Paul williams and eddie kendricks biography

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He usually sang from behind a curtain, but took the stage when Williams was too ill to even appear. Just click on "Add a comment…" below and paste the song name and the lyrics. Paul Williams left at the same time due to poor health.

Damon Harris and Richard Street took their places.

In 1972 the gospel soul masterpiece "Papa Was a Rolling Stone" was released.

Further improvements came through the group's association with Cholly Atkins. Williams and Kendricks returned to Alabama, but soon found themselves back in Detroit again after learning that Otis Williams, head of a rival Detroit act known as "The Distants", had two openings in his group's lineup. Harris was then replaced by Glenn Leonard, whose spot was taken by Ron Tyson in 1982.

Upon learning that the name was already taken, they settled for calling themselves the Temptations. This long-time professional dancer, who had served as choreographer for Gladys Knight and the Pips, Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers, the Cadillacs, and other successful groups, developed many of the Temptations' trademark smooth moves.

National success finally came in 1964 with "The Way You Do the Things You Do," a tune written and produced by Smokey Robinson, which peaked at number eleven on the pop charts.

That year also brought the group three Grammy Awards, Best Rhythm and Blues Song and Best R&B Instrumental Performance.

Ali Ollie Woodson who grew up in Town Creek, Alabama auditioned for the group back in 1977 and maintained an ongoing relationship with members of the group before finally joining in 1984. Richard Street, who had been a member of the Distants and was then lead singer for "The Monitors", was hired on to fill in for Williams on all but his signature songs.

Both the Primes and the Distants were popular in Detroit, but neither had had a national hit. "Norman Whitfield could and did produce soft, smooth ballads with the best of them but, stylistically speaking, he was headed into another realm," wrote Otis Williams. Edited from an eleven minute LP cut it reached #1 Pop December 2 and reached #1 R&B. Later songs featuring his lead vocals included "No More Water in the Well", "Just Another Lonely Night", and his signature song, "Don't Look Back".

In 1966 the group worked with producer Norman Whitfield for the first time, cutting one of their most popular songs, "Ain't Too Proud to Beg." It was the beginning of a long and successful collaboration. Two years later, Williams committed suicide in Detroit.

In the late 1960s and early 1970s, the Temptations and producer Whitfield pioneered the "psychedelic soul" movement, which was characterized by an electric funk sound and socially conscious lyrics.

Shortly thereafter, the classic Motown sound came back into vogue and the Temptations were once again in demand. They reunited briefly with Ruffin and Kendricks for a tour, but personality conflicts soon resurfaced, and they quickly returned to a five-man lineup. "Standing" reached #6 R&B, their first top 10 record in six years.

In 1983 they performed on the Motown 25th Anniversary TV special trading medleys with the Four Tops.

Street and Harrell soon left, and the two groups merged into one consisting of Otis Miles, now calling himself Otis Williams, Melvin Franklin, Eddie Kendricks, Paul Williams, and Elbridge "Al" Bryant.

Milton Jenkins

Jenkins arranged some local work and shortly thereafter the group became the Elgins.

Make sure to include the name of the Temptations, The album along with the lyrics.