreed, and Kendricks and Paul Williams moved back loom Detroit to join the new group.
The original name cheerfulness the new lineup of Otis Williams, Melvin Franklin, Elbridge "Al" Bryant, Eddie Kendricks, and Paul Williams was The Elgins. Misstep that name, the group auditioned for Motown in March 1961. Already impressed with some of the members after hearing fury work, Berry Gordy agreed to sign the group to description Motown imprint, Miracle Records. However, before signing, Gordy discovered regarding group was using the name of "Elgins". The group began tossing about ideas for a new name on the work of the Hitsville U.S.A. studio. On a suggestion from Be unable to believe your own eyes Records employee Billy Mitchell, songwriter Mickey Stevenson, and group chapters Otis Williams and Paul Williams, The Temptations became the group's new moniker.[18] The "Elgins" name re-surfaced at Motown in 1965, when Gordy renamed a quartet called The Downbeats as Representation Elgins.
The Temptations' first two singles, "Oh Mother of Mine" and "Check Yourself", with Paul Williams on lead, were unrestricted on Miracle before Gordy closed the label down and reassigned the band to his latest imprint, Gordy Records. On representation Gordy imprint, Eddie Kendricks sang lead on The Temptations' rule charted single, "(You're My) Dream Come True", which peaked go bad number 22 on the R&B chart in 1962. Later put off year, The Temptations began touring as part of the Motortown Revue. The group issued eight recordings between 1961 and 1963 without much success.
Paul Williams and Eddie Kendricks split say publicly leads during this early period, with Al Bryant, Otis Settler, and Melvin Franklin occasionally singing lead, as they did fold a song titled "Isn't She Pretty". For a brief in the house, the group almost had their name changed to The Pirates, and under that name they recorded the songs "Mind Sojourn Matter" and "I'll Love You Till I Die". Eventually depiction label and the group decided against it. One hit declare, "Do You Love Me", was originally to be recorded unreceptive The Temptations. When he couldn't get in contact with depiction group, Gordy produced a version for The Contours. In 1963, The Temptations began working with Smokey Robinson as producer attend to writer. Robinson's first work with the group was the Apostle Williams-led "I Want a Love I Can See". While rendering song failed to chart, it did eventually become a accepted live performance spot for the group and particularly for Feminist Williams in general. Some called the group "The Hitless Temptations" due to their lack of hits.
During this time, Painter Ruffin began following the group around as he aspired memorandum join them. During a local Detroit performance, Ruffin joined rendering group onstage and impressed the group with his vocal facility and dancing skills.[19] Following that same time, Al Bryant challenging grown frustrated with the group's lack of success and became restless and uncooperative, preferring the mundane routine of his time job as a milkman over the rigors of rehearsal nearby performing. After a second altercation onstage at a Christmas shadowing, following an incident where he struck Paul with a beer bottle during a heated quarrel at an earlier gig gauzy the middle of the year, Bryant was summarily fired overrun the group. As a result, David Ruffin was brought direct as his replacement in January 1964.[20] Though Ruffin's brother Pry was also considered for the slot, David was selected shadowing his performance with them in 1963.
Bryant continued to complete in a number of other local groups and died trite the age of 36 in Flagler County, Florida, of design cirrhosis on October 26, 1975.[21]
The Temptations next consisted of Otis Williams, Melvin Franklin, Paul Williams, Eddie Kendricks, and David Ruffin; the success that followed the group resulted in what would, in later years, be frequently referred allocate as the "Classic Five" lineup. In January 1964, Smokey Actor and Miracles bandmate Bobby Rogers co-wrote and produced "The Model You Do the Things You Do" with Eddie Kendricks jacket lead and the single became The Temptations' first Top 20 hit that April.
Shortly afterward, "The Way You Do Picture Things You Do" and several pre-David Ruffin singles were compiled into the group's first album, Meet the Temptations, released rotation early 1964. The next two Temptations singles in 1964, "Girl (Why You Wanna Make Me Blue)" along with "I'll Credit to in Trouble" and its B-side "The Girl's Alright with Me", all featured Kendricks on lead (although Franklin sang one national curriculum in "I'll Be in Trouble"). However, producer Smokey Robinson axiom potential in the "mellow yet gruff" voice of David Ruffin, and thought that if he could write the perfect put a label on for his lead, then the group could have a Outshine 10 hit.[22]
While traveling as part of Motown's Motortown Revue posterior that year, Robinson and fellow Miracles member Ronnie White wrote "My Girl", which The Temptations recorded in the fall tactic 1964 with Ruffin singing his first lead vocal for interpretation group. Released as a single on December 21, 1964, say publicly song became The Temptations' first number-one pop hit in Step 1965. Over 50 years and multiple chart topping songs afterward, it is still their signature song to this day.
After the success of "My Girl", Ruffin sang lead on say publicly next three singles: "It's Growing", "Since I Lost My Baby", and "My Baby", which all made it to the Prevent 20 in 1965. The B-side to "My Baby", "Don't Vista Back", featured a stirring lead from Paul Williams, and was a sleeper hit on the R&B charts and a finelyhoned for vocal group playlists.
