The Temptations: The Motown Kings Who Danced Through Time

Otis Williams, the last original member of The Temptations, 2015. Copyright, Larry Philpot

The Temptations: The Motown Kings Who Danced Through Time

Picture a smoky Detroit street corner in 1960, where five young men harmonize under a flickering lamp, their voices blending like a warm breeze through the Motor City’s grit. For The Temptations, music wasn’t just a gig—it was a brotherhood, a way to rise from humble roots to the pinnacle of soul. With slick moves, sharp suits, and songs that still tug heartstrings, they’ve grooved through six decades, a testament to resilience and rhythm. Here’s the story of how these emperors of soul conquered the charts—and one wild night when a fired Tempt stole the show.

The Harmony That Hooked Them

The Temptations’ spark flared from a mix of grit and glory. In late 1950s Detroit, Otis Williams, a Texarkana transplant, led The Distants, a doo-wop crew with Melvin Franklin’s rumbling bass. Across town, Eddie Kendricks and Paul Williams of The Primes crooned with Alabama swagger. Music was their lifeline—Otis, dodging a rough youth, found solace in song; Eddie’s falsetto soared above factory noise. “We wanted to be heard,” Otis once said, “to make something ours.” In 1960, fate merged them when The Distants lost members and The Primes disbanded. After a stint as The Elgins—nixed by another group’s claim—they landed on “The Temptations,” a name tossed out by a friend. Signed to Motown in ’61, it was their pact to climb, to turn street-corner dreams into stardom.

The Crew That Built the Classics

Otis Williams (b. 1941), Melvin Franklin (1942-1995), Eddie Kendricks (1939-1992), Paul Williams (1939-1973), and Elbridge “Al” Bryant kicked it off. Al’s exit in ’63 brought David Ruffin (1941-1991), his sandpaper tenor igniting hits like “My Girl” (1964). Raised across Detroit’s edges—Otis in ink-stained poverty, Melvin in Montgomery’s heat, Eddie and Paul in Birmingham’s blues—they gelled at Hitsville USA. Marriage and kids came—Otis wed Josephine, fathered Otis Lamont—but the road ruled. Ruffin left in ’68, replaced by Dennis Edwards (1943-2018); Paul’s 1973 suicide and Eddie’s ’71 solo jump shook them. Over 20 members cycled through—Richard Street, Ron Tyson—but Otis, now 83, remains the sole original, steering the ship with Jawan M. Jackson, Terry Weeks, and others in 2025.

The Career That Crowned Soul

The Temptations’ reign is Motown’s gold standard. Early flops (Oh Mother of Mine, 1961) gave way to Smokey Robinson’s “The Way You Do the Things You Do” (1964), then “My Girl”—a No. 1 smash. Norman Whitfield’s psychedelic soul—“Cloud Nine” (1968), “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone” (1972)—won Grammys. The classic five—Otis, Melvin, Eddie, Paul, David—peaked in the ‘60s, their “Temptation Walk” a global strut. Post-Ruffin, Edwards drove “Ball of Confusion” (1970); the ‘80s saw Nightshift (1985) soar. No bands beyond The Temptations, but pairings with Diana Ross and The Four Tops dazzled. TV (Soul Train), film (The Five Heartbeats nods), and Broadway’s Ain’t Too Proud (2019) immortalized them. Awards? Four Grammys, a 1989 Rock Hall nod, a 2013 Lifetime Achievement. In 2025, Otis leads a tight quintet—touring strong, no sign of slowing.

  • Bands: The Temptations, The Distants, The Primes (pre-merger)
  • Classic Bandmates: Otis Williams (baritone), Melvin Franklin (bass), Eddie Kendricks (falsetto), Paul Williams (baritone), David Ruffin (tenor)
  • Awards: 4 Grammys (e.g., “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone”), Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1989), Lifetime Achievement Grammy (2013)

Biggest Songs:

  • “My Girl” – Written by Smokey Robinson and Ronnie White
  • “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone” – Written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong
  • “Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)” – Written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong
  • “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg” – Written by Norman Whitfield and Edward Holland Jr.

The Drama That Drove the Dance

The Temptations’ tale has twists. Ruffin’s 1968 firing—ego and cocaine—led to Dennis Edwards’ debut, but David wouldn’t fade. Paul’s 1973 suicide (gunshot, car trunk) stunned; Eddie’s lung cancer death in ’92 and Melvin’s 1995 heart failure (post-seizures) broke hearts. A 1982 reunion tour with Ruffin and Kendricks flopped amid bickering. Otis’s 1988 book Temptations—and its 1998 miniseries—painted Ruffin as a villain, sparking fan debates. Still, they’ve dodged modern scandals, their legacy gleaming.

Now, a true gem: In July 1968, fresh off his ousting, David Ruffin crashed Edwards’ debut at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. Mid-“Ain’t Too Proud to Beg,” he stormed the stage, snatched the mic, and belted his old lead—crowd roaring, Edwards stunned. Security scrambled, but Ruffin vanished into the night, only to repeat the stunt across the tour. “He’d climb through windows, bribe doormen,” Otis recalled. Fans ate it up, begging for his return; the Temps briefly relented in ’69, but his chaos couldn’t stick. It’s Ruffin—unhinged, unforgettable, pure Temptations spice.

The Groove Still Going

From Detroit’s dust to soul’s summit, The Temptations turned a streetlight serenade into a timeless throne. They’re more than a group—they’re a pulse, a dance-step dynasty that’s outlasted loss. In 2025, Otis Williams—lone original—leads a vibrant lineup, no duo here, just a full crew keeping the classics alive. They started to heal, to hustle, and to hand us harmonies that’ll echo forever.