Ricky Owens -- Temptation

[jsmith]

Is it known why Ricky Owens membership of the Temptations was for such a short period. He was hired as a possible replacement for Eddie Kendricks in June 71 but only undertook a couple of engagements with the group before being ousted.
Was he unhappy with the pay situation [[new members only being on a weekly salary) or did the Tempt's leader decide he wasn't suitable.
I'd really like to know what went on.
One of the couple of engagements he did do was in DC at the Carter Barron Th [[others were in LA and East Stanton, Pa).
19909

[Motown Eddie]

Is it known why Ricky Owens membership of the Temptations was for such a short period. He was hired as a possible replacement for Eddie Kendricks in June 71 but only undertook a couple of engagements with the group before being ousted.
Was he unhappy with the pay situation [[new members only being on a weekly salary) or did the Tempt's leader decide he wasn't suitable.
I'd really like to know what went on.
One of the couple of engagements he did do was in DC at the Carter Barron Th [[others were in LA and East Stanton, Pa).
19909

According to Otis Williams' book Temptations, Ricky Owens wasn't suitable for the group. While performing a show in Washington DC, he messed up the lyrics to "Just My Imagination" and got a large "Boo" from the crowd. Otis says that this problem persisted after a few more gigs and he was dismissed from the group. I haven't heard anything from Ricky Owens about his side of what went down.

[reese]

Otis also wrote that Ricky wasn't moving all that well and appeared awkward. After the incident at Carter Barron, he said word spread around town that the Tempts had a bad new singer and attendance dropped sharply the next night.

[TomatoTom123]

Did Ricky go on to do much else in the music business?

[robb_k]

Did Ricky go on to do much else in the music business?
19910
According to everything I've ever read, soon after he was fired, he re-assembled The Vibrations again, and they continued on to near the end of 1976. After that no one says anything about him, or that group. Actually, I never knew [[until many years later, that The Vibrations had disbanded in 1971, and that Ricky had joined The Temptations. I had thought that he had been with The Vibrations until the mid '70s.

[jboy88]

Ricky Owens had the misfortune of joining the Tempts around the time “Just My Imagination” had topped the charts. Also, people were more upset about Eddie Kendricks leaving the group than they’d been about David Ruffin’s exit 3 years earlier. So there was an immense amount of pressure for Ricky to fill Eddie’s shoes. Apparently, the weight was too much for him and he choked.

[BritishTony]

Was it not Ricky who thanked audiences for all the money they were contributing to the Tempts’ lavish cars, clothes, lifestyle etc embarrassing Otis into letting him go?

[reese]

Was it not Ricky who thanked audiences for all the money they were contributing to the Tempts’ lavish cars, clothes, lifestyle etc embarrassing Otis into letting him go?

According to Otis, that was Damon.

[WaitingWatchingLookingForAChance]

Ricky Owens had the misfortune of joining the Tempts around the time “Just My Imagination” had topped the charts. Also, people were more upset about Eddie Kendricks leaving the group than they’d been about David Ruffin’s exit 3 years earlier. So there was an immense amount of pressure for Ricky to fill Eddie’s shoes. Apparently, the weight was too much for him and he choked.

Ok, that answers a few things I always wondered about. The man had recorded and performed for years with the Vibrations, seemingly with no issues there. Then, after he was fired from the Temptations, he went back to the Vibrations. I kept thinking if he was that bad with the Temptations, how did he have such a long career at all with the Vibrations? But, what you added makes it a lot clearer. Under THAT kind of pressure, I guess nearly anyone could choke.