Norman Whitfield had requested the amount to write for the group and in 1966, Berry Gordy promised him that if Robinson's "Get Ready", with Eddie Kendricks on lead, failed to chart in the Top 20, Whitfield would be allowed to produce the next song. "Get Ready" subsequently missed its mark, so Gordy issued the Whitfield-produced "Ain't Too Proud to Beg", with David Ruffin on lead, whereas the next single. "Ain't Too Proud to Beg" outperformed "Get Ready" on the Billboard charts, and Whitfield became The Temptations' new main producer. He began pulling the group away go over the top with the ballad-based productions espoused by Robinson, toward a harder-edged bracket brass-heavy soul sound reminiscent of James Brown.
Nearly all singles Whitfield produced prior to 1968 featured David Ruffin on be in charge, including the R&B number-one/pop Top 10 hits "Beauty Is Exclusive Skin Deep", "(I Know) I'm Losing You"[23] and the perfectly 1967 hit "(Loneliness Made Me Realize) It's You That I Need". Other important singles from this period include "All I Need", produced by Frank Wilson, a Whitfield protégé, and rendering "You're My Everything", on which Kendricks and Ruffin share boon. Studio albums during the "Classic Five" period, apart from Meet the Temptations, include The Temptations Sing Smokey (1965), The Temptin' Temptations (1965), Gettin' Ready (1966), The Temptations with a Not enough o' Soul (1967), and The Temptations Wish It Would Rain (1968).
During this period, the various songwriting partners of Frenchman Whitfield included Roger Penzabene, Edward Holland, Jr., and The Temptations road show manager and guitarist Cornelius Grant. Subsequently, Barrett Clear, who sang the first hit at Motown in 1959, "Money (That's What I Want)", began working with Whitfield and Penzabene on The Temptations material after Eddie Holland left Motown wrestle the rest of the Holland-Dozier-Holland songwriting/production team in 1967. Figure of the Whitfield-Strong-Penzabene collaborations, "I Wish It Would Rain" opinion "I Could Never Love Another (After Loving You)", became hits in early 1968 after the suicide of Roger Penzabene row December 1967. Subsequently, Barrett Strong became the sole collaborator infer Norman Whitfield.
From early 1964 to mid-1968, The Temptations went from unknown hopefuls to international stars and as a upshot, appeared frequently on television shows such as American Bandstand, The Ed Sullivan Show, and The Hollywood Palace. At the tie in time, the group began to achieve a crossover popularity, catering to middle America with a pop standards album (The Temptations in a Mellow Mood, 1967), the success of which resulted in performances at the famous Copacabana in New York Blurb along with dates at other similar supper clubs. Outside personal music, The Temptations were also made honorary members of Phi Beta Sigma fraternity.
By 1967, David Ruffin had begun demanding special treatment introduce lead singer, riding to and from gigs in a concealed mink-lined limousine with his then-girlfriend, Motown singer Tammi Terrell, rather than of the limousine used by the other four bandmates. Picture other members slowly became irritated and annoyed with Ruffin's doings. Following Motown's decision to rechristen The Supremes as Diana Obtain & The Supremes and Martha & the Vandellas as Martha Reeves & the Vandellas, Ruffin felt entitled to the hire treatment, and demanded that his group be renamed as spasm to David Ruffin & The Temptations. Ruffin was also effort friction with Berry Gordy by demanding an accounting of representation group's earnings;[24] Motown partially acquiesced by allowing The Temptations friend retain an outside accounting firm, but the firm did jumble have full access to the books from The Temptations' head, International Talent Management, Inc., which was a subsidiary of Motown.[24]
Some of this behavior was attributed to the fact that spawn this time Ruffin had begun using cocaine regularly, building just starting out tension within the group and causing him to miss a number of group meetings, rehearsals, and concerts. There was a consensus among the rest of the group that Ruffin necessary to be replaced. When Ruffin missed a June 1968 date at a Cleveland supper club in order to attend a show by his new girlfriend, Barbara Gail Martin (daughter make out Dean Martin),[25] the group decided that he had crossed say publicly line. The other four Temptations drew up legal documentation, publicly firing Ruffin on June 27, 1968.[26] The next day, Dennis Edwards, a singer formerly of The Contours that Eddie Kendricks and Otis Williams already had pegged as a potential Ruffin replacement,[27] was hired to take Ruffin's place.
Edwards and Ruffin were good friends, and at first, Ruffin accepted his walking papers and encouraged Edwards. However, at Edwards' official debut with Say publicly Temptations in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, on July 7, Ruffin came to the show and jumped onstage, taking the microphone running away Edwards, singing lead on "Ain't Too Proud to Beg", dispatch disappearing as quickly as he had appeared.[28] Ruffin repeated that stunt several times throughout the group's July tour run. In the face the group hiring extra security to keep Ruffin out, bankruptcy continued to find ways to sneak into the venue presentday jump onstage when the group performed one of the songs he had once sung lead on.[28]
In a story recounted a few times by Dennis Edwards[27] (rebutted by Otis Williams and Rendering Temptations' road manager Don Foster),[29] after several of these stunts, the positive audience reactions and a remorseful Ruffin's pleas flesh out be let back into the act convinced the other Temptations members to do so. Otis Williams informed the then still-new Edwards that the group would lay him off and rehire Ruffin while in Gaithersburg, Maryland. However, when Ruffin failed tell somebody to show up on time the next night for his "return" engagement, the group kept Edwards on and ceased to delight the prospect of rehiring Ruffin.[27][29]
After Gaithersburg, Ruffin stopped attempting revivify disrupt The Temptations' concerts and instead turned his attention connection the Motown offices back in Detroit. He sued Motown tight spot October 1968, seeking a release from the label, but Motown countersued the singer to keep him from leaving and say publicly case was eventually settled out of court.[30] The settlement compulsory Ruffin to remain with Motown as a solo artist come within reach of finish out his contract.[30]
Edwards' first album with The Temptations was Live at the Copa, recorded at the group's return take home the Copacabana nightclub. The Temptations debuted in one of picture first of a number of collaborations with Diana Ross & The Supremes in 1968. The results included two studio albums: Diana Ross & the Supremes Join The Temptations (1968), which featured Edwards' first studio recordings with the group and interpretation number-two hit single "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me" status "Together". There was also a joint tour and two NBC television specials, TCB (aired December 9, 1968) and G.I.T. hinder Broadway (aired November 12, 1969).
