By Jonel (137.113.226.180) on Tuesday, November 12, 2002 - 10:38 am:

Soul Tempters -- Founding member brings Temptations to Peoria

PEORIA - A stranger approached Otis Williams in the gate area of Dulles International Airport in Washington last weekend, stuck out his hand and greeted the man like they were lifelong friends. "He shook my hand and said, 'Man, I was in Vietnam back in the '60s and you don't know what your music meant to us. Your music kept us alive out there in the jungles. Y'all pulled us through,''' Williams said in a phone interview from his home in Southern California. "Believe it or not, I hear that kind of thing all the time."
Williams, who turns 61 next week, helped sing the soundtrack to a lot of young people's lives in the 1960s and 1970s. He's the lone survivor of the original Temptations, the Motown hit-making quintet that dominated the pop and rhythm-and-blues charts and left a lasting musical legacy that carried them into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992.
The group - Williams and four newer singers whose Temptations tenures range from four to 20 years - plays Sunday at the Peoria Civic Center. The performance is part of a fundraiser for the Peoria Citizens Committee for Economic Opportunity.
"You could say that I bring Temptations legitimacy to this group, being the sole survivor and all," Williams said. "There have been some break-off groups out there doing Temptations music, but I think fans are looking to me to keep the tradition alive. I've been there since the beginning."
The Temps' history is interesting enough to have been the subject of a two-part television mini-series, a 1998 television event that reignited interest in the group's familiar body of work. The movie was based on Williams' 1988 autobiography.
The band formed in 1962, when two Detroit-area groups combined to form one under the close supervision of Motown Records legend Berry Gordy. The original five were Williams, Eddie Kendricks, Paul Williams, Melvin Franklin and Edbridge Bryant. David Ruffin, however, replaced Bryant before the group had its first hit, the Smokey Robinson-penned "The Way You Do the Things You Do."
The Hall of Fame's web site has this to say about the group: "The Temptations were the quintessential Motown vocal group. The quintet offered a rich blend of voices accompanied by stylish, coordinated dance moves. With songs and production from some of Motown's brightest lights - most notably Smokey Robinson ("My Girl") and Norman Whitfield ("Ain't Too Proud to Beg") - the Temptations lived up to their billing as emperors of soul.
"During the gilded age of soul music in general and Motown in particular, the Temptations delivered the intricate harmonies of streetcorner serenaders and the polished choreography of a Sixties soul revue. Moreover, their story is a long, episodic one of perseverance and dedication that extends from their origins in 1961 to the present day."
From 1964 to 1968, the group had nine Number One singles on the Billboard pop charts including "Get Ready," "I'm Losing You" and "I Wish It Would Rain." The group survived its first major personnel change when Ruffin left in 1968 to pursue a solo career and was replaced by Dennis Edwards.
Edwards sang off and on with the group for 20 years, taking the lead on such late '60s and early '70s hits - the group's more socially relevant and psychedelic period - as "Cloud Nine," "Runaway Child, Running Wild," "Masterpiece" and "Papa Was a Rolling Stone."
Edwards left the group, but still tours under the legally- approved name of The Temptations Review featuring Dennis Edwards. Only Williams owns the rights to "The Temptations."
Kendricks and Ruffin returned for a reunion tour and album in 1982, but problems with Motown and personal differences cut the good vibe short. Ruffin died in 1991 of a cocaine overdose at age 50. Kendricks died of lung cancer at age 52 a year later. Franklin died, also at 52, following a brain seizure.
"There were definitely some huge ups and some huge downs along the way," Williams said. "But the history of the group and the songs have all taken on a life of their own and created something even bigger. It's all a part of the whole Temptations package."
Now the group is poised in that indistinct region populated by lots of groups - even legendary ones - that find themselves forced to defend their music to modern-day record company executives focused on discovering the next-new-thing.
"Record companies are focused on what the kids want," Williams. "They're on the lookout for entertainers so young you can smell the Similac on their breath."
So the Temptations' strategy, circa 2002, is to seek out and record quality songs with quality producers and keep incorporating new music into the group's Hall of Fame-level reservoir of material.
"Phoenix Rising," released in 1999, sold more than a million copies. The followup, "Ear Resistable," won the group a Grammy Award. "Awesome," released last year, is still selling well. A new album - featuring the band remaking some of its classics with guest artists - is scheduled to be recorded next year.
On top of that, the group performs around the world, 40 weeks out of the year. The wait at the gate in Washington last weekend was for a plane to take them to Atlanta, where they performed a medley of Temps hits at halftime of the Atlanta Falcons game.
"The more we change, the more we stay true to ourselves," says Ron Tyson in the group's promotional material. "We're about singing straight-up soul. It's a style that will live on forever."
(Copyright 2002) Published on October 24, 2002, Peoria Journal Star, The (IL)

By MEL&THEN SOME (195.219.7.28) on Tuesday, November 12, 2002 - 10:49 am:

Jonel,
a fantastic article.Otis Williams/Tempts
say no more.
MEL.

