Good point, Marv. Somehow I knew you would bring that to my attention.
Eddie and otis had a falling out just prior,and eddie was a no-show.
When the "Motortown Revue" hit the road on one of it's first tours, Elbridge Bryant was a member of the Temptations:
Then I noticed when the Motortown Revue appeared at the Apollo in 1963, it was just the four guys [[Eddie Kendricks, Melvin Franklin, Otis Williams and Paul Williams) backing up Mary Wells [[they didn't even have their own set in the show).
A few years later, when the Motortown Revue toured England David Ruffin was with them:
Great photo Marv. Looking at that photo, it is hard to imagine the impact these folks made across the globe. When you think of it, a few hundred people [[just a guess) helped Motown make their their mark on the world and changed the history of music. Of course with the help of musicians, writers, technical folks, back office, sales, and Maxine Powell! The impact is almost hard to comprehend.
It's harder for me to believe that several folks in the above photograph use to roller skate at the same rink as we did right down the street from my house. About mile and a half!
I remember some older cats telling me about a young dude named[marvin gaye]doo-wopping on the street corners in d.c. Back in the day,they didn't pay him much attention because everybody sang on the corners in those days.
More temps lore..legend has it that between shows at the old[howard]theatre eddie would go out the side door and talk to the kids there.
Hey my temptaholics,i think more than any other motown act you can always pick out an instrument or bassline that you didn't hear before...like the keyboard in[girl]why you wanna make me blue..or the killer bassline in[beauty's only skin deep]don't beleieve me just pull out a classic song and give it a good close listen...temptations forever!!
I ain't mad at cha,but this is about the temps...cool?
Talk about the perfect group name,you are[tempted]to listen and[tempted] to see em perform.
I'm right with ya my temptaholic friend,but i'm gonna go back to oh[62]with-mind over matter.
Hey marv,i just found a copy of[soul to soul]love the album jacket.
That's the one.
Listen to what Kenny Gamble of Gamble & Huff has to say about the Temptations here:
I heard dat,from the man himself,it's funny that he mentioned the flamingoes because the temps patterned themselves after that classic group and were called the[latter day]flamingoes.
The temps have something that may never be duplicated ever,five lead singers plus the dance moves, we certainly won't see the likes of them in this lifetime and to be honest i don't think it will happen again ever...too many ego's ,not enough talent.
Marv-you know that i'm hi-five-in you across this keyboard[hehe] or as the temps would say...rap on brother-rap on!!!
Oh you know that's right, so many have come and gone but the temptin ones are still here.
Good question,but i don't know.
Marv, i have to ask this...do you think that these sons of the temps superstars are just following in thier dads footsteps out of an historic sense or are they maybe trying to use thier famous last names to cash in? I wondering.
Thanks my temptaholic friend,just wondering.
Ohhhhh,boy...well legend has it that ruffin had that money belt with about[40k]on him,did anyone find the money?
It was a bit more than legend. He HAD that money on him. I remember CNN caring the first reports. I recognized the street and everything in Philly where he was before being taken to the hospital. From what I know of that neighborhood, anything could happen to you! The money was not recovered to my knowledge. By the time they brought him to Detroit for the services, no one was talking [[at least not around me) about what actually happened to David.
Sad end for someone who has given so much to this art of music, but as the elders say-as long as one person remembers you you'll never die, and the whole world remembers-david ruffin.
A question for all my temptaholics, and read this very carefully before you answer,now out of all the many,many great songs by our guys what is the one song in thier tremendous catalog that gives you goose bumps and almost brings a tear to your ears because it's soooo perfect? Now it may not be the song that's your personal favorite but just one that moves you like no other..for me the timeless perfection of what i will always call the greatest first tenor lead in soul music history...the girl's alright with me, this song for me is mezmorizing...think before you answer...temptations forever.
For me, that would be "Please Return Your Love to Me"! Hands down.
For the original line-up, with David on lead: My Girl
For the '70s Temps, with Dennis: Papa Was A Rolling Stone
Both spine-chilling in their own different ways.
Hands down, "I Can't Get Next to You." Have MERCY!!!!
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