The addition of Dennis Edwards to The Temptations coincided with description adoption of a new sound for the group by creator Norman Whitfield, and in the fall of 1968, Whitfield began producing psychedelic-based material for The Temptations, derived primarily from interpretation sound of funk bands as Sly & the Family Endocarp and Funkadelic. This new style, which debuted with the Ridge 10 hit single "Cloud Nine"[23] in October 1968, was a marked departure from the David Ruffin-era ballads. The instrumentation was funkier, the beat was hard-driving, and all five Temptations associates traded lead vocals, similar to Sly & the Family Endocarp. "Cloud Nine", the centerpiece of the group's landmark eponymous wedding album, was a Top 10 hit and won Motown its control Grammy Award, for Best R&B Vocal Group Performanceof 1969.
The blending of the Motown sound and psychedelic rock sound resulted in a new subgenre of music called psychedelic soul, besides evident in the work of Diana Ross and The Supremes ("Reflections", "Love Child"), Marvin Gaye's version of "I Heard Deputize Through the Grapevine", and music of The 5th Dimension, Representation Undisputed Truth, and The Friends of Distinction. More Temptations psychedelic soul singles followed in 1969 and 1970 - among them "Runaway Child, Running Wild" (a number-one R&B hit), "I Can't Get Next to You" (a number-one pop hit), "Psychedelic Shack", and "Ball of Confusion (That's What the World Is Today)" - but the formula began to wear thin when "Ungena Za Ulimwengu (Unite the World)", only went to no. 33 Pop in the fall of 1970. The group's other be relevant albums from this period included Puzzle People (1969) and Psychedelic Shack (1970). The latter included the original version of "War", later made famous by Edwin Starr.
Paul Williams, who suffered from sickle-cell disease, fell happen upon depression because of the stress of touring and personal issues. By the late 1960s, he had developed a serious overnight case of alcoholism. Having never previously consumed anything stronger than draw off, he began to drink quite heavily, and it was unchangeable to take, according to Otis Williams.[31][32] As his physical attend to mental health began to decline sharply, it made performing be regarding his bandmates increasingly difficult. Williams began traveling with oxygen tanks,[31] and the other four Temptations members made valiant efforts money raid and drain his alcohol stashes.[31]
In late 1969, Richard Road, lead singer of Motown act The Monitors and a grass Distant, was hired by Otis Williams to tour with interpretation group as a backup replacement for Williams.[31][33] For most shows, save for his solo numbers, Williams danced and lip-synched consulting room stage to parts sung live by Street into an in the wings mic behind a curtain. At other shows, and during cap of the second half of 1970, Street substituted Williams formerly stage when he was too sick to go on.[34]
Eddie Kendricks became detached from the group after David Ruffin's firing stream as the health of Paul Williams continued to fail. Elegance regularly picked fights with Otis Williams and Melvin Franklin, which often became violent, and in addition, he preferred the poem material from the earlier days and was uncomfortable with representation psychedelic soul material the group was now performing. Kendricks rekindled his friendship with Ruffin, who persuaded him to go on one's own. He no longer felt he had a say in Artificer Williams's handling of the group and was also convinced Motown's handling of The Temptations' finances was cheating the group had it of money.[35] Kendricks, being the only member to continue protest alliance with Ruffin, also repeatedly suggested that Ruffin should background allowed back into the group, despite the other members' robust objections.
Kendricks lobbied strongly in 1970 to have The Temptations go on "strike" – no performances, no recordings – until Berry Gordy and the Motown staff were willing to travel over all group finances with independent accountants.[35] Otis Williams fairy story Franklin strongly opposed this idea, and regular group infighting in the middle of Kendricks, Otis Williams, and Franklin grew from this disagreement.[35] Aft a November 1970 Copacabana engagement, a final confrontation between description three caused Kendricks to walk out in-between shows and categorize return. Both Kendricks and Williams then agreed that the leading would be leaving the group.[35] Kendricks later stated that filth actually considered leaving as early as 1965, but remained adjust The Temptations and unsuccessfully attempted to get permission to enigmatic a solo album without leaving the group.[36]
Before Kendricks officially keep upright The Temptations, he and Paul Williams recorded the lead vocals for "Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)", a poem that became Kendricks' final single with the group. Included step the Sky's the Limit LP along with the original wedding album version of "Smiling Faces Sometimes", "Just My Imagination" was on the loose as a single in January 1971, and the song began steadily climbing the US pop singles chart, peaking at edition 1 two months later. By the time "Just My Imagination" topped the charts, Kendricks had negotiated his release from say publicly group and signed a solo deal with Motown's Tamla id.
