The Temptations

For the earlier vocal group of "Barbara" fame, seeThe Temptations (New York vocal group).

The Temptations
The "Classic 5" lineup of the Temptations in 1967. Clockwise from top:David Ruffin,Melvin Franklin,Otis Williams,Eddie Kendricks,andPaul Williams.
Background information
Also known as	The Elgins, The Pirates
Origin	Detroit,Michigan, U.S.
Genres	R&B soul funk progressive soul psychedelic soul
Years active	1960–present
Labels	Motown Gordy Miracle Warwick UAR Capitol Atlantic New Door
Members	Otis Williams Ron Tyson Terry Weeks Tony Grant Jawan M. Jackson
Past members	Melvin Franklin Eddie Kendricks Paul Williams Elbridge "Al" Bryant David Ruffin Dennis Edwards Ricky Owens Richard Street Damon Harris Glenn Leonard Louis Price Ali-Ollie Woodson Theo Peoples Ray Davis Harry McGilberry Barrington "Bo" Henderson G. C. Cameron Joe Herndon Bruce Williamson Larry Braggs Willie Greene Mario Corbino
Website	www.temptationsofficial.com

The Temptationsare an American vocal group fromDetroit,Michigan, who released a series of successful singles and albums withMotown Recordsduring the 1960s to mid 1970s. The group's work with producerNorman Whitfield,beginning with the Top 10 hitsingle"Cloud Nine"in October 1968, pioneeredpsychedelic soul,and was significant in the evolution ofR&Bandsoul 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 inpopular music.

Featuring five male vocalists and dancers (save for brief periods with fewer or more members), the group formed in 1960 inDetroitunder the namethe Elgins.The founding members came from two rival Detroit vocal groups:Otis Williams,Elbridge "Al" Bryant, andMelvin Franklinof Otis Williams & the Distants, andEddie KendricksandPaul Williamsof the Primes. In 1964, Bryant was replaced byDavid Ruffin,who was the lead vocalist on a number of the group's biggest hits, including "My Girl"(1964),"Ain't Too Proud to Beg"(1966), and"I Wish It Would Rain"(1967).Ruffin was replaced in 1968 byDennis Edwards,with whom the group continued to record hit records such as "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 in 1971, with subsequent members including Richard Street,Damon Harris,Glenn Leonard, Ron Tyson, andAli-Ollie Woodson,the last of whom was the lead singer on late-period hit "Treat Her Like a Lady"in 1984 and the theme song for the children's movement programKids in Motionin 1987.

Over the course of their career, the Temptations released fourBillboardHot 100number-one singles and fourteenR&B number-one singles.Their music has earned fourGrammy Awards.The Temptations were the first Motown recording act to win a Grammy Award – for "Cloud Nine" in 1969– and in 2013 received theGrammy Lifetime Achievement Award.Six of the Temptations (Edwards, Franklin, Kendricks, Ruffin, Otis Williams and Paul Williams) wereinductedinto theRock and Roll Hall of Famein 1989. Three classic Temptations songs, "My Girl", "Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)",and"Papa Was a Rollin' Stone",are amongThe Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll.The Temptations were ranked at number 68 onRolling Stonemagazine's list of the 100 Greatest Artists of all time. They were the first Motown artist to receive a Grammy Award and a Lifetime Achievement Award (which they gained in 2014).

In 2023, the Temptations were ranked as the #1 artist on the Top 100 Greatest R&B/Hip-Hop Artists Of All Time according toBillboardmagazine.

As of 2024,the Temptations continue to perform with founderOtis Williamsin the lineup (Williams owns the rights to the Temptations name).

History

Origins

Eddie Kendricks and Paul Williams started singing together in church as children inBirmingham, Alabama.By their teenage years, they formed a doo-wop quartet in 1955 withKell Osborneand 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 asthe Supremes.Kendricks was already seen as a "matinee idol" in the Detroit area, while Williams was well received for his baritone vocals.

Meanwhile, concurrently,Texasteenager 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 included Elbridge "Al" Bryant, James "Pee-Wee" Crawford, Vernard Plain and Arthur Walton. 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. Subsequently,Montgomerynative Melvin Franklin replaced Arthur Walton as bass vocalist and Detroit-born Richard Street (claimed by Melvin Franklin to be his cousin)replaced Vernard Plain as lead singer. Signing withJohnnie 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).Between these releases, Albert "Mooch" Harrell replaced Pee-Wee Crawford. "Come On" became a local hit, and the Warwick Records label picked the record up for national distribution.Following the release of "Alright", Matthews appointed Williams the group leader, and the group's name was changed to Otis Williams & The Distants.During this period, both the Primes and Distants were influenced by other vocal groups includingthe Miracles.Other inspirations included theCadillacs,Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers,the Drifters,andthe Isley Brothers.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 fromBerry Gordyto sign withMotown Records,the Distants got out of their contract with Northern Records. However, Mooch Harrell and Richard Street shortly departed from the group and the remaining members lost use of the Distants name. Richard Street later formed another Distants group who recorded for the Thelma label in the early 1960s.

Early years

A promotional image of the original early 1960s Temptations lineup. Clockwise from top right: Otis Williams, Paul Williams, Melvin Franklin, Eddie Kendricks, and Elbridge "Al" Bryant.

Members of the Distants were acquainted with the Primes, as both groups participated in the same talent shows and performed at the same public venues. Friendly rivals, the Primes were considered to be the more polished and vocally stronger group of the two. However, the Primes disbanded in 1960 after Kell Osborne moved to California. Eddie Kendricks and Paul Williams returned to Alabama following the band's dissolution. While visiting relatives in Detroit, Kendricks called Otis Williams, who desperately needed two more members for an audition for Gordy's label and offered Kendricks a lead singer place in his new group, which would also include fellow former Distants members Franklin and Bryant. Kendricks agreed on the condition he bring Paul Williams with him. Otis Williams happily agreed, and Kendricks and Paul Williams moved back to Detroit to join the new group.

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 theHitsville U.S.A.studio. On a suggestion from Miracle Records employee Billy Mitchell, songwriterMickey Stevenson,and group members Otis Williams and Paul Williams, the Temptations became the group's new moniker.The "Elgins" name re-surfaced at Motown in 1965, when Gordy renamed a quartet called the Downbeats asthe Elgins.

