The Temptations

The Temptations

The Temptations are an American vocal group from Detroit, Michigan, who released a series of successful singles and albums with Motown Records during the 1960s to mid 1970s. The group's work with producer Norman Whitfield, beginning with the Top 10 hit single "Cloud Nine" in October 1968, pioneered psychedelic soul, and was significant in the evolution of R&B and soul music. The band members are known for their choreography, distinct harmonies, and dress style. Having sold tens of millions of albums, the Temptations are among the most successful groups in popular music.

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Eddie Kendricks and Paul Williams started singing together in church as children in Birmingham, Alabama. By their teenage years, they formed a doo-wop quartet in 1955 with Kell Osborne and Wiley Waller, naming themselves the Cavaliers. After Waller left the group in 1957, the remaining trio left Birmingham to break into the music business. The group settled in Detroit where they changed their name to the Primes under the direction of Milton Jenkins. The Primes soon became well known around the Detroit area for their meticulous performances. Jenkins later created a sister group, the Primettes, later known as the Supremes. Kendricks was already seen as a "matinee idol" in the Detroit area, while Williams was well received for his baritone vocals.

The Primes

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Texas teenager Otis Williams moved to Detroit as a youngster to be with his mother. By 1958, Williams was the leader of a vocal group named Otis Williams and the Siberians. The group recorded a song, "Pecos Kid" for a label run by radio deejay Senator Bristol Bryant. Shortly after its release, the group changed its name to The El Domingoes. Signing with Johnnie Mae Matthews' Northern Records, the group had their name changed again to the Distants. The group recorded two Northern singles including "Come On" (1959) and "Alright" (1960). "Come On" became a local hit, and the Warwick Records label picked the record up for national distribution. Following the release of "Alright", the group's name was changed to Otis Williams & The Distants. Though "Come On" was a local hit in the Detroit area, the Distants never saw much record sales, and "Alright" was not as successful. After receiving an offer from Berry Gordy to sign with Motown Records, the Distants got out of their contract with Northern Records.

The Distants

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The Temptations

The original name for the new lineup of Otis Williams, Melvin Franklin, Elbridge "Al" Bryant, Eddie Kendricks, and Paul Williams was the Elgins. Under that name, the group auditioned for Motown in March 1961. Already impressed with some of the members after hearing session work, Berry Gordy agreed to sign the group to the Motown imprint, Miracle. However, before signing, Gordy discovered another group was using the name of Elgins. The group began tossing about ideas for a new name on the steps of the Hitsville U.S.A. studio. On a suggestion from Miracle Records employee Billy Mitchell, songwriter Mickey Stevenson, and group members Otis Williams and Paul Williams, the Temptations became the group's new moniker.

Early Work

Motown, recording company founded by Berry Gordy, Jr., in Detroit, Michigan, U.S., in January 1959 that became one of the most successful Black-owned businesses and one of the most influential independent record companies in American history. The company gave its name to the hugely popular style of soul music that it created.Following an attempt at a professional boxing career and a stint in the army during the Korean War, Gordy entered the music business. He briefly owned a jazz record store, but his true love was songwriting. Although he could not read music, he demonstrated an unerring ability to gauge whether a song had the elements of popular appeal. Before forming Motown, Gordy tried to make it as an independent songwriter and record producer, cowriting hit songs for Jackie Wilson, another former boxer and Detroiter, and Marv Johnson. Despite his success, Gordy remained on the fringes of the popular music business, making very little money, until he discovered William (“Smokey”) Robinson, a Detroit high schooler with a soothing falsetto and an ear for sweet lyrics.Motown’s roster included several successful solo acts, such as Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder (a star as both a child and an adult), and Mary Wells. In addition to the Miracles, who notched Motown’s first million-selling single, “Shop Around” (1960), there were several young singing groups, including the Temptations, Martha and the Vandellas, and the Marvelettes. There also were a number of somewhat older groups that scored big, such as the Four Tops, the Contours, and Junior Walker and the All-Stars.

What is Motown?