[jsmith]

The Vibrations were acknowledged as having just about the most dynamic stage act of any group [[not as slick as the Tempts but certainly as -- if not more -- entertaining).
Also Ricky had been one of the main men in the Vibs since the late 50's. They toured all the time in the 60's, getting rave reviews. Their live act was highly popular in the UK though they never had any sort of hit here -- see ads attached -- America's most dynamic vocal dance attraction.
The Vibrations always managed to land decent record deals with top labels in the 60's, so they [[& Ricky) must have been doing something right. They had chart hits, radio hits and tracks that have endured down the years. Even their 60's unreleased tracks are gaining in popularity & some are being issued here in the UK almost 60 years after they were recorded. After Ricky returned to the Vibs, they landed themselves a new record deal & did well again for a while.
19911

[jsmith]

Info on their 1972 record deal .. their LP was released in the US, Canada, Germany, the UK [[on both A&M & a year later on RCA). It was later put out again in the US & the UK [[on CD in 2002).
19912

[jsmith]

Carl Fisher resurrected the group in the 2000's and they performed live shows in the US [[in 2011 for sure) & UK [[2013). When they came to the UK I think Carl was the only member of the group from back in the 60's [[with Earl Smith from the Show Stoppers singing lead a lot of the time). There are clips on you tube of both US & UK shows ...
I believe Ricky Owens died back in 1995.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMQhfVOZUjM

[jsmith]

The Vibrations live ... back in the 60's ... watch the part from 3 mins 30 secs onwards.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6XxFIzhGx0w

[jsmith]

A quote posted under the above video ...
I saw the Vibrations in the 60's several times in Pittsburgh and Tri-State area!! They were always fantastic, doing it ALL! Great showmanship, superb leads, fantastic harmonies, funny routines at times, soulful, you name it! Kinda' like the vocal group version of Jackie Wilson, predating the Temps. Their harmony blend is still beautiful!! Overall, as good as it gets and the Vibrations deserved much more success than they received!

[jsmith]

A recent-ish UK 45 release ...
'Cause You're Mine, Follow Your Heart & Gonna Get Along Without You Now have all been released here in the last 10 years too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYZ0A1ZjSrU

[BritishTony]

Oops, sorry, Reese is right, thanks for correcting.

[bradsupremes]

From all that’s been written, it’s been made to believe Ricky joined the group, did a few gigs, and was fired. But we’ve seen from photos that he replaces Eddie and the new lineup with Paul Williams still in the group does a photo session [[these go unpublished for decades) and a few gigs including one where Otis is absent and it’s just four Temptations. Paul then leaves due to health reasons and Richard Street steps in. The new lineup does a photo session and more gigs before Ricky is fired.

So what’s the time line of all this? It has to be more than just a few weeks.

[jsmith]

David Ruffin was out of the Tempts in July 68. Eddie Kendricks became disenchanted with the group after David Ruffin's firing and as the health of Paul Williams continued to fail. He would pick fights with Otis Williams & Melvin Franklin. Kendricks kept in touch with Ruffin & was eventually persuaded to go solo. He felt he was being cheated by Otis Williams & Motown's handling of the Temptations' finances. Kendricks also repeatedly suggested that Ruffin should be allowed back into the group & for the group to go on "strike" – no performances, no recordings – in 1970. There was regular group infighting between Kendricks, Otis Williams and Franklin which grew from this disagreement. In November 1970 during a stint @ the Copacabana, Kendricks walked out in-between shows and did not return. Eddie had been attempting to get permission to record a solo album way before actually leaving the group. His last lead vocal recording was "Just My Imagination", which was released as a single in January 1971. By early March it was No. 1 on the US pop charts. By that time, Kendricks had negotiated his release from the group and signed a solo deal with Motown.
So Eddie was officially 'out of the group' in early March 71. So they went on to hire Ricky Owens to replace Kendricks. It seems Owens first live shows with the group were in June 71. For several weeks of that spring, the Temptations performed as a quartet. Some sources suggest the Carter Barron stint was Owens last as a Tempt, but others say he undertook another couple of engagements after that with them.
Either way, it seems his time performing live with the group lasted only around 5 or so weeks. It's stated that Ricky was selected from 300 guys who had wanted to join the group. His first public show as a Tempt was at the LA Forum -- shouldn't be too hard to establish the date of that. His 2nd at the Twin Coaches Supper Club, East Stanton, Pa. Then came the Carter Barron series of shows [[June 28th to July 4th). Billboard reported in late July that Ricky had been tried out by the group -- suggesting by then he'd not been hired on a permanent basis. As this fact was in the 24th July edition of BILLBOARD, I'd guess they got the news of his departure around the 18th/19th/20th.
Anyone know of any shows he undertook as a Tempt between 4th July & 18th July ?
19917