The Temptations' first two singles, "Oh Mother of Mine"and"Check Yourself",with Paul Williams on lead, were released on Miracle before Gordy closed the label down and reassigned the band to his latest imprint, Gordy Records. On the Gordy imprint, Eddie Kendricks sang lead on the Temptations' first charted single,"(You're My) Dream Come True",which peaked at number 22 on the R&B chart in 1962. Later that year, the Temptations began touring as part of theMotortown Revue.The group issued eight recordings between 1961 and 1963 without much success.

Paul Williams and Eddie Kendricks split the leads during this early period, with Al Bryant, Otis Williams, and Melvin Franklin occasionally singing lead, as they did on a song titled "Isn't She Pretty". For a brief time, the group almost had their name changed to the Pirates, and recorded the songs "Mind Over Matter" and "I'll Love You Till I Die" under that name. Eventually the label and the group decided against it. One hit song, "Do You Love Me",was originally to be recorded by the Temptations. When he couldn't get in contact with the group, Gordy produced a version forthe Contours.In 1963, the Temptations began working withSmokey Robinsonas producer and writer. Robinson's first work with the group was the Paul Williams-led "I Want a Love I Can See".While the song failed to chart, it did eventually become a popular live performance spot for the group and particularly for Paul Williams in general. Some called the group" the Hitless Temptations "due to their lack of hits.

During this time,David Ruffinbegan following the group around as he aspired to join them. During a local Detroit performance, Ruffin joined the group onstage and impressed the group with his vocal talent and dancing skills.Following that same time, Al Bryant had grown frustrated with the group's lack of success and became restless and uncooperative, preferring the mundane routine of his day job as a milkman over the rigors of rehearsal and performing. After a second altercation onstage at aChristmasperformance, following an incident where he struck Paul with a beer bottle during a heated quarrel at an earlier gig in the middle of the year, Bryant was summarily fired from the group. As a result,David Ruffinwas brought in as his replacement in January 1964.Though Ruffin's brotherJimmywas also considered for the slot, David was selected following his performance with them in 1963.

Bryant continued to perform in a number of other local groups and died at the age of 36 inFlagler County, Florida,ofliver cirrhosison October 26, 1975.

"Classic Five" Era

The Temptations then 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 to as the "Classic Five" lineup. InJanuary 1964,Smokey Robinson and Miracles bandmateBobby Rogersco-wrote and produced "The Way You Do the Things You Do"with Eddie Kendricks on lead and the single became the Temptations' first Top 20 hit that April.

Shortly afterward, "The Way You Do The Things You Do" and several pre-David Ruffin singles were compiled into the group's first album,Meet the Temptations,released in early 1964. The next two Temptations singles in 1964, "Girl (Why You Wanna Make Me Blue)"along with"I'll Be in Trouble"and itsB-side"The Girl's Alright with Me",all featured Kendricks on lead (although Franklin sang one line in" I'll Be in Trouble "). However, producer Smokey Robinson saw potential in the" mellow yet gruff "voice of David Ruffin, and thought that if he could write the perfect song for his lead, then the group could have a Top 10 hit.

While traveling as part of Motown'sMotortown Revuelater that year, Robinson and fellow Miracles memberRonnie Whitewrote "My Girl",which the Temptations recorded in the fall of 1964 with Ruffin singing his first lead vocal for the group. Released as a single on December 21, 1964, the song became the Temptations' first number-one pop hit inMarch 1965.Over 50 years and multiple chart topping songs later, it is still their signature song to this day.

After the success of "My Girl", Ruffin sang lead on the next three singles: "It's Growing","Since I Lost My Baby",and"My Baby",which all made it to the Top 20 in 1965. TheB-sideto "My Baby", "Don't Look Back",featured a stirring lead from Paul Williams, and was asleeper hiton the R&B charts and a standard for vocal group playlists.

Norman Whitfield had requested the opportunity 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, and Gordy issued the Whitfield-produced"Ain't Too Proud to Beg",with David Ruffin on lead, as the next single." Ain't Too Proud to Beg "outperformed" Get Ready "on theBillboardcharts, and Whitfield became the Temptations' new main producer. He began pulling the group away from theballad-based productions espoused by Robinson, toward a harder-edged andbrass-heavy soul sound reminiscent ofJames Brown.

Nearly all singles Whitfield produced prior to 1968 featured David Ruffin on lead, including the R&B number-one/pop Top 10 hits "Beauty Is Only Skin Deep","(I Know) I'm Losing You"and the early 1967 hit "(Loneliness Made Me Realize) It's You That I Need".Other important singles from this period include"All I Need",produced byFrank Wilson,a Whitfield protégé, and the "You're My Everything",on which Kendricks and Ruffin share lead. Studio albums during the" Classic Five "period apart fromMeet the TemptationsincludeThe Temptations Sing Smokey(1965),The Temptin' Temptations(1965),Gettin' Ready(1966),The Temptations with a Lot o' Soul(1967), andThe Temptations Wish It Would Rain(1968).

During this period, the various songwriting partners of Norman Whitfield includedRoger Penzabene,Edward Holland, Jr.,and Temptations road show manager and guitaristCornelius Grant.Subsequently,Barrett Strong,who sang the first hit at Motown in 1959, "Money (That's What I Want)",began working with Whitfield and Penzabene on Temptations material after Eddie Holland left Motown with the rest of theHolland-Dozier-Hollandsongwriting/production team in 1967. Two of the Whitfield-Strong-Penzabene collaborations, "I Wish It Would Rain"and"I Could Never Love Another (After Loving You)",became hits in early 1968 after thesuicideof Roger Penzabene in December 1967. Subsequently, Barrett Strong became the sole collaborator of Norman Whitfield.

From early 1964 to mid 1968, the Temptations went from unknown hopefuls to international stars and as a result, appeared frequently on television shows such asAmerican Bandstand,The Ed Sullivan Show,andThe Hollywood Palace.At the same time, the group began to achieve a crossover success, 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 famousCopacabanainNew York Cityalong with dates at other similar supper clubs. Outside of music, the Temptations were made honorary members ofPhi Beta Sigmafraternity.

