By Nancy (64.12.97.7) on Sunday, July 06, 2003 - 10:40 pm:

Working on an article on Eddie Kendricks I would love it if you guys could post your memories of him or email me at motherhouseoff@aol.com

By Brandi1978 (152.163.252.68) on Sunday, July 06, 2003 - 11:07 pm:

I love that man his voice was just beautiful and he is definitely missed. he was just a beautiful person.

By nancy (152.163.252.68) on Sunday, July 06, 2003 - 11:22 pm:

Thanks Brandi, can anyone tell me what it was like to see him perform live, I never had that pleasure

By Vickie (198.81.26.170) on Sunday, July 06, 2003 - 11:32 pm:

I never saw Eddie live, but when I think of my childhood "Keep On Truckin " was my song...
It was a few years later that I discovered he was a Temp, I loved the Temptations when I was a kid but I did know that he was "that" voice that I loved so much...

Vickie

By Nancy (205.188.209.109) on Monday, July 07, 2003 - 02:54 am:

THanks vickie: Keep on Truckin was one of my songs as well, Keep it coming folks I need all the help I can get I really want to do Eddie's memory proud

By SB (205.187.255.184) on Monday, July 07, 2003 - 06:46 am:

Nancy - I have something to add to this topic - and needless to say - it holds one of my favorite memories eva.

Below is what I posted to another website:

I met Eddie when I was in college in Norfolk, VA. Some friends and I went to Hampton University to see - Eddie - Earth, Wind & Fire and New Birth. We didn't have tickets - so I don't know why we hitched a ride to Hampton.

Anyway - we snuck into the auditorium. My friends had already heard me go on and on about Eddie and how he was from my hometown and all - so I told them I wanted to meet him. I told them I was going to go onstage at some point. They dared me to go - and thought I was nuts.

Finally - I got up my nerve to walk all the way down to the front of the auditorium as he was performing. I stood off to the side for a while - and then got my chance and my nerve. I had on a long midi or maxi coat - and later on, my friends had to bring that fact up too once they started cracking on me for actually approaching the man.

I went on stage and called out his name. He looked at me - and I rushed some sentences out. I said - "Hey Eddie - I am your home girl. I am from Pratt City - and I know you are from Ensley." I said - "My boyfriend, nicknamed, BoPeep, had a group that patterned themselves after the Tempts, and he sounds like you." He was all smiles and nodded his head. He seemed really interested and intriqued - so I went on to tell him how much I loved him and his music. Meanwhile - he had grabbed my hands as he listened intently. I was in seventh heaven.

I couldn't believe I was onstage talking to him. He had all the facial hair that he eventually was known for - and of course - he was slight in stature.

I eased on off the stage after he made a few remarks, and until this day - I don't remember what all he said - other than that he indeed - and of course - knew where Pratt City was. Ensley and Pratt, were practically the same city - after all. He did say something else to me - maybe three or four sentences worth - but I was in another world - and his words weren't registering all the way.

My friends teased me for days after that episode - and when looking back - I did feel a little foolish - but I always reminded myself - that it was worth it - because I had gotten to meet one of my favorite singers. This was in 1973 - so his "Keep On Truckin" album was out - and he sang that song - needless to say. He was bad and the audience was going wild for him. It made me feel so proud that he was performing so well as a solo act.

I think he sung "Can I", (But I'm not sure) and a couple of other slow songs also. I still can see in my mind's eye - him looking at me straight in my eyes. I'll neva forget it.

Well - that is my story - and I'm sticking to it.

Thanks Nancy for starting this thread. May God give you the words and message you are trying to develop that will give this man his just due. Eddie loved his craft so. And he was a sweet soul stirring singing Angel in mine eyes.

We miss you Eddie. That was my homie.

Have a good one.

By Nancy (205.188.209.109) on Monday, July 07, 2003 - 06:30 pm:

Thanks SB this gives me a lot keep it coming everybody the more I have the better,
Nancy

By SB (206.215.14.206) on Monday, July 07, 2003 - 07:03 pm:

You're welcome Nancy.

You might have seen this website. The below quote is apparently from the author of the site, and from the "Facts and Tidbits About Eddie", found at the bottom of page.


"Eddie's sweet falsetto vocal was one of the most imitated ever in soul music. You can hear his influence in the work of such artists as Earth, Wind, and Fire (Phillip Bailey), The Stylistics (Russell Tompkins, Jr.), The Dramatics (Ron Banks), Blue Magic (Ted Mills), Black Ivory (Leroy Burgess), The Moments (Harry Ray), DeBarge (El DeBarge), disco singer Sylvester, and needless to say, the men that would succeed him in the Temptations, Damon Harris, Glenn Leonard and Ron Tyson. There are countless others who are endebted to Eddie's sweet tenor. His presence is also being felt in today's music as well, most notably in the vocal stylings of Maxwell, Bilal, Talib Kweli (who have both covered "Can I") and D'Angelo (who had done a cover of Eddie's "Girl You Need A Change of Mind")."

http://blackprincess.homestead.com/ejkfacts.html

By Nancy (205.188.209.109) on Monday, July 07, 2003 - 10:25 pm:

Thanks Again sb I am going to check out the website

By R&B (138.238.41.128) on Tuesday, July 08, 2003 - 02:27 pm:

HEY NANCY,I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO SEE EDDIE LIVE ON SEVERAL OCCATIONS AND JUST LET ME SAY THAT THE MAN WAS AWSOME,HE WAS JUST AS SMOOTH SOLO AS HE WAS IN THE TEMPS,EDDIE WOULD JUST GLIDE ACROSS THE STAGE,AND WHEN HE DID A SLOW TUNE SUCH AS[CAN I]OH WATCHOUT,I REMEMBER SEEING AT LEAST FIVE WOMEN FAINT DURING ONE OF HIS SLOW NUMBERS.A BRILLIANT ARTIST AND PERFORMER,AND THE SINGER I ALWAYS WANTED TO BE LIKE,THE LATE GREAT EDDIE KENDRICKS!

By Nancy (64.12.97.7) on Tuesday, July 08, 2003 - 09:21 pm:

Thanks R@b as I said before keep it coming folks I need as much info as you can throw at me