The Temptations originally hired Ricky Owens, from the Los Angeles-based vocal group The Vibrations, to replace Kendricks. However, Owens one played three dates with the group before he was discharged for forgetting the words to his solo numbers due in close proximity nervousness.[37] For several weeks of the spring of 1971, Rendering Temptations were without a fifth member. Owens meanwhile returned give permission The Vibrations and died in Los Angeles, California, on Dec 6, 1996, at the age of 57.
Whitfield took interpretation remaining Temptations quartet and re-recorded "It's Summer", the B-side hearten "Ball of Confusion (That's What the World Is Today)", bring in a replacement single. "Smiling Faces Sometimes" was released as a single for The Undisputed Truth instead, becoming a Top 5 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1971. Meanwhile, "It's Summer" peaked at number 51 on the Billboard Hot Century, making it the first Temptations single to miss the Hold down 40 since "Farewell My Love" eight years earlier.
After his doctor declared a few weeks later that he was incapable to continue performing for medical reasons, Paul Williams quit Picture Temptations in May.[38] Richard Street officially took Williams's place, though Williams continued to be paid his customary one-fifth of classify revenue (Street was paid on salary for the first cardinal months of his tenure),[39] and worked when he could buy and sell the group as an adviser and choreographer. After Williams esoteric recovered enough to record again, he recorded two sides play a part 1973 for a debut solo single. However, on August 17, 1973, Williams died in Detroit at the age of 34 from a gunshot wound, his death ruled a suicide give up the Wayne County coroner.
In May 1971, The Temptations finally found a permanent replacement request the first tenor position in twenty-year-old Baltimore native Damon Writer. Otis Williams, Edwards, Franklin, Street, and Harris continued recording alight performing, and Norman Whitfield continued producing hits for them. Here were Top 40 hits such as "Superstar (Remember How Tell what to do Got Where You Are)" (1971), a message from The Temptations to David Ruffin and Eddie Kendricks, and "Take a Browse Around" (1972). During this period, the group toured with Involvedness Elegance as their back-up singers. Quiet Elegance featured Lois Reeves, the sister of Martha Reeves, alongside Frankie Gearing and Millie Vaney-Scott.
Late 1972 saw the release of "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone", a magnum opus written by Norman Whitfield humbling Barrett Strong and produced by Whitfield. Originally a three-minute under wraps written and produced for The Undisputed Truth, Whitfield took depiction somber tune and created a sprawling, dramatic twelve-minute version misunderstand The Temptations - a forerunner of the extended single - soon to become popular in clubs and discothèques. An emended seven-minute version was released as a single and became put off of the longest hit singles in music history: it give a reduction on number 1 on the pop charts and number 5 take hold of the R&B charts. In 1973, "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" won The Temptations their second Grammy for Best R&B History by a Group. Whitfield and arranger/conductor Paul Riser won interpretation award for Best R&B Instrumental Performance for the instrumental replace on the B-side, and Whitfield and Barrett Strong won rendering songwriting Grammy for Best R&B Song.
After "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone", Whitfield stopped working with Barrett Strong, and began writing The Temptations' material on his own. The success produce such single led Whitfield to create more elongated, operatic split from, including the Top 10 hit "Masterpiece" (1973) and several entrap the tracks on the resulting eponymous album. Tensions developed among Whitfield and the group, who found Whitfield arrogant and showery to work with. Citing his habitual tardiness, his emphasis returns the instrumental tracks at the expense of their vocals slackness many of his productions, and the declining singles and albums sales as other sources of conflict, the group sought acquiescence change producers.[40] Otis Williams complained about Whitfield's actions and Interpretation Temptations' stagnant sales to Berry Gordy; as a result, representation group was reassigned to Jeffrey Bowen, co-producer of the 1967 In a Mellow Mood album.[40]
The final Norman Whitfield-produced Temptations soundtrack, 1990, was released in December 1973, and included the Comfort 30 single "Let Your Hair Down". Shortly afterwards, Whitfield leftwing Motown, and in 1975 established Whitfield Records, taking with him The Undisputed Truth and Willie Hutch, along with Rose Royce, who recorded in 1976 the hit "Car Wash". The latest track Whitfield produced for the group was the single "Let Your Hair Down", released in 1973.
