A
SONG
TEMPTATIONS
FOR
YOU
- THE TEMPTATIONS
- ELBRIDGE "AL" BRYANT
- DENNIS EDWARDS
- MELVIN FRANKLIN
- DAMON HARRIS
- EDDIE KENDRICK
- LAWRENCE PAYTON
- THEO PEOPLES
- DAVID RUFFIN
- RICHARD STREET
- PAUL WILLIAMS
- ALI-OLLIE WOODSON
Current and Former Personnel:
The voice who led the Temptations on some of their most memorable hits (Just My Imagination), Eddie Kendricks went solo in 1971 and initially had two gigantic hits, 'Keep on Truckin' and "Boogie Down," before hitting a dry spell. He left Motown for Arista (1978) and Atlantic (1981) and teamed up with another former Tempt, David Ruffin for a series of memorable appearances, most notably with another duo, Hall and Oates. He died:
DAVID RUFFIN (1964-68)
Replaced original member Temptation member, Elbridge Bryant. David Ruffin left the Temptations to pursue a solo career and eventually left Motown for Warner Brothers in 1979. He is mostly remembered for the #1 hit single, 'Walk Away From Love' which is considered by many music critics as Motown's most potent heartbreak song.
DAMON HARRIS (Eddie's 1st replacement)
Damon came from "Impact", in 1971 and went back to them in 1976. Damon sang lead on 'Papa Was A Rolling Stone'. His solo career never went big.
Originally from The Contours, Dennis Edwards went solo when the group left Motown in 1977. Louis Price replaced him. When the Temptations returned to Motown in 1980, Dennis briefly rejoined before leaving the group again for a solo career. Ali-Ollie Woodson replaced him as lead singer. As a soloist, Dennis is most remembered for a now classic Motown tune that he sang with Siedah Garrett (also known as Michael Jackson's partner on 'I Just Can't Stop Loving You'), "Don't Look Any Further," which also became a giant hit for rock legend, Robert Palmer and again, for the Kane Gang.
Original member. He was shot during a carjacking in 1978 and injuries from that shooting plagued him the rest of his life and later, contributed to his death. He missed the Temptations first tour of Poland.
Paul's constant drinking led to his ouster from the group. After finding out he had sickle cell anemia, he shot himself to death, in 1973, in his car, across from the Motown studios.
Died of liver cancer
The former Temptation joined the Four Tops at the beginning of 2000 as a replacement for original member Lawrence Payton, who died in 1997.
Although Otis and "Al" were close, Al just didn't want to be in the group as they built to success. He didn't want to learn the steps, didn't want to be far from home, etc. He finally acted out and smashed Paul in the face; which forced his ouster from the group and he disappeared.
Richard originally was a member of The Monitors.
Sang lead on "Treat Here Like A Lady" and "Special".
The Temptations got their start as The Pirates before they changed their name to the Primes.
When they left Motown they recorded albums for Atlantic: "Hear To Tempt You" 1977 and "Bareback' 1979. On those albums, Louis Price sang lead in Dennis Edwards' place. Louis Price vanished, until he recorded a 1991 solo album, for Polygram/Motown.
In 1987, Hall & Oates, who were big fans of the Motown sound, asked David Ruffin & Eddie Kendrick (he lost the "s" to Motown) to tour with them which resulted in a memorable hit album, "Live...At the Apollo Theatre," It's success gave Ruffin and Kendrick a record deal at RCA which resulted in the self-titled, "Ruffin & Kendrick". But RCA soon dropped the duo after it failed on the charts. But they would make an appearance on the historic "Sun City" apartheid song along with Bruce Springsteen and other popular artists.
Meanwhile, Dennis Edwards replaced Ali in 1987, for the The Temptations "Together Again" album. Ali was allegedly booted from the group for doing drugs.
But in 1988, Dennis was kicked out for alleged drug use and Ali came back. Dennis re-joined David Ruffin and Eddie Kendrick in a rival fake group of Tempts with two other backup singers.
Dennis Edwards and Richard Street (who retired from the real group, in 1995) lead another fake groups. Dennis who previously formed, "The New Temptations" and "The Temptations Revue" now led "The Knewtemps."
As the Distants, the pre-Temptations group, recorded a song titled: "Pecos Kid" in 1956. An extremely rare, little known collector's gem. This predates the Northern records recording of 'Come On'/ 'Always' that is usually listed as their first-ever record.
On the Motortown Revue Vol.2, Former Tempt, Elbridge "Al" Bryant takes a solo turn on "I Want A Love I Can See." David Ruffin later took over that spot in the show long before "My Girl" was ever out - and that was how Smokey got to really hear his voice and think of "My Girl" as a vehicle for him.
TEMPTATIONS' 56th ALBUM IS THEIR 1ST RIAA PLATINUM
GROUP TO BE HONORED AT MADISON SQUARE GARDEN
(New York, New York) Having won a 1999 Emmy, a 1999 Soul Train Award and a
1999 NAACP Image Award, the legendary Temptations are now honored by the group's first ever officially RIAA certified PLATINUM album, 1998's PHOENIX
RISING. Motown officials will honor the group during their concert performance at Madison Square Garden Theater on Friday, October 22, 1999.
In addition to the awards won, the success of PHOENIX RISING earned the group 2 Grammy nominations. The first single from PHOENIX RISING, "Stay"
spent 11 consecutive weeks at number one on Billboard Monitor's Urban/Adult Contemporary chart.
At a private, celebrity-filled party following the show at Madison Square Garden, The Temptations will be presented with a special custom made plaque
representing the GOLD and PLATINUM RIAA certification of more than 30 never previously RIAA certified albums and singles.
The Temptations earned a new generation of fans with the NBC mini-series, "The Temptations." The fall 1998 de Passe Entertainment project that traced
the group's career from the '50s through the '90s won a 1999 Emmy and was nominated for 2 Golden Globes. The two-part miniseries became one of the
network's highest-rated programs for the week, finishing in the top 10 on both nights (and number one in its time period).
In January 2000, the Temptations will celebrate their 40th year in existence. 19 men have had the honor and distinction of being Temptations.
With the current roster of Ron Tyson, Harry McGilberry, Terry Weeks, Barrington Henderson and original founding member Otis Williams, the legend
continues.
JUST MY IMAGINATION (RUNNING AWAY WITH ME)
MASTERPIECE
MY GIRL
PAPA WAS A ROLLING STONE
SINCE I LOST MY BABY
STANDING ON SHAKY GROUND
STAY
TREAT HER LIKE A LADY
 |
 |
 |
|
| Next Page | Diana Ross/Supremes | Diana Ross | The Supremes |
This page is always under:
E-MAIL ME:
