From June through June , The Temptations are commemorating the 60 th Anniversary of their legendary history and music. Otis Williams, the sole surviving member of the original, classic line-up of the Temptations, Ron Tyson, a lead vocalist with the group for 38 years, Terry Weeks, a lead vocalist for 24 years, Willie Greene, Jr. Otis Williams is the founding, and only surviving, member of the original, legendary, super-group the Temptations. He is unlike any other musical artist in American culture.
Otis Williams will turn 80 on October 30, The cultural significance of Dr. It was the Temptations first 1 million copy hit song.
The Temptations have played numerous sold-out world tours. Williams reads the new introduction and J. Now, from June through June , the Temptations are commemorating their milestone 60 th Anniversary. Ron Tyson is a first tenor and lead vocalist for the Temptations, and has been with the group since February As he grew older, Ron discovered he had a real talent for singing and returned to Philadelphia to attend Thomas Edison, Olney and Granoff School of Music where he studied opera and guitar.
It was in Philadelphia that he found himself surrounded by world famous artists like Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes who lived a few doors down from him , and Russell Thompkins of the Stylistics.
By , at age 19, Ron was lead singer of The Ethics, a group that originated in Philadelphia. As his career began to take off Ron was inspired by Eugene Booker Record, lead vocalist for the Chicago based Chi-lites to become a songwriter. I want to write! Without Eugene knowing it I learned what I wanted to do as a songwriter and singer from him.
To date, Ron has written more than songs. Ron was a big Temptations fan growing up and idolized Eddie Kendricks and his style. He feels blessed to have become a member of the group and has often referred to his Temptations career as one of the greatest things to happen to him. Coming from Philadelphia, a city of music, and growing up listening to the Temptations, and Marvin Gaye, the Four Tops, and so many others—all these people I admired—it was incredible being part of that historic show.
I remember Martha Reeves saying everyone was going to be watching me because I was the new kid on the block, taking over the role originally sung by Kendricks. Terry Weeks is a lead vocalist for the Temptations, and has been a member of the group since The original catalyst for his transition from musician to vocalist came while working at a local supermarket. I was like a sponge, soaking it all up.
As I moved away from playing the bass and gained more confidence as I opened up my voice, people started recognizing me for my singing talent.
Weeks would spend eight years in the Air Force, from to , serving in Korea and in the U. He would often sing locally around the Montgomery base, and performed in Tops in Blue, an Air Force ensemble, made up of active duty members, that toured globally performing for airmen and their families.
Once Weeks realized he wanted to make a go of it as a professional singer he gave himself a five-year window to make it happen. In the early s Weeks, then in his late 20s, was visiting friends in Los Angeles when they encountered Otis Williams on Hollywood Boulevard. He asked if I was working with anyone. I told him I was still in the military and it would be a month before I get out. We exchanged phone numbers but I never imagined I would hear from him.
When I got home later that day he had already left two messages on my answer machine. When I called him back he said he wanted to sign me to his production company to do studio work. That was the beginning of my professional music career. While working for Williams, Weeks formed a group that signed with Motown which released their self-titled album in Eventually the group split up and Weeks continued doing studio work for Williams. He also worked with the Temptations during summers on the road, helping with wardrobe and security.
Around this time Weeks was asked to fill in for Ali-Ollie Woodson who was dealing with health issues. The one-month fill-in gig became nine-months and in Weeks was made a permanent member of the Temptations, a role he sees as a sacred trust.
The famous Reunion tour marks the first time Ruffin and Kendricks are back with the group in 14 years. The Reunion tour takes off in and Motown releases the Reunion album on April 7, The tour ends in November of the same year and the group goes back to its pre-Reunion tour lineup. The extraordinary musical battle between the Temptations and The Four Tops is presented, with the two groups switching off between medleys of their respective hits.
The two legendary groups still perform together today on their respective world tours. It is a bittersweet decade for the group, especially for Otis Williams and manager, Shelly Berger, who have spent more than three decades together by now. The power of their human spirit to transcend setbacks and keep the group moving forward is awe-inspiring. The group mourns the loss of several of its world-famous and beloved brothers, including, David Ruffin, Eddie Kendricks, and Melvin Franklin in this decade.
It is also the final album featuring Ali-Ollie Woodson. Widely-praised by critics, the album becomes an instant classic. The group also releases the album Ultimate Collection toward the end of the decade. As the 20 th Century ends, the Temptations send a message to the world that they, like their album title Phoenix Rising , will keep rising up and singing their way into the hearts of fans. In the Temptations release an album of original material called Still Here. Weeks later, the group mourns the loss of former leading and legendary vocalist, Ali-Ollie Woodson, who was with the group, on and off, for twelve years.
Shortly thereafter, sadly, the group loses two more prominent former brothers, Damon Harris and Richard Street, within weeks of each other in February of In , Willie Greene, Jr. By February of , the world mourns the loss of Dennis Edwards. His soulful lead harmonies with the Temptations, on and off for more than 12 years, are remembered on many remarkable and award-winning songs that are among fan favorites to this day.
It is released in CD, vinyl LP and digital formats, and features three new, original Temptations songs, in addition to inspired renditions of songs from Maxwell, The Weeknd, Sam Smith and others. It goes on to receive the Tony Award for Best Choreography.
Jackson, includes a never-before-released introduction and a newly revised final chapter. It is released in CD, Mp3 and digital formats. The Temptations are releasing a new album and are currently touring in the U.
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