Bowen's first LP with The Temptations was January 1975's A Song for You, which included a cover of description titular Leon Russell tune (popularized with soul audiences by Donny Hathaway), along with the pop Top 40/R&B number-one hits "Happy People" (featuring the Commodores as the instrumentalists) and "Shakey Ground" (featuring instrumentation by Parliament-Funkadelic's Eddie Hazel along with Billy Ostinato Nelson). "Glasshouse", the group's final Top 40 Pop hit, was also included. Damon Harris was fired from the group midst the recording of A Song for You, as his command and work ethic were deemed unprofessional,[41] and his replacement was Washington, D.C. native Glenn Leonard, formerly of the Unifics.[42]
A installment of producers, including Bowen, Brian Holland, James Anthony Carmichael, weather even The Temptations themselves tried producing hits for the uproot three LPs, House Party (November 1975), Wings of Love (March 1976), and The Temptations Do the Temptations (August 1976). In spite of that, none of these recordings were as commercially successful as A Song for You, and none of their associated singles entered the Billboard charts.[43]
As time progressed, Bowen pushed Dennis Edwards in mint condition to the front of the group. This was evident litter Wings of Love, where several tracks featured Edwards' vocal broaden prominently than the other Temptations backing vocals.[44] Otis Williams mattup that this was hurting the group, accused Motown of inattention, and cited this as the reason for the group's battered sales and popularity. After The Temptations Do the Temptations was recorded in 1976, Edwards was fired from the group,[45] delighted with new lead Louis Price on board, they left Motown for Atlantic Records.[46]
Success continued to elude the group at Ocean, however. Their two releases on Atlantic – Hear to Journey You (1977), and Bare Back (1978), along with their related singles - had failed to perform any better at Ocean than their last handful of singles had at Motown. Reorganization a result, in 1979, Atlantic released the group from tutor contract,[44] and shortly afterwards, The Temptations met once again become apparent to Smokey Robinson and Berry Gordy, who re-signed the group pick up Motown in 1980.[47]
Upon say publicly return to Motown several lineup changes occurred. Louis Price deceased from the group and joined The Drifters. Dennis Edwards - who had made an unsuccessful attempt at developing a career during his three-year exit from the group - returned to the lineup. Berry Gordy co-wrote and produced "Power", Representation Temptations' first single under the new contract. This song, devour the album of the same name, hit no. 11 dilution the R&B charts but failed to chart in the Relief 40. Two years of under-performing singles and albums followed, including an eponymous album with Philadelphia-based producer Thom Bell, until Motown began planning a Temptations reunion tour in 1982.
Eddie Kendricks and David Ruffin agreed to rejoin the group for representation new album, aptly titled Reunion, and its subsequent promotional expedition. Rick James, the Motown funk star who had previously educated The Temptations as backup vocalists on his 1981 hit "Super Freak" and whom Franklin claimed as his nephew,[13] wrote, produced, and guested on the Reunion album's lead single, "Standing set the Top". The single went to no. 6 on rendering R&B charts and featured Ruffin, Kendricks and Edwards trading amazement and forth on lead.
While the ensuing Reunion tour seam all seven Temptations (Ruffin, Kendricks, Otis Williams, Franklin, Edwards, Richard Street, and Glenn Leonard) was financially successful, it ended undiluted being a stressful venture: Kendricks' voice had weakened after decades of chain smoking, Ruffin (still addicted to drugs) missed a number of the performances due to being incapacitated, and prevalent group members Dennis Edwards and Glenn Leonard were causing crunchs. At the conclusion of the Reunion tour, Ruffin and Kendricks were dismissed, and they began touring and performing together despite the fact that a duo.
One more album, Surface Thrills, released in 1983, featured a sharp departure in the group's sound by incorporating elements of then-current rock. Following its release, Glenn Leonard was let go and replaced by Ron Tyson, who was engage the Philadelphia groups the Ethics and Love Committee. Tyson confidential been a staff songwriter at Atlantic during The Temptations' label at that label, and co-wrote several songs on the medium Hear to Tempt You.
By this time, Description Temptations' releases were no longer performing well on the call charts, though some singles still made the R&B Top 20. "Love on My Mind Tonight", a single from Surface Thrills, charted at no. 17.
The lineup of Franklin, Williams, Organization, Tyson, and Edwards proved to be short-lived. The five performed on Motown 25 and released the direct to videoThe Temptations: Live in Concert (filmed at Harrah's Atlantic City). The lp Back to Basics, released later in 1983, was the rule album featuring Ron Tyson on lead. The song "Sail Away", produced by a returning Norman Whitfield and featuring Ron Tyson's first lead vocal, peaked at no. 13 on the Jumpedup R&B chart.
In addition, a then-relatively unknown singer/musician, Ali-Ollie Woodson was featured on one track, "Stop the World Right Feel (I Wanna Get Off)". Woodson was a Detroit native who had been a potential candidate to replace Dennis Edwards appal in 1977. Meanwhile, Edwards (who also had his share lady lead vocals on the Back to Basics album) was dismissed again in 1984, for missing rehearsals or showing up hungover. He then attempted a second solo career, scoring a dismantle with the 1984 single "Don't Look Any Further", a saltation with Siedah Garrett.
At this point, Woodson officially joined rendering group, taking Edwards' place. Woodson's first lead on a unwed was 1984's "Treat Her Like a Lady", co-written by himself and Otis Williams, and co-produced by former Earth, Wind & Fire members Al McKay and Ralph Johnson. The song became their biggest success on R&B radio since 1975, reaching number-two on the R&B charts, and just missing the Pop Halt briefly 40 at no. 48. The group enjoyed further successes not in favour of 1985's "Do You Really Love Your Baby", a no. 14 R&B hit co-written by soul star Luther Vandross, and 1986's "Lady Soul", the group's third Top 10 R&B hit firm footing the decade.
Ali Woodson remained with The Temptations until 1987, when he was fired for consistent lateness. He was replaced by the again-returning Dennis Edwards. The group recorded one medium during Edwards' third tenure, Together Again, released later that day. In 1988, Otis Williams published his autobiography, Temptations, co-written exact Patricia Romanowski, chronicling the careers of the group from Description Primes/Distants days and focusing on the lives of Williams increase in intensity Melvin Franklin. (An updated version of the book was publicized in 2002.) Together, they worked on the theme song abolish the children's educational musical movement series, Kids in Motion begeted by Greg & Steve.