David Ruffin's departure and Dennis Edwards' arrival

By 1967, David Ruffin had begun demanding special treatment as lead singer, riding to and from gigs in a privatemink-linedlimousinewith his then-girlfriend, Motown singerTammi Terrell,instead of the group limousine used by the other four Temptations. The other members slowly became irritated and annoyed with Ruffin's behavior. Following Motown's decision to rechristenthe SupremesasDiana Ross & the SupremesandMartha & the VandellasasMartha Reeves & the Vandellas,Ruffin felt entitled to the same treatment and demanded that his group be renamed as well, toDavid Ruffin & the Temptations.Ruffin was also causing friction with Berry Gordy by demanding an accounting of the group's earnings;Motown partially acquiesced by allowing the Temptations to retain an outside accounting firm, but the firm did not have full access to the books from the Temptations' manager, International Talent Management, Inc. – a subsidiary of Motown.

Some of this behavior was attributed to the fact that by this time Ruffin had begun usingcocaineregularly, building further 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 needed to be replaced. When Ruffin missed a June 1968 engagement at a Cleveland supper club in order to attend a show by his new girlfriend, Barbara Gail Martin (daughter of Dean Martin),the group decided that he had crossed the line. The other four Temptations drew up legal documentation, officially firing Ruffin on June 27, 1968.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,was hired to take Ruffin's place.

Edwards and Ruffin were good friends, and at first, Ruffin accepted his dismissal and encouraged Edwards. However, at Edwards' official debut with the Temptations inValley Forge, Pennsylvania,on July 7, Ruffin came to the show and jumped onstage, taking the microphone from Edwards, singing lead on "Ain't Too Proud to Beg", and disappearing as quickly as he had appeared.Ruffin repeated this stunt several times throughout the group's July tour run. Despite the group hiring extra security to keep Ruffin out, he continued to find ways to sneak into the venue and jump onstage when the group performed one of the songs he had once sung lead on.

In a story recounted several times by Dennis Edwards,(rebutted by Otis Williams and Temptations road manager Don Foster),after several of these stunts, the positive audience reactions and a remorseful Ruffin's pleas to be let back into the act convinced the other Temptations to do so. Otis Williams informed the then still-new Edwards that the group would lay him off and rehire Ruffin while inGaithersburg, Maryland.However, when Ruffin failed to show up on time the next night for his "return" engagement, the group kept Edwards on and ceased to entertain the prospect of rehiring Ruffin.

After Gaithersburg, Ruffin stopped attempting to disrupt the Temptations' concerts and instead turned his attention to the Motown offices back in Detroit. He sued Motown in October 1968, seeking a release from the label, but Motown countersued to keep the singer from leaving and the case was eventually settled out of court.The settlement required Ruffin to remain with Motown as a solo artist to finish out his contract.

Edwards' first album with the Temptations wasLive at the Copa,recorded at the group's return to the Copacabana nightclub. The Temptations debuted the first of a number of collaborations with Diana Ross & the Supremes in 1968. The results included two studio albums: 1968'sDiana Ross & the Supremes Join The Temptations,which featured Edwards's first studio recordings with the group and the number-two hit single "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me"and"Together".There was also a joint tour and twoNBCtelevision specials,TCB(aired December 9, 1968) andG.I.T. on Broadway(aired November 12, 1969).

Psychedelic soul

The Temptations perform onThe Ed Sullivan Showin September 1969. Left to right:Otis Williams,Melvin Franklin,Eddie Kendricks,Paul Williams,andDennis Edwards.

The addition of Dennis Edwards to the Temptations coincided with the adoption of a new sound for the group by producer Norman Whitfield, and in the fall of 1968, Whitfield began producingpsychedelic-based material for the Temptations, derived primarily from the sound offunkbandsSly & the Family StoneandFunkadelic.This new style, which debuted with the Top 10 hit single "Cloud Nine"in October 1968, was a marked departure from the David Ruffin-era ballads. The instrumentation wasfunkier,the beat was hard-driving, and all five Temptations traded lead vocals, similar to Sly & the Family Stone. "Cloud Nine", the centerpiece of the group's landmarkCloud NineLP, was a Top 10 hit and won Motown its firstGrammy Award,forBest R&B Vocal Group Performanceof 1969.

The blending of the Motown sound and psychedelic rock sound resulted in a new subgenre of music calledpsychedelic soul,also evident in the work of Diana Ross and the Supremes ( "Reflections","Love Child"), Marvin Gaye's version of"I Heard It Through the Grapevine",and music ofthe 5th Dimension,the Undisputed Truth,andthe 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 number 33 Pop in the fall of 1970. The group's other important albums from this period includedPuzzle People(1969) andPsychedelic Shack(1970).Psychedelic Shackincludes the original version of "War",later made famous byEdwin Starr.

Eddie Kendricks and Paul Williams

Paul Williams, who suffered fromsickle-cell disease,fell intodepressionbecause of the stress of touring and personal issues. By the late 1960s, he had developed a serious case ofalcoholism.Having never previously consumed anything stronger than milk, he began to drink quite heavily, and it was hard to take, according to Otis Williams.As his physical and mental health began to decline sharply, it made performing increasingly difficult. Williams began traveling with oxygen tanks,and the other four Temptations made valiant efforts to raid and drain his alcohol stashes.

In late 1969, Richard Street, lead singer of Motown act theMonitorsand a former Distant, was hired by Otis Williams to tour with the group as a backup replacement for Williams.For most shows, save for his solo numbers, Williams danced andlip-syncedon stage to parts sung live by Street into an offstage mic behind a curtain. At other shows, and during most of the second half of 1970, Street substituted for Williams on stage when he was too sick to go on.