By Livonia Ken (136.2.1.153) on Tuesday, November 12, 2002 - 10:54 am:

That Similac comment made me laugh so hard I almost spit Diet Pepsi on my monitor.

Regards,
Ken

By MelsMate (195.219.7.28) on Tuesday, November 12, 2002 - 11:02 am:

Above should read Mels mate,sorry.

By KevGo (64.115.26.80) on Tuesday, November 12, 2002 - 11:06 am:

Agreed...and what an insult to such a fine formula for babies....
KevGo

By Clay (66.73.190.39) on Friday, November 15, 2002 - 07:03 am:

Jonel,
I've known Otis Williams since I was 14yrs old and that's 35yrs+ and I know for a fact that all he's said is true. I recorded a song on Paul Williams called "I Need You More Now Than Ever" and he sang that song with so much inner soul that each time I hear it I can see him behind the mike trying to hide the tears as he sang the song.

When I recorded their(The Tempts)Xmas album 32yrs ago I knew I had become part of a record that would live forever and I think I'm right since it's been played during the Holidays for more than 30yrs. WOW!!!!! my hat is off to Otis for keeping the Legend,Life,Music and Times of the Temps alive for moe than 40yrs. And whats really special is that he still calls me TODAY 40yrs later just to see how I'm doing,he's a friend first and a star second. Peace

By MEL&THEN SOME (195.219.7.45) on Friday, November 15, 2002 - 07:11 am:

Clay,
did otis take lead on the Tempts
Dont look Back?
I think I am wrong but not sure,
whoever did,it remains one of my truly great
tracks,from so many by the Tempts still in my collection.
with thanks,
MEL.

By Clay (66.73.190.39) on Friday, November 15, 2002 - 08:20 am:

No Mel,
It was Paul Williams on Don"t Look Back. Peace

By MEL&THEN SOME (195.219.7.2) on Friday, November 15, 2002 - 08:50 am:

Thanks clay.
MEL.

By Jonel (137.113.226.180) on Friday, November 15, 2002 - 09:03 am:

Do the people that post here have a way to enter a profile or a small bio about themselves. I wish they did, because as a newcomer to this forum, and I imagine for a veteran as well, it would be great to be able to document the conversation and place people with their skills, knowledge and contribution to Detroit Soul.

Clay, I am an amateur internet investigator, so it didn't take too long for me to look you up, and I am truly honored to read your comments. Your credits as a producer and music engineer are awesome. Your work with the Motown compilations are numerous and especially with the holiday music. I have to admit my collection is deficient with regard to that genre. But, I DO have The Temptations' "Christmas Card". I love Dennis' lead on "The Christmas Song". Did you also have a hand in any Christmas television specials?

By Ralph (209.240.198.62) on Friday, November 15, 2002 - 09:40 am:

Jonel,
Welcome to the forum. Sorry, there is no profile section of the members of the forum.You can go into the archives and read up on everyone. I think the longer you hang here the more you will get to know. Have fun.

By Clay (66.73.182.241) on Friday, November 15, 2002 - 09:52 pm:

Jonel,
Thanks for your kind words and for having a copy of
the Temps Xmas Card. As for the TV specials that was more Suzanne DePasse's arena. You must remember I was a worker Bee not an executive LOL. You might be able to find additional info on the various Motown folk at
www.allmusic.com Peace

By larry (12.141.160.25) on Saturday, November 16, 2002 - 03:57 am:

I'm honored to be reading your words Clay. You have history, you're a musician and evangelist for Soul. Bless you.

By spunkydog (12.145.78.79) on Thursday, July 31, 2003 - 10:01 am:

I am trying to figure out if Otis Williams (original leader of the Temptations) also recorded "Hearts of Stone" and if so, was he also with "the Charms" at an earlier time?

Someplace I read that this was true, but when I read more, it seems like it was another Otis Williams.

Please give me the facts. Thanks so much