[jsmith]

Eddie's obviously singing on the next Temptations 45 tracks; especially on "You're The Exception To The Rule" & [[most probably too) on "It's Summer". This 45 only just scraped into the US R&B top 30, a relative failure after the pop #1 of their earlier 45. Of course "It's Summer" was a relatively old recording.
Seems strange that very few recordings were made by the group in the first six months of 1971 [[though they did seem to be in complete turmoil).
Was "Superstar", the plug side of the group's following 45 [[released mid Oct 71), one of the only tracks they cut that year ?

[reese]

Eddie's obviously singing on the next Temptations 45 tracks; especially on "You're The Exception To The Rule" & [[most probably too) on "It's Summer".

In his book, Otis wrote that this single was recorded after Eddie and before Ricky, with just himself, Dennis, Melvin, and Paul.

But in the more detailed notes of THE COMPLETE MOTOWN SINGLES: VOL. 11A - 1971, it is written that IT'S SUMMER was Dennis, Otis, Melvin, and Richard. It was recorded in May of 1971.

The notes also speculate that I"M THE EXCEPTION... might have been Eddie's final session with the group.

[bradsupremes]

In his book, Otis wrote that this single was recorded after Eddie and before Ricky, with just himself, Dennis, Melvin, and Paul.

But in the more detailed notes of THE COMPLETE MOTOWN SINGLES: VOL. 11A - 1971, it is written that IT'S SUMMER was Dennis, Otis, Melvin, and Richard. It was recorded in May of 1971.

The notes also speculate that I"M THE EXCEPTION... might have been Eddie's final session with the group.

Interesting... so was Paul in and out of the group during this time and Richard was filling in?

[Boogiedown]

That The Temptations climbed out of this hole is rather remarkable...

[Sotosound]

In his book, Otis wrote that this single was recorded after Eddie and before Ricky, with just himself, Dennis, Melvin, and Paul.

But in the more detailed notes of THE COMPLETE MOTOWN SINGLES: VOL. 11A - 1971, it is written that IT'S SUMMER was Dennis, Otis, Melvin, and Richard. It was recorded in May of 1971.

The notes also speculate that I"M THE EXCEPTION... might have been Eddie's final session with the group.
They recorded "It's Summer" twice, eh?

I quite like parts of the arrangement of the later version, especially in stereo, but the song itself isn't really strong enough as an a-side IMO, and its poor sales reflected this. Also, to my ears, the stereo album mix smokes the mono single mix, and I don't often say that about Motown!

The original is a far better version IMO but, again, it isn't smash hit material.

I suspect that it was recruiting Damon Harris and recording "Superstar" and "Take A Look Around" that rescued them. They're both far better as singles.

[danman869]

From all that’s been written, it’s been made to believe Ricky joined the group, did a few gigs, and was fired. But we’ve seen from photos that he replaces Eddie and the new lineup with Paul Williams still in the group does a photo session [[these go unpublished for decades) and a few gigs including one where Otis is absent and it’s just four Temptations. Paul then leaves due to health reasons and Richard Street steps in. The new lineup does a photo session and more gigs before Ricky is fired.