Eddie Kendricks became detached from the group after David Ruffin's firing and as the health of Paul Williams continued to fail. He regularly picked fights with Otis Williams and Melvin Franklin, which often became violent, and in addition, he preferred the ballad material from the earlier days and was uncomfortable with the psychedelic soul material the group was now performing. Kendricks rekindled his friendship with Ruffin, who persuaded him to go solo. He no longer felt he had a say in Otis Williams's handling of the group and was also convinced Motown's handling of the Temptations' finances was cheating the group out of money.Kendricks, being the only member to continue an alliance with Ruffin, also repeatedly suggested that Ruffin should be allowed back into the group, despite the other members' strong 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 go over all group finances with independent accountants.Otis Williams and Franklin strongly opposed this idea, and regular group infighting between Kendricks, Otis Williams, and Franklin grew from this disagreement.After a November 1970 Copacabana engagement, a final confrontation between the three caused Kendricks to walk out in-between shows and not return. Both Kendricks and Williams then agreed that Kendricks would be leaving the group.Kendricks later stated that he actually considered leaving as early as 1965, but remained with the Temptations and unsuccessfully attempted to get permission to record a solo album without leaving the group.

Before Kendricks officially left the Temptations, he and Paul Williams recorded the lead vocals for "Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)",a ballad that became Kendricks' final single with the group. Included on theSky's the LimitLP along with the original album version of "Smiling Faces Sometimes","Just My Imagination "was released as a single inJanuary 1971,and the song began steadily climbing the US pop singles chart, peaking at number 1 two months later. By the time "Just My Imagination" topped the charts, Kendricks had negotiated his release from the group and signed a solo deal with Motown's Tamla label.

The Temptations originally hiredRicky Owens,from theLos Angeles-based vocal groupthe Vibrations,to replace Kendricks. However, Owens only played three dates with the group before he was fired for forgetting the words to his solo numbers due to nervousness.For several weeks of the spring of 1971, the Temptations were without a fifth member. Owens meanwhile returned to the Vibrations and died inLos Angeles, California,on December 6, 1996, at the age of 57.

Whitfield took the remaining Temptations quartet and re-recorded "It's Summer", the B-side to "Ball of Confusion (That's What the World Is Today)",as a replacement single." Smiling Faces Sometimes "was released as a single forthe Undisputed Truthinstead, becoming a Top 5 hit on theBillboardHot 100in 1971. Meanwhile, "It's Summer" peaked at number 51 on theBillboardHot 100, making it the first Temptations single to miss the Top 40 since "Farewell My Love"eight years earlier.

After his doctor declared a few weeks later that he was unable to continue performing for medical reasons, Paul Williams quit the Temptations in May.Richard Street officially took Williams's place, although Williams continued to be paid his customary one-fifth of group revenue (Street was paid on salary for the first eighteen months of his tenure),and worked when he could with the group as an adviser and choreographer. After Williams had recovered enough to record again, he recorded two sides in 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 by theWayne Countycoroner.

Early 1970s/funk years

In May 1971, the Temptations finally found a permanent replacement for the first tenor position in twenty-year-oldBaltimorenativeDamon Harris.Otis Williams, Edwards, Franklin, Street, and Harris continued recording and performing, and Norman Whitfield continued producing hits for them. There were Top 40 hits such as "Superstar (Remember How You Got Where You Are)"(1971), a message from the Temptations to David Ruffin and Eddie Kendricks, and" Take a Look Around "(1972). During this period, the group toured withQuiet Eleganceas their back-up singers. Quiet Elegance featuredLois Reeves,the sister ofMartha Reeves,alongside Frankie Gearing and Millie Vaney-Scott.

Late 1972 saw the release of "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone",amagnum opuswritten by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong and produced by Whitfield. Originally a three-minute record written and produced forThe Undisputed Truth,Whitfield took the somber tune and created a sprawling, dramatic twelve-minute version for the Temptations—a forerunner of the extended single, soon to become popular in clubs and discothèques. An edited seven-minute version was released as a single and became one of the longest hit singles in music history: it hit number 1 on the pop charts and number 5 on the R&B charts. In 1973, "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" won the Temptations their second Grammy forBest R&B Performance by a Group.Whitfield and arranger/conductor Paul Riser won the award forBest R&B Instrumental Performancefor the instrumental version on the B-side, and Whitfield and Barrett Strong won the songwriting Grammy forBest 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 of "Papa" led Whitfield to create more elongated, operatic pieces, including the Top 10 hit "Masterpiece"(1973) and several of the tracks on the resultingMasterpiecealbum. Tensions developed between Whitfield and the group, who found Whitfield arrogant and difficult to work with. Citing his habitual tardiness, his emphasis of the instrumental tracks at the expense of their vocals on many of his productions, and the declining singles and albums sales as other sources of conflict, the group sought to change producers.Otis Williams complained about Whitfield's actions and the Temptations' stagnant sales to Berry Gordy; as a result, the group was reassigned toJeffrey Bowen,co-producer of the 1967In a Mellow Moodalbum.

The final Norman Whitfield-produced Temptations album,1990,was released in December 1973, and included the Top 30 single "Let Your Hair Down".Shortly afterwards, Whitfield left Motown, and in 1975 establishedWhitfield Records,taking the Undisputed Truth andWillie Hutchwith him, along withRose Royce---who performed an instrumental track for "Let Your Hair Down" before recording their 1976 smash "Car Wash".

Adult Contemporary

Bowen's first LP with the Temptations wasJanuary 1975'sA Song for You,which included a cover of the titularLeon Russelltune (popularized with soul audiences byDonny Hathaway), along with the pop Top 40/R&B number-one hits "Happy People"(featuring theCommodoresas the instrumentalists) and "Shakey Ground"(featuring instrumentation byParliament-Funkadelic'sEddie Hazelalong withBilly Bass Nelson). "Glasshouse",the group's final Top 40 Pop hit was also included. Damon Harris was fired from the group during the recording ofA Song for You,as his behavior and work ethic were deemed unprofessional,and his replacement wasWashington, D.C.nativeGlenn Leonard,formerly of theUnifics.

A number of producers, including Bowen,Brian Holland,James Anthony Carmichael,and even the Temptations themselves tried producing hits for the next three LPs,House Party(November 1975),Wings of Love(March 1976), andThe Temptations Do the Temptations(August 1976). None of these recordings were as commercially successful asA Song for Youhowever, and none of their associated singles entered the Billboard charts.