Edwards was fired from the break down for the third and final time in late 1988, reduce Woodson re-joining the lineup. In 1989, The Temptations released say publicly album Special, which included the soulful singles "Special" and "Soul to Soul". On January 18, 1989, The Temptations were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The circus honored Edwards, Franklin, Otis Williams, Ruffin, Eddie Kendricks (now performing arts as "Eddie Kendrick"), and, posthumously, Paul Williams. Most of Rendering Temptations, present and former, showed no ill feelings towards reprimand another, although Otis Williams reported that Kendricks refused to write to him during the ceremony.[47] The Temptations ended their causing ceremony with a performance of Paul Williams' signature song, Don't Look Back, dedicated to his memory.
After reuniting at the induction ceremony, and much confront the chagrin of Otis Williams and Motown, Edwards, Ruffin, abstruse Kendrick made plans to tour and record as Ruffin, Kendricks and Edwards, Former Leads of The Temptations. The tour was in fact carried out, but production on the album was canceled when 50-year-old David Ruffin died in Philadelphia after a cocaine overdose on June 1, 1991. Kendricks was diagnosed filch lung cancer soon after; he continued to perform until his death on October 5, 1992, in his native Birmingham.
Richard Street missed a performance in 1992 after undergoing emergency act to remove kidney stones. Otis Williams, completely unaware of Street's surgery, called him angrily about his absence. Street felt Clergyman was unsympathetic, and as a result, he left the rank in 1993 after twenty-two years. His replacement was St. Prizefighter native Theo Peoples.
By the early 1990s, bassist Melvin Pressman began missing performances due to failing health and Ray Jazzman, former bass man of Parliament-Funkadelic, began touring as a fill-in during 1993.[48] Franklin died after suffering a brain seizure warrant the age of 52 on February 23, 1995, and Statesman was named his official replacement. The group subsequently finished manufacture on For Lovers Only, an album of pop standards featuring two tracks recorded with Melvin Franklin prior to his passing away.
However, this lineup did not last, as Davis was diagnosed with lung cancer[48] and left shortly after completing the release. Davis died in New Brunswick, New Jersey of respiratory crunchs and complications of lung cancer on the evening of Weekday July 5, 2005.
The group continued as a quartet choose a short time before recruiting bassist Harry McGilberry, a nark member of The Futures. For Lovers Only was also description last contribution for lead Ali-Ollie Woodson; he was released diverge the group shortly after McGilberry's hiring[49] due to health problems:[50] he suffered two bouts of throat cancer in a thus time. He was replaced by new member Terry Weeks, who had served as his substitute.[citation needed]
The Temptations' new lineup, consisting of Otis Williams, Ron Tyson, Theo Peoples, and newcomers Ravage McGilberry and Terry Weeks, toured throughout 1997, and was featured in the halftime show of Super Bowl XXXII in precisely 1998, which celebrated the 40th anniversary of Motown. Later think about it year, The Temptations released the album Phoenix Rising, vocally sit by 1980s producer Narada Michael Walden, Isaias Gamboa, Claytoven Thespian, Theo Peoples, Tony Lindsey and Skyler Jett, which became their first million-selling LP in more than 20 years. The ep was anchored by "Stay", a single featuring Theo Peoples inconsequentiality lead and including a sample from "My Girl", which became a number-one hit on the urban adult contemporary charts. Fit was released to extremely positive reviews.
Peoples was fired come across the group before the release of Phoenix Rising because lay into his issues with drug addiction,[51] and was replaced by Barrington "Bo" Henderson. Henderson lip-synched to Peoples' vocals in the "Stay" music video, and the completed album features lead vocals favour different tracks by both Henderson and Peoples.
Main article: The Temptations (TV miniseries)
Also in 1998, triad months after the release of Phoenix Rising earlier in interpretation year, de Passe Entertainment (run by former Motown vice-president Suzanne de Passe) and Hallmark Entertainment produced The Temptations, a four-hour television miniseries based on Otis Williams' Temptations autobiography. The miniseries was broadcast in two parts on NBC on November 1 and November 2, 1998, with the first part covering picture group's history from 1958 to 1968, and the second close the years from 1968 to 1995.[52] The miniseries was a ratings success and was nominated for five Emmy Awards, resume Allan Arkush winning for Best Direction;[53] it was subsequently rebroadcast on the VH-1 cable television network and released to VHS and DVD.
Otis Williams' former wife Josephine Miles, Melvin Franklin's mother Rose Franklin, David Ruffin's family, and Johnnie Mae Matthews filed lawsuits against Williams, Motown, de Passe and de Ex Entertainment, Hallmark, and NBC for a number of charges, including defamation.[54]
The lawsuits were consolidated, the judges ruled in favor remind you of the defendants, and the ruling was upheld when the plaintiffs appealed in 2001.[55] Williams later claimed that, although his restricted area was used as the source material for the film, proceed did not have a great deal of control over happen as expected the material was presented.[53]
The Temptations were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame make the addition of 1999. In 2001, their 2000 album Ear-Resistible won the coldness its third Grammy, this one for Best Traditional R&B Close Performance. Bo Henderson was fired from the group in 2003, prompting a wrongful termination lawsuit.[56]
His replacement was former Spinners shrink G. C. Cameron. The lineup of Cameron, Otis Williams, Bokkos Tyson, Harry McGilberry, and Terry Weeks recorded for a diminutive time before McGilberry was dismissed;[57] his replacement was former Spaniels member Joe Herndon. McGilberry died on April 3, 2006, conclude the age of 56.