Brad, where can one access these photos of the Dennis/Ricky/Paul/Otis/Melvin line-up? I don't recall coming across photos of that line-up. Other than seeing photos of Ricky Owens as a Vibration, I only ever saw the pic of him in JRT's "Motown: Hot Wax, City Cool & Solid Gold"--and even that headshot [that looks like a candid stage pic--not posed] isn't confirmed as from a Tempts performance in the book. I would think it would be difficult to believe Ricky appeared onstage once, screwed up some lyrics, and Otis said, "you're fired." If you're going to "invest" in someone new, you give them more than one shot. [Although don't get me started on what must've been massive pressure to--literally--perform in a group that he likely idolized for a long time... not surprising he was either going to thrive or dive.] Anyway, I'd love to see pix of the line-up with Ricky.

Also, had the Tempts not found a 5th member at that time, if wonder if they might have just gone on as a quartet. Sure, they probably wanted to keep the image and the sound on the same level, but... had things just not worked out with anyone, would it have been a ticking clock to keep looking-looking-looking and not finding? Previous Motown groups had done it before--a member dropped out and the group decided to carry on with those who were left. Even in the case of The Supremes, they crawled out of a hole left by the departure of a key member in 1973. Were they huge from then on? No, but... the group didn't completely collapse. The Tempts aren't very different, IMO. [And clearly, if you think about it, they had just as much group drama as the Sups--perhaps not as well publicized.]

[reese]

Brad, where can one access these photos of the Dennis/Ricky/Paul/Otis/Melvin line-up? I don't recall coming across photos of that line-up. Other than seeing photos of Ricky Owens as a Vibration, I only ever saw the pic of him in JRT's "Motown: Hot Wax, City Cool & Solid Gold"--and even that headshot [that looks like a candid stage pic--not posed] isn't confirmed as from a Tempts performance in the book. I would think it would be difficult to believe Ricky appeared onstage once, screwed up some lyrics, and Otis said, "you're fired." If you're going to "invest" in someone new, you give them more than one shot. [Although don't get me started on what must've been massive pressure to--literally--perform in a group that he likely idolized for a long time... not surprising he was either going to thrive or dive.] Anyway, I'd love to see pix of the line-up with Ricky.

Not the edition of the group you mentioned but here's a photo of Ricky with the Tempts: Otis, Melvin, Richard, and Dennis. This photo appeared in the 1986 25TH ANNIVERSARY booklet.19923

[danman869]

Not the edition of the group you mentioned but here's a photo of Ricky with the Tempts: Otis, Melvin, Richard, and Dennis. If I'm not mistaken, this photo appeared in the 1974 TEMPTATIONS ANTHOLOGY booklet.19923

Thanks, Reese! Did the '74 Anthology booklet detail that it was Ricky Owens in the photo or just one photo of many without explanation?

Here's the only photo I'd ever seen identifying Ricky as a Temptation:
19924

It's from page 94 of JRT's "Motown: Hot Wax, City Cool & Solid Gold." And it's interesting that JRT said Ricky did one performance and was out. That doesn't appear to have been quite the case from what we've shared here.

[reese]

Thanks, Reese! Did the '74 Anthology booklet detail that it was Ricky Owens in the photo or just one photo of many without explanation?

Here's the only photo I'd ever seen identifying Ricky as a Temptation:
19924

It's from page 94 of JRT's "Motown: Hot Wax, City Cool & Solid Gold." And it's interesting that JRT said Ricky did one performance and was out. That doesn't appear to have been quite the case from what we've shared here.

Actually, I was wrong. The photo appears in the 25TH ANNIVERSARY booklet, not the ANTHOLOGY booklet. It was included in a collage of other photos, no captions. But near the end of the booklet, each member of the group gets a mention and Ricky is included there.

[jboy88]

Not the edition of the group you mentioned but here's a photo of Ricky with the Tempts: Otis, Melvin, Richard, and Dennis. If I'm not mistaken, this photo appeared in the 1974 TEMPTATIONS ANTHOLOGY booklet.19923

They actually took two photos with Ricky in the same photo shoot. One with Paul and the one with Richard that’s posted here. My guess is that Ricky didn’t become an official member until the Carter Barron show.

[reese]

They actually took two photos with Ricky in the same photo shoot. One with Paul and the one with Richard that’s posted here. My guess is that Ricky didn’t become an official member until the Carter Barron show.