As time progressed, Bowen pushed Dennis Edwards further to the front of the group. This was evident onWings of Love,where several tracks featured Edwards' vocal more prominently than the other Temptations' backing vocals.Otis Williams felt that this was hurting the group, accused Motown of inattention, and cited this as the reason for the group's declining sales and popularity. AfterThe Temptations Do the Temptationswas recorded in 1976, Edwards was fired from the group,and with new leadLouis Priceon board, they left Motown forAtlantic Records.

Success continued to elude the group at Atlantic, however. Their two releases on Atlantic –Hear to Tempt You(1977), andBare Back(1978), along with their associated singles, had failed to perform any better at Atlantic than their last handful of singles had at Motown. As a result, in 1979, Atlantic released the group from its contract,and shortly afterwards, the Temptations met once again with Smokey Robinson and Berry Gordy, who re-signed the group to Motown in 1980.

Return to Motown andReunion

Upon the return to Motown several lineup changes occurred. Louis Price departed from the group and joined the Drifters. Dennis Edwards—who had made an unsuccessful attempt at developing a solo career during his three-year exit from the group—returned to the lineup. Berry Gordy co-wrote and produced "Power", the Temptations' first single under the new contract. "Power", from the album of the same name, hit number 11 on the R&B charts but failed to chart in the Top 40. Two years of under-performing singles and albums followed, including an eponymous album withPhiladelphia-based producerThom Bell,until Motown began planning a Temptations reunion tour in 1982.

Eddie Kendricks and David Ruffin agreed to rejoin the group for the new album, aptly titledReunion,and its subsequent promotional tour.Rick James,the Motownfunkstar who had previously used the Temptations as backup vocalists on his 1981 hit "Super Freak"and whom Franklin claimed as his nephew,wrote, produced, and guested on theReunionalbum's lead single, "Standing on the Top".The single went to number-six on the R&B charts and featured Ruffin, Kendricks and Edwards trading back and forth on lead.

While the ensuingReuniontour with all seven Temptations (Ruffin, Kendricks, Otis Williams, Franklin, Edwards, Richard Street, and Glenn Leonard) was financially successful, it ended up being a stressful venture: Kendricks' voice had weakened after decades ofchain smoking,Ruffin (still addicted to drugs) missed a number of the performances due to being incapacitated, and current group members Dennis Edwards and Glenn Leonard were causing problems. At the conclusion of theReuniontour, Ruffin and Kendricks were dismissed, and they began touring and performing together as 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 with the Philadelphia groups the Ethics and Love Committee. Tyson had been a staff songwriter at Atlantic during the Temptations' tenure at that label, and co-wrote several songs on the albumHear to Tempt You.

From the 1980s to the 1990s

By this time, the Temptations' releases were no longer performing well on the pop charts, though some singles still made the R&B Top 20. "Love on My Mind Tonight", a single fromSurface Thrills,charted at number 17.

The lineup of Franklin, Williams, Street, Tyson, and Edwards proved to be short-lived. The five performed onMotown 25and released thedirect to videoThe Temptations: Live in Concert(filmed atHarrah's Atlantic City). The albumBack to Basics,released later in 1983, was the first album featuring Ron Tyson on lead. "Sail Away", produced by a returning Norman Whitfield and featuring Ron Tyson's first lead vocal, peaked at number 13 on the US R&B chart.

In addition, a then-relatively unknown singer/musician,Ali-Ollie Woodsonwas featured on one track, "Stop the World Right Here (I Wanna Get Off)". Woodson was a Detroit native who had been a potential candidate to replace Dennis Edwards back in 1977. Meanwhile, Edwards (who also had his share of lead vocals on theBack to Basicsalbum) was again fired in 1984, for missing rehearsals or showing uphungover.He then attempted a second solo career, scoring a hit with the 1984 single "Don't Look Any Further",a duet withSiedah Garrett.

At this point, Woodson officially joined the group, taking Edwards' place. Woodson's first lead on a single was 1984's "Treat Her Like a Lady",co-written by himself and Otis Williams, and co-produced by formerEarth, Wind & FiremembersAl McKayand Ralph Johnson. The single became their biggest success on R&B radio since 1975, reaching number-two on the R&B charts, and just missing the Pop Top 40 at number 48. The group enjoyed further successes with 1985's "Do You Really Love Your Baby", a number 14 R&B hit co-written by soul starLuther Vandross,and 1986's "Lady Soul", the group's third Top 10 R&B hit of 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 album during Edwards's third tenure,Together Again,released in late 1987. The following year, Otis Williams published his autobiography,Temptations,co-written with Patricia Romanowski, chronicling the careers of the group from the Primes/Distants days and focusing on the lives of Williams and Melvin Franklin. (An updated version of the book was published in 2002.) Together, they worked on the theme song to the children's educational musical movement series,Kids in Motioncreated byGreg & Steve.

Edwards was fired from the group for the third and final time in late 1988, with Woodson re-joining the lineup. In 1989, The Temptations released the albumSpecial,which included the soulful singles "Special" and "Soul to Soul". On January 18, 1989, the Temptations were inducted into theRock and Roll Hall of Fame.The event honored Edwards, Franklin, Otis Williams, David Ruffin, Eddie Kendricks (now performing as "Eddie Kendrick" ), and, posthumously, Paul Williams. Most of the Temptations, present and former, showed no ill feelings towards one another, although Otis Williams reported that Kendricks refused to speak to him during the ceremony.The Temptations ended their induction 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 to the chagrin of Otis Williams and Motown, Edwards, Ruffin, and Kendrick made plans to tour and record asRuffin, 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 withlung cancersoon after; he continued to perform until his death on October 5, 1992, in his native Birmingham.

1990s

Richard Street missed a performance in 1992 after undergoing emergency surgery to remove kidney stones. Otis Williams, completely unaware of Street's surgery, called him angrily about his absence. Street felt Williams was unsympathetic, and as a result, he left the group in 1993 after twenty-two years. His replacement wasSt. LouisnativeTheo Peoples.

By the early 1990s, bass Melvin Franklin began missing performances due to failing health andRay Davis,former bass man ofParliament-Funkadelic,began touring as a fill-in during 1993.Franklin died after suffering abrain seizureat the age of 52 on February 23, 1995, and Davis was named his official replacement. The group subsequently finished production onFor Lovers Only,an album of pop standards featuring two tracks recorded with Melvin Franklin prior to his death.