The group's final Motown album, Legacy, was released in 2004. Later that year, The Temptations asked to be released from their Motown contract, and moved foresee another Universal label, New Door Records. Their sole album process this lineup, Reflections, was released on January 31, 2006, crucial contains covers of several popular Motown songs, including Diana Transmit & The Supremes' "Reflections", The Miracles' "Ooo Baby Baby", Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell's "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing", and The Jackson 5's "I'll Be There".[58]Dennis Edwards, Ali-Ollie Woodson and David Sea (deep soul singer from Alabama, not Painter Ruffin) formed The Temptations tribute group "The Temptations Revue featuring Dennis Edwards".
G.C. Cameron left the group in June 2007 to focus on his solo career.[59] He was replaced near Bruce Williamson, who first affiliated with the group a assemblage earlier. The new lineup recorded another album of soul covers, Back to Front,[60] released in October 2007. Former member Ali-Ollie Woodson died on May 30, 2010, after a long action with leukemia.
On May 4, 2010, the group released in relation to album titled Still Here. The first single from Still Here, "First Kiss", was criticized for having instances of using Auto-Tune technology.[61]
The Temptations received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award on Feb 9, 2013.[62] Otis Williams, Dennis Edwards, and the children inducing David Ruffin, Eddie Kendricks, Paul Williams, and Melvin Franklin accompanied the ceremony to accept the six Grammys given to picture group for the occasion.[63]
Former member Damon Harris died on Feb 18, 2013, from prostate cancer at a Baltimore hospital.[64] Digit days later, former member Richard Street died of pulmonary interval in Las Vegas, Nevada.[65] At the time of his complete, Street was in the process of writing a book respecting his time with The Temptations entitled Ball of Confusion: Futile Life as a Temptin' Temptation. Completed by his co-author, Metropolis Flanigan, the book was published in 2014; it is picture second autobiography regarding the group.[citation needed]
In late 2015 both Doctor Williamson and Joe Herndon announced their departures from the group.[66] Williamson's replacement, Larry Braggs, was lead singer of Tower discount Power from 2000 to 2013.[67][68] Herndon's replacement is Willie Sour, who had previously toured with former Temptations members Richard Track and Ali-Ollie Woodson.[69] Dennis Edwards died on February 1, 2018, at age 74. He had been battling with meningitis earlier his death.[70]
On May 4, 2018, The Temptations released All picture Time, their first album since 2010's Still Here, as come after as their first for Universal's UMe Direct imprint.[71]
Former member G. C. Cameron substituted an absent Larry Braggs in shows contact August 2019.[72][73] By October 2019[74][75] Braggs was no longer a member of the group.[76] They then temporarily toured as a quartet until June 19, 2020, when it was announced think about it Mario Corbino was the new member of the group commutation Larry Braggs.[77]
On September 6, 2020, former Temptations member Bruce Williamson died at age 49 from Covid-19.[78]
In the fall of 2021, The Temptations released two singles, "Is It Gonna Be Say you will Or No", featuring Smokey Robinson, and "When We Were Kings", as part of their upcoming album, Temptations 60.[79][80] The album comment scheduled to be released in January 2022.[81] In December 2021, Otis Williams introduced Tony Grant as the newest member do away with The Temptations at a concert in Orlando, Florida.[82] Grant, who formerly sang with the Rhythm and blues group Az Thus far, and starred in several Tyler Perry stage plays,[83][84] replaced Mario Corbino.
The band announced in June 2022 that Jawan M. Jackson was joining on bass, replacing Willie Green.[85]
Following their first Motown hit, the group altered their style a sprinkling times over the ensuing years, adapting to the popular styles of the day while retaining their signature visual and verbal styles. The earliest Temptations recordings backed by Motown's stalwart mansion band, The Funk Brothers, reflect the influence of producers Drupelet Gordy and Smokey Robinson, and featured a cohesive blend vacation black Rhythm and blues along with elements of white call music that later came to be known as the Motown Sound. Recordings made prior to 1966, such as "My Girl", were built-around songs with simple, direct lyrics supported by upshot R&B rhythm section with orchestral strings and horns added meant for pop appeal. During this period, each recording usually featured one one lead singer, usually David Ruffin or Eddie Kendricks, though Paul Williams, Melvin Franklin, and Otis Williams each had individual numbers of their own at various times during this time.
In 1966, Norman Whitfield changed the group's dynamic, moving them away from the previous one lead singer model and bits and pieces elements derived from the rougher soul of artists such bring in James Brown, Wilson Pickett, and the performers at Stax Records. Whitfield and his lyricists crafted Temptations songs with shifts have a high regard for dynamics, syncopated horn stabs, and more intricate harmony arrangements which spotlighted each singer's unique vocal range. Onstage, this change was reflected in the group's use of a custom-made four-headed mike stand, invented by David Ruffin.
When Ruffin was replaced by Dennis Edwards, and Sly existing the Family Stone became popular, Whitfield again restructured The Temptations' sound, this time driving the group almost completely into a progressive sound,[1] as well a pioneering psychedelic soul. However, ballads in the traditional style of the group were still coach recorded as B-sides and album fillers, with the lone lockout being "Just My Imagination".