So it seems that they were preparing for Paul's departure. Much like when the Marvelettes did a series of photos at the same shoot, some including Georgeanna and some not.

[jsmith]

The Temptations show @ the LA Forum [[with Ricky Owens in the line-up) was on 19th June 71 -- Gladys Knight & the Pips were the support act. No doubt Gladys & the members of the Pips would already have known Ricky from the times the Vibrations played on gigs with Gladys & the boys [[ahead of them joining Motown + maybe after too).
The other acts on the Carter Barron shows were the Orbiteers, Swiss Movement & Yvonne Fair. No idea who the Orbiteers were, most probably a local DC group.
Bobby Eli was the Vibrations musical director through much of the 1960's [[till he helped form MFSB), so he'd no doubt know the full story about Ricky Owens & the group. I know he was a SDF member years ago but don't think he is any longer.

Anyone here got access to this edition of TAN magazine ... June 71 ...
19925

[lockhartgary]

The Temptations show @ the LA Forum [[with Ricky Owens in the line-up) was on 19th June 71 -- Gladys Knight & the Pips were the support act. No doubt Gladys & the members of the Pips would already have known Ricky from the times the Vibrations played on gigs with Gladys & the boys [[ahead of them joining Motown + maybe after too).
The other acts on the Carter Barron shows were the Orbiteers, Swiss Movement & Yvonne Fair. No idea who the Orbiteers were, most probably a local DC group.
Bobby Eli was the Vibrations musical director through much of the 1960's [[till he helped form MFSB), so he'd no doubt know the full story about Ricky Owens & the group. I know he was a SDF member years ago but don't think he is any longer.

Anyone here got access to this edition of TAN magazine ... June 71 ...
19925

I have never even heard of this magazine. Thanks for posting the pic.

I did find the text of the article taken from this magazine. Here's the link:
https://www.lipstickalley.com/threads/the-temptations-tea-picture-thread.802368/

[danman869]

Gary, you might not have heard of Tan, but... you'd likely be familiar with its' sister magazines: Ebony and Jet. All three were from Johnson Publications. Tan was originally called "Tan Confessions" when first published in 1950 and was shortened to just "Tan" in 1952. It continued to be published under that name through October 1971 when in November 1971 it was renamed "Black Stars." It remained under that name through 1981 when it stopped being published.

Jet was considered a weekly news magazine, Ebony was considered a monthly general interest magazine, and I believe Tan was intended to be a little bit more sensational--including stories about black movie, TV, and singing stars. [[Probably what prompted the eventual renaming to "Black Stars.")

If you follow The Supremes at all, you might recall these times they graced the cover of Tan and then Black Stars a few times over the years. The Supremes graced the cover in April 1966 [[using the same exact photo used on the cover of sister publication Ebony in June 1965--only with the image reversed!), September 1968, January 1970, and July 1971. Three of those four can be found on the internet if you just google The Supremes and Tan. I have a photo of the 1971 cover, but can't find it on the web.

[SatansBlues]

I have never even heard of this magazine. Thanks for posting the pic.

I did find the text of the article taken from this magazine. Here's the link:
https://www.lipstickalley.com/threads/the-temptations-tea-picture-thread.802368/

Thanks for posting the interview with Eddie. It was a fascinating read. Wasn't Eddie recording solo material in the later half of 1970? I get the impression that Eddie left the group because of his conflicts with Otis and Melvin and it was a done deal once it was decided that Paul would be leaving the group. Seems like the group had quite a bit of turmoil starting with David Ruffin, or really Eldridge Bryant.

[lockhartgary]

Gary, you might not have heard of Tan, but... you'd likely be familiar with its' sister magazines: Ebony and Jet. All three were from Johnson Publications. Tan was originally called "Tan Confessions" when first published in 1950 and was shortened to just "Tan" in 1952. It continued to be published under that name through October 1971 when in November 1971 it was renamed "Black Stars." It remained under that name through 1981 when it stopped being published.