However, this lineup did not last, as Davis was diagnosed withlung cancerand left shortly after completing the album. Davis died in New Brunswick, New Jersey of respiratory problems and complications of lung cancer on the evening of Tuesday July 5, 2005.

The group continued as a quartet for a short time before recruiting bassHarry McGilberry,a former member of the Futures.For Lovers Onlywas also the last contribution for lead Ali-Ollie Woodson; he was released from the group shortly after McGilberry's hiringdue to health problems:he suffered two bouts of throat cancer in a short time. He was replaced by new memberTerry Weeks,who had served as his sub.

The Temptations' new lineup, consisting of Otis Williams, Ron Tyson, Theo Peoples, and newcomers Harry McGilberry and Terry Weeks, toured throughout 1997, and was featured in the halftime show ofSuper Bowl XXXIIin early 1998, which celebrated the 40th anniversary of Motown. Later that year, the Temptations releasedPhoenix Rising,vocally arranged by 1980s producer Narada Michael Walden,Isaias Gamboa,Claytoven Richardson, Theo Peoples, Tony Lindsey andSkyler Jett,which became their first million-selling album in more than 20 years. The album was anchored by "Stay," a single featuring Theo Peoples on lead and including asamplefrom "My Girl", which became a number-one hit on the urban adult contemporary charts. It was released to extremely positive reviews.

Peoples was fired from the group before the release ofPhoenix Risingbecause of issues with drug addiction,and was replaced byBarrington "Bo" Henderson.Henderson lip-synched to Peoples's vocals in the "Stay" music video, and the completed album features lead vocals on different tracks by both Henderson and Peoples.

TV miniseries

Main article:The Temptations (TV miniseries)

Also in 1998, three months after the release ofPhoenix Risingearlier in the year,de Passe Entertainment(run by former Motown vice-presidentSuzanne de Passe) andHallmark EntertainmentproducedThe Temptations,a four-hour televisionminiseriesbased on Otis Williams'Temptationsautobiography. The miniseries was broadcast in two parts onNBCon 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 fiveEmmy Awards,withAllan Arkushwinning for Best Direction;it was subsequently rerun on theVH-1cable television network and released toVHSandDVD.

Otis Williams' former wife Josephine Miles, Melvin Franklin's mother Rose Franklin, David Ruffin's family, andJohnnie Mae Matthewsfiled lawsuits against Williams, Motown, de Passe and de Passe Entertainment, Hallmark, and NBC for a number of charges, includingdefamation.

The lawsuits were consolidated, and the judges ruled in favor of the defendants, and the ruling was upheld when the plaintiffs appealed in 2001.Williams later claimed that, although his book was used as the source material for the film, he did not have a great deal of control over how the material was presented.

From 2000 to present

The Temptations were inducted into theVocal Group Hall of Famein 1999. In 2001, their 2000 albumEar-Resistiblewon the group its third Grammy, this one forBest Traditional R&B Vocal Performance.Bo Henderson was fired from the group in 2003, prompting a wrongful termination lawsuit.

His replacement was formerSpinnersleadG. C. Cameron.The lineup of Cameron, Otis Williams, Ron Tyson, Harry McGilberry, and Terry Weeks recorded for a short time before McGilberry was dismissed;his replacement was formerSpanielsmemberJoe Herndon.McGilberry died on April 3, 2006, at 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 to anotherUniversallabel, New Door Records. Their sole album with this lineup,Reflections,was released on January 31, 2006, and contains covers of several popular Motown songs, including Diana Ross & the Supremes' "Reflections",the Miracles'"Ooo Baby Baby",Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell's"Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing",andthe Jackson 5's "I'll Be There".Dennis Edwards,Ali-Ollie Woodsonand David Sea (deep soul singer from Alabama, not David 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.He was replaced byBruce Williamson,who first affiliated with the group a year earlier. The new lineup recorded another album of soul covers,Back to Front,released in October 2007. Former member Ali-Ollie Woodson died on May 30, 2010, after a long battle with leukemia.

On May 4, 2010, the group released theirStill Herealbum. The first single fromStill Here,"First Kiss", was criticized for having instances of usingAuto-Tunetechnology.

The Temptations received theGrammy Lifetime Achievement Awardon February 9, 2013.Otis Williams, Dennis Edwards, and the children of David Ruffin, Eddie Kendricks, Paul Williams, and Melvin Franklin attended the ceremony to accept the six Grammys given to the group for the occasion.

Former member Damon Harris died on February 18, 2013, fromprostate cancerat aBaltimorehospital.Nine days later, former member Richard Street died ofpulmonary embolisminLas Vegas, Nevada.At the time of his death, Street was in the process of writing a book regarding his time with the Temptations entitledBall of Confusion: My Life as a Temptin' Temptation.Completed by his co-author, Gary Flanigan, the book was published in 2014; it is the second autobiography regarding the group.

In late 2015 bothBruce WilliamsonandJoe Herndonannounced their departures from the group.Williamson's replacement, Larry Braggs, was lead singer ofTower of Powerfrom 2000 to 2013.Herndon's replacement is Willie Green, who had previously toured with former Temptations Richard Street and Ali-Ollie Woodson.Dennis Edwards died on February 1, 2018, at age 74. He had been battling with meningitis before his death.

On May 4, 2018, the Temptations releasedAll the Time,their first album since 2010'sStill Here,as well as their first for Universal's UMe Direct imprint.

Former memberG. C. Cameronsubstituted for an absent Larry Braggs in shows in August 2019.By October 2019Braggs was no longer a member of the group.They then temporarily toured as a quartet until June 19, 2020, when it was announced that Mario Corbino was the new member of the group replacing Larry Braggs.

On September 6, 2020, former Temptations member Bruce Williamson died at age 49 from COVID-19.

In the fall of 2021, The Temptations released two singles, "Is It Gonna Be Yes Or No", featuringSmokey Robinson,and "When We Were Kings", as part of their upcoming album,Temptations 60.The album is scheduled to be released in January 2022.In December 2021, Otis Williams introducedTony Grantas the newest member of The Temptations at a concert in Orlando, Florida.Grant, who formerly sang with the R&B group,Az Yet,and starred in severalTyler Perrystage plays,replaced Mario Corbino.