"Classic Five" Members

Melvin Franklin

David Ruffin

Ottis Williams

Eddie Kendricks

Paul Williams

Current Temptations Members

2022

1997

Jawan M Jackson

2021

Tony Grant

Terry Weeks

1983

Ron Tyson

1960

Ottis Williams

Ali-Ollie Woodson (1984–87, 1989–1996, 2002)Theo Peoples (1993–1998) Ray Davis (1994–1995) (d. 2005) Harry McGilberry (1995–2003) (d. 2006) Barrington "Bo" Henderson (1998–2003) G. C. Cameron (2003–2007, 2019) Joe Herndon (2003–2015) Bruce Williamson (2007–2015) (d. 2020) Larry Braggs (2015–2019)Willie Greene (2015–2022)Mario Corbino (2020–2021)

Melvin Franklin (1960–1994) (d. 1995) Eddie Kendricks (1960–1971, 1982 reunion) (d. 1992) Paul Williams (1960–1971) (d. 1973) Elbridge "Al" Bryant (1960–1964) (d. 1975) David Ruffin (1964–1968, 1982 reunion) (d. 1991) Dennis Edwards (1968–1977, 1980–1984, 1987–1989) (d. 2018) Richard Street (1971–1993) (d. 2013) Ricky Owens (1971) (d. 1996) Damon Harris (1971–1975) (d. 2013) Glenn Leonard (1975–1983) Louis Price (1977–1980)

Former Members

The Temptations Today

The Temptations are still touring today, charging $42 - $214 a ticket.

Ottis Williams is worth $9 million

Earned in 2023

$76.2K

Their Greatist Hits Record in 1966 was their highest selling

Albums Sold

13,922,220

1960-Today

In 1998 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 the group's history from 1958 to 1968, and the second part the years from 1968 to 1995. The miniseries was a ratings success and was nominated for five Emmy Awards, with Allan Arkush winning for Best Direction. it was subsequently rerun on the VH-1 cable television network and released to VHS and DVD.

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AIN'T TOO PROUD is the electrifying new musical that follows The Temptations' extraordinary journey from the streets of Detroit to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. With their signature dance moves and unmistakable harmonies, they rose to the top of the charts creating an amazing 42 Top Ten Hits with 14 reaching number one. The rest is history — how they met, the groundbreaking heights they hit and how personal and political conflicts threatened to tear the group apart as the United States fell into civil unrest. This thrilling story of brotherhood, family, loyalty and betrayal is set to the beat of the group's treasured hits, including “My Girl,” “Just My Imagination,” “Get Ready,” “Papa Was a Rolling Stone” and so many more.

Broadway

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Motown records were mixed to have a thumping backbeat that made dancing easy, and the label's style was a combination of social ballroom dance and the cha-cha. Motown's music was also intended to appeal to a wide audience, including teenagers, and to be the "Sound of Young America".

Dancing

The Temptations were not trained dancers. At first, they didn’t think of themselves as dancers at all. “We would just stand and sing, or sit and sing,” Mr. Williams, 77, recalled over the phone. Paul Williams, who died in 1973, did give the Temptations their first moves. In 1965, though, they started working with a professional choreographer: Cholly Atkins. In his 2001 autobiography, “Class Act” (written with Jacqui Malone), Mr. Atkins says that Motown artists were often told to say that they did their own choreography. He was part of the behind-the-scenes operation.

Berry Gordy insisted that all his acts be equally appealing to both white as well as black audiences, and employed an extensive creative team to help tailor Motown talent for the crossover success he desired. Motown choreographer Cholly Atkins, along with Paul Williams, created the trademark precise and energetic, yet refined, dance steps used by the Temptations onstage. The most famous of these, the Temptation Walk, or Temptation Strut, was adapted from similar moves by the Flamingos and the Vibrations, from those two sources, Atkins and Williams crafted the resulting signature dance routine.

Temptation Walk

Grammy Awards: The Temptations have won five Grammy Awards, including the Recording Academy's Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award in 2013. Their song "Cloud Nine" was Motown's first Grammy win. Their songs "My Girl" and "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" were inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998 and 1999, respectively. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: Six members of the Temptations were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989. Billboard Hot 100: The Temptations had four number-one singles on the Billboard Hot 100. R&B singles chart: The Temptations had 14 number-one singles on the R&B singles chart. Gold, Platinum, and Multi-Platinum awards: The Temptations have won more than 50 of these awards. Emmy Awards: The Temptations have been nominated for six Emmy Awards and won one.

Recognitions

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