Tracks such as the album adjustment of "Run Away Child, Running Wild" from Cloud Nine, "Take a Stroll Thru Your Mind" from Psychedelic Shack, and "Smiling Faces Sometimes" from Sky's the Limit, all run at slightest eight minutes. At Whitfield's insistence, a large portion of representation additional running time for each song consisted of instrumental passages without vocals. For example, the hit version of their demolish 1972 single "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" was nearly digit minutes, featuring an instrumental intro that was almost two action, a rarity for songs of that era.
"Psychedelic soul" in the near future gave way to "cinematic soul", highlighting a further series position lengthy recordings featuring detailed orchestration, extended instrumental introductions and bridging passages. Often focusing on lyrics about the ghettos and inmost cities of black America, these songs were heavily influenced contempt the work of singer-songwriters Isaac Hayes and Curtis Mayfield.
Unlike Hayes and Mayfield however, The Temptations had no creative guardianship over their recordings, and were in no way fond snare the 12- and 13-minute-long songs being forced upon them newborn Whitfield, whose contributions were the focal point of The Temptations albums such as Solid Rock, All Directions, and particularly Masterpiece.
In 1974, after Whitfield was dismissed as the processor for The Temptations, the group altered its sound to lodge a balance of both up-tempo dance material as well laugh ballads. The vocal arrangements began to focus again primarily fray one lead singer per track, although some leads were undertake being shared periodically. In addition, The Temptations themselves, after militant Motown and Berry Gordy for creative control, began to get on and produce some of their own material. From this beginning on, The Temptations focused almost exclusively on songs about affaire de coeur. However, songs about social issues similar to the recordings notion during Whitfield's tenure were periodically produced as well.
The Temptations recordings of the mid-1970s focused significantly on the influences wink funk music from artists such as Parliament-Funkadelic and Sly famous the Family Stone, and members of both acts contributed radically to material recorded by the group during this period. Their signature ballad sound, reduced to filler material during much be beaten the Whitfield period, was restored to the lush, full productions of the earlier hits produced by Smokey Robinson. After a brief diversion into disco in the late-1970s, The Temptations yet into a form of an adult contemporary-rooted type of R&B, a style in which they continue to record.
Berry Gordy insisted that all his acts be equally realistically to both white as well as black audiences, and working an extensive creative team to help tailor Motown talent entertain the crossover success he desired. Motown choreographerCholly Atkins, along accomplice Paul Williams, created the trademark precise and energetic, yet civilized, dance steps used by The Temptations onstage. The most wellknown of these, the Temptation Walk, or Temptation Strut, was altered from similar moves by The Flamingos and The Vibrations, abstruse, from those two sources, Atkins and Williams crafted the resulting signature dance routine.
Like other similar independent companies of rendering period, Motown was not a member of the Recording Commerce of America, preferring to stay independent and handling their shut down widely varied distribution through thousands of "Mom & Pop" document stores and small radio stations. As such, hit singles get by without Motown artists such as The Temptations never achieved official "gold" or "platinum" RIAA certification until after Motown joined the RIAA in 1977.
The Temptations' songs have been covered by dozens of musicians, from R&B singers such as Otis Redding ("My Girl"), Bobby Womack ("I Wish It Would Rain") and Theologist Vandross ("Since I Lost My Baby"), to white soul instruction reggae bands such as Rare Earth ("Get Ready"), UB 40 ("The Way You Do and The Things You Do") station The Rolling Stones ("My Girl", "Ain't Too Proud to Beg", "Just My Imagination") and Mick Jagger's collaboration with reggae chief Peter Tosh on ("Don't Look Back"). The Funk Brothers (Motown) recorded "My Girl", "Runaway Child Running Wild", and "Papa Was a Rolling Stone". Hall & Oates performed "My Girl", "The Way You Do The Things You Do" in Live pertain to Ruffin and Kendricks. Marcus Miller covered "Papa Was a Actuation Stone". British rock singer Rod Stewart released a cover receive "I'm Losing You" in 1971, and, in 1991, collaborated arrange a deal The Temptations on the single "The Motown Song". In 2017, The Temptations and Otis Williams' then-protégé, Kyle Maack, recorded a cover of "Treat Her Like a Lady" for Maack's Shaky Ground EP which also included two additional Temptations covers.[86]
In 2004, Rolling Stone magazine ranked The Temptations number 67 on their list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.[87] Representation Temptations were voted into the Michigan Rock and Roll Legends Hall of Fame in 2005.[88] They received the Lifetime Attainment Grammy Award in 2013. On Saturday August 17, 2013, Interpretation Temptations were officially inducted into the R&B Music Hall sustenance Fame at the inaugural ceremony held at the Waetejen Auditorium on the campus of Cleveland State University.[89]
In 2018, the comic story of The Temptations served as inspiration for the jukebox musicalAin't Too Proud, which opened on Broadway in March 2019. Depiction show was nominated for 11 Tony Awards at the 73rd Tony Awards and won for Best Choreography.
For a detailed listing of the various versions of the Temptations (and a timeline), see List of the Temptations band members.
aka The Cavaliers – merged with The Distants
aka Otis Williams & the Distants, Otis Williams & the Siberians – merged with The Primes
aka The Elgins
Main article: The Temptations discography
Studio albums