The band announced in June 2022 that Jawan M. Jackson was joining on bass, replacing Willie Green.

Sound

Motown soundtrack (1961–68)

Following their first Motown hit, the group altered their style several times over the ensuing years, adapting to the popular styles of the day while retaining their signature visual and vocal styles. The earliest Temptations recordings backed by Motown's stalwart studio band, theFunk Brothers,reflect the influence of producers Berry Gordy and Smokey Robinson, and featured a cohesive blend of black rhythm and blues along with elements of whitepop musicthat later came to be known as theMotown Sound.Recordings made prior to 1966, such as "My Girl", were built around songs with simple, direct lyrics supported by an R&B rhythm section with orchestral strings and horns added for pop appeal. During this period, each recording usually featured only one lead singer, usually David Ruffin or Eddie Kendricks, although Paul Williams, Melvin Franklin, and Otis Williams each had solo numbers of their own at various times during this period.

In 1966, Norman Whitfield changed the group's dynamic, moving them away from the previous one lead singer model and adding elements derived from the rougher soul of artists such asJames Brown,Wilson Pickett,and the performers atStax Records.Whitfield and his lyricists crafted Temptations songs with shifts of dynamics, syncopatedhorn 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 microphone stand, invented by David Ruffin.

Progressive, psychedelic and cinematic soul (1968–73)

When Ruffin was replaced by Dennis Edwards, andSly and the Family Stonebecame popular, Whitfield again restructured the Temptations' sound, this time driving the group almost completely into aprogressivesound,as well a pioneeringpsychedelic soul.However, ballads in the traditional style of the group were still being recorded as B-sides and album fillers, with the lone exception being "Just My Imagination".

Tracks such as the album version of "Run Away Child, Running Wild" fromCloud Nine,"Take a Stroll Thru Your Mind" fromPsychedelic Shack,and "Smiling Faces Sometimes"fromSky's the Limit,all run at least eight minutes. At Whitfield's insistence, a large portion of the additional running time for each song consisted of instrumental passages without vocals. For example, the hit version of their smash 1972 single "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" was nearly seven minutes, featuring an instrumental intro that was almost two minutes, a rarity for songs of that era.

"Psychedelic soul" soon gave way to "cinematic soul"—highlighting a further series of lengthy recordings featuring detailed orchestration, extended instrumental introductions and bridging passages. Often focusing on lyrics about theghettosand inner cities of black America, these songs were heavily influenced by the work of singer-songwritersIsaac HayesandCurtis Mayfield.

Unlike Hayes and Mayfield however, the Temptations had no creative control over their recordings, and were in no way fond of the 12- and 13-minute-long songs being forced upon them by Whitfield, whose contributions were the focal point of Temptations albums such asSolid Rock,All Directions,and particularlyMasterpiece.

From funk to disco to adult contemporary (1974 to present)

In 1974, after Whitfield was dismissed as the producer for the Temptations, the group altered its sound to accommodate a balance of both up-tempo dance material as well as ballads. The vocal arrangements began to again focus primarily on one lead singer per track, although some leads were still being shared periodically. In addition, the Temptations themselves, after fighting Motown and Berry Gordy for creative control, began to write and produce some of their own material. From this point on, the Temptations focused almost exclusively on songs about romance. However, songs about social issues similar to the recordings made during Whitfield's tenure were periodically produced as well.

Temptations recordings of the mid-1970s focused significantly on the influences offunk musicfrom artists such asParliament-Funkadelicand Sly and the Family Stone, and members of both acts contributed significantly to material recorded by the group during this period. Their signature ballad sound, reduced to filler material during much of the Whitfield period, was restored to the lush, full productions of the earlier hits produced by Smokey Robinson. After a brief diversion intodiscoin the late-1970s, the Temptations settled into a form of anadult contemporary-rooted type of R&B, a style in which they continue to record.

Legacy and influence

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. MotownchoreographerCholly 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, theTemptation Walk,orTemptation Strut,was adapted from similar moves bythe Flamingosandthe Vibrations,from those two sources, Atkins and Williams crafted the resulting signature dance routine.

Like other similar independent companies of the period, Motown was not a member of theRecording Industry of America,preferring to stay independent and handling their own widely varied distribution through thousands of "Mom & Pop" record stores and small radio stations. As such, hit singles by Motown artists such as the Temptations never achieved official "gold" or "platinum"RIAA certificationuntil after Motown joined the RIAA in 1977.

During the 1960s and 1970s, a number of soul groups showed significant influence from the Temptations, such asthe Trammps,Tavares, Manhattans,the Chi-Lites,Parliaments,the Dramatics,the Dells,the Spinners,the Softones,the Delfonics,Daryl Hall & John Oates,and Motown labelmatesthe Miracles,Four Tops,the Monitors,Gladys Knight & the Pips,the Originals,the Jackson Fiveandthe Undisputed Truth.These acts and others, showed the influence of the Temptations in both their vocal performances and their onstage choreography.

The Temptations' songs have been covered by scores of musicians, from R&B singers such asOtis Redding( "My Girl" ),Bobby Womack( "I Wish It Would Rain" ) andLuther Vandross( "Since I Lost My Baby" ), to white soul and reggae bands such asRare Earth( "Get Ready"),UB 40( "The Way You Do and The Things You Do" ) andthe Rolling Stones( "My Girl", "Ain't Too Proud to Beg", "Just My Imagination" ) andMick Jagger's collaboration with reggae artistPeter Toshon ( "Don't Look Back" ). Funk Brothers(Motown) recorded "My Girl", "Runnaway Child Running Wild", and "Papa Was a Rolling Stone". Hall & Oates performed "My Girl", "The Way You Do The Things You Do" in Live with Ruffin and Kendricks. Marcus Miller covered "Papa Was a Rolling Stone".Britishrock singerRod Stewartreleased a cover of "I'm Losing You" in 1971, and, in 1991, collaborated with 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'sShaky GroundEP which also included two additional Temptations covers.

In 2004,Rolling Stonemagazine ranked the Temptations number 67 on their list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.The Temptations were voted into the Michigan Rock and Roll Legends Hall of Fame in 2005.They received theLifetime Achievement GrammyAward in 2013. On Saturday August 17, 2013, the Temptations were officially inducted into theR&B Music Hall of Fameat the inaugural ceremony held at the Waetejen Auditorium on the campus ofCleveland State University.

In 2018, the story of the Temptations served as inspiration for thejukebox musicalAin't Too Proud,which opened onBroadwayin March 2019. The show was nominated for 11Tony Awardsat the73rd Tony Awardsand won forBest Choreography.

Group members

The Temptations on stage at London'sRoyal Albert Hall,November 2005. Pictured L-R: Joe Herndon, Otis Williams, G.C. Cameron, Terry Weeks, and Ron Tyson.

For a detailed listing of the various versions of the Temptations (and a timeline), seeList of the Temptations band members.

The Primes

akaThe Cavaliers– merged with The Distants

• Paul Williams(1955–1960; died 1973)
• Eddie Kendricks(1955–1960; died 1992)
• Kell Osborne(1955–1960; died 2012)
• Wiley Waller (1955–1957)

The Distants

akaOtis Williams & the Distants,Otis Williams & the Siberians– merged with The Primes

• Otis Williams(1958–60)
• Elbridge "Al" Bryant (1958–60) (d. 1975)
• James "Pee-Wee" Crawford (1958–59)
• Vernard Plain (1958–59)
• Arthur Walton (1958–59)
• Melvin Franklin(1959–60) (d. 1995)
• Richard Street(1959–60) (d. 2013)
• Albert "Mooch" Harrell (1959–60)

The Temptations

akaThe Elgins

Current

• Otis Williams(1960–present)
• Ron Tyson (1983–present)
• Terry Weeks(1997–present)
• Tony Grant(2021–present)
• Jawan M. Jackson (2022–present)

Former

• 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)
• Ali-Ollie Woodson(1984–87, 1989–1996, 2002) (d. 2010)
• 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)

Discography

Main article:The Temptations discography

Studio albums

• Meet the Temptations(1964)
• The Temptations Sing Smokey(1965)
• The Temptin' Temptations(1965)
• Gettin' Ready(1966)
• The Temptations with a Lot o' Soul(1967)
• The Temptations in a Mellow Mood(1967)
• The Temptations Wish It Would Rain(1968)
• Diana Ross & the Supremes Join the Temptations(withDiana Ross & The Supremes)(1968)
• Cloud Nine(1969)
• Together(with Diana Ross & The Supremes)(1969)
• Puzzle People(1969)
• Psychedelic Shack(1970)
• The Temptations Christmas Card(1970)
• Sky's the Limit(1971)
• Solid Rock(1972)
• All Directions(1972)
• Masterpiece(1973)
• 1990(1973)
• A Song for You(1975)
• House Party(1975)
• Wings of Love(1976)
• The Temptations Do The Temptations(1976)
• Hear to Tempt You(1977)
• Bare Back(1978)
• Power(1980)
• The Temptations(1981)
• Reunion(1982)
• Surface Thrills(1983)
• Back to Basics(1983)
• Truly for You(1984)
• Touch Me(1985)
• To Be Continued(1986)
• Together Again(1987)
• Special(1989)
• Milestone(1991)
• For Lovers Only(1995)
• Phoenix Rising(1998)
• Ear-Resistible(2000)
• Awesome(2001)
• Legacy(2004)
• Reflections(2006)
• Back to Front(2007)
• Still Here(2010)
• All the Time(2018)
• Temptations 60(2022)

Filmography

• 1973:Save the Children
• 1987:Happy New Year
• 1989:Who's Harry Crumb?
• 2007:Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story

Television work

• 1985:The Fall Guy(TV episodeRockabye Baby,February 13, 1985)
• 1985:The Love Boat(TV episodeYour Money or Your Wife/Joint Custody/The Temptations,October 5, 1985)
• 1986:Moonlighting(TV episodeSymphony in Knocked Flat,October 21, 1986)
• 1986:227(TV episodeTemptations,November 15, 1986)
• 1990:Murphy Brown(TV episodeGoin' to the Chapel, Part 2,May 21, 1990)
• 1990: performedCBSnetwork's 1990–91 version of their "Get Ready" campaign with an updated version ofGet Ready.
• 1993:Getting By(TV episodeReach for the Stars,November 23, 1993)
• 1996:New York Undercover(TV episodeDeep Cover,May 2, 1996)
• 2008:Friday Night with Jonathan Ross(TV appearance), March 7, 2008
• 2012:Dancing with the Stars(TV appearance), April 23, 2012 – Motown Week

Video and DVD releases

• 1991:The Temptations – Live in Concert
• 2004:20th Century Masters – The Best of the Temptations
• 2006:Get Ready: The Definitive Performances – 1965–1972
• 2007:The Temptations – Live In London (1987)

General bibliography

• George, Nelson (1994). "Cool as They Wanna Be". The Temptations:Emperors of Soul(CD box set). New York: Motown Record Co., L.P.
• George, Nelson (1985, rev. 2003).Where Did Our Love Go: The Rise and Fall of the Motown.London: Omnibus Press.ISBN0-7119-9511-7.
• Posner, Gerald (2002).Motown: Music, Money, Sex, and Power.New York: Random House.ISBN0-375-50062-6.
• Ribowsky, Mark (2010).Ain't Too Proud to Beg: The Troubled Lives and Enduring Soul of the Temptations.Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons.ISBN978-0-470-26117-0.
• Weinger, Harry (1994). "Sunshine on a Cloudy Day". The Temptations:Emperors of Soul(CD Box Set). New York: Motown Record Co., L.P.
• Williams, Otisand Romanowski, Patricia (1988, updated 2002).Temptations.Lanham, MD: Cooper Square.ISBN0-8154-1218-5.

External links

• Official website
• The TemptationsatAllMusic
• The TemptationsatIMDb
• The Temptationsat theInternet Broadway Database
• Otis Williams' official website (includes current tour schedule)
• Ron Tyson's official website
• Official homepage for Glenn Leonard
• Classic Temptations page at Classic Motown website
• "The Temptations" Vocal Group Hall of Fame page
• "The Temptations".Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.