Jet was considered a weekly news magazine, Ebony was considered a monthly general interest magazine, and I believe Tan was intended to be a little bit more sensational--including stories about black movie, TV, and singing stars. [[Probably what prompted the eventual renaming to "Black Stars.")

If you follow The Supremes at all, you might recall these times they graced the cover of Tan and then Black Stars a few times over the years. The Supremes graced the cover in April 1966 [[using the same exact photo used on the cover of sister publication Ebony in June 1965--only with the image reversed!), September 1968, January 1970, and July 1971. Three of those four can be found on the internet if you just google The Supremes and Tan. I have a photo of the 1971 cover, but can't find it on the web.

Yes, I am very familiar with Jet and Ebony. Being an African-American growing up in the late '60s and '70s, I saw those magazines a lot.

[arr&bee]

The temps would've had a hard time wihtout a first tenor, as eddie's voice was a central part of the group, so finding a replacement was very important, otis would not have been able to carry out the first tenor leads if it came down to it, the photo with paul is kinda rare[i've seen it].

[Boogiedown]

Appearing in but a couple of concerts doesn’t to
me pass the membership test. Since he didn’t record with the group, I’d say Ricky moreso just auditioned to become a Temptation.
Maybe the deciding factor would be , were contracts signed ?

[jboy88]

Appearing in but a couple of concerts doesn’t to
me pass the membership test. Since he didn’t record with the group, I’d say Ricky moreso just auditioned to become a Temptation.
Maybe the deciding factor would be , were contracts signed ?

I agree with that sentiment. I don’t really count Ricky as an official member since he doesn’t [[that we know of) appear on any recordings. I always acknowledge Damon Harris as Eddie’s replacement. I still consider him a part of the group’s story, but more as a footnote though.

[Philles/Motown Gary]

I remember reading [[probably in Otis' book) that Ricky had complained about being too tired to show up for so many rehearsals and performances. Berry quickly put an end to that!

[reese]

I remember reading [[probably in Otis' book) that Ricky had complained about being too tired to show up for so many rehearsals and performances. Berry quickly put an end to that!

That was Damon. Otis wrote that Berry was working with the group on vocals for GLASS HOUSE and Damon wasn't giving Berry what he wanted and complained that he was tired. Later, Berry told Otis "I don't like his attitude. Get rid of him."

[reese]

Appearing in but a couple of concerts doesn’t to
me pass the membership test. Since he didn’t record with the group, I’d say Ricky moreso just auditioned to become a Temptation.
Maybe the deciding factor would be , were contracts signed ?

I think the 25TH ANNIVERSARY booklet worded it that Ricky didn't pass his probationary period.

I'm not sure about contracts and such. But I don't think the group would go through the effort of publicity photos before the new member was finalized. They must have released some info to the press re Ricky replacing Eddie, as I have an old RIGHT ON! magazine from 1971 and it mentions Ricky's short stint. I had never heard about it before then.

[Boogiedown]

It’s kind of befuddling it went that far before someone noticed “this guy ain’t it”

[Philles/Motown Gary]

That was Damon. Otis wrote that Berry was working with the group on vocals for GLASS HOUSE and Damon wasn't giving Berry what he wanted and complained that he was tired. Later, Berry told Otis "I don't like his attitude. Get rid of him."

Oh, it was Damon. Okay, thanks, Reese. I stand corrected. The '70s Tempts came and went so much, I couldn't keep up with them.

[lockhartgary]

Speaking of Damon, I shared this link to download a pdf some years ago. It's an interesting read. It's called Fighting Temptation: The Damon Harris Story:

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0ahUKEwjfhLOb-5LLAhVFKyYKHaf_AyYQFggcMAA&url=https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Fexternal_clip s%2F275429%2FFighting_Temptation_Damon_Harris.pdf% 3F1366936205&usg=AFQjCNH0RMeSkZkowWw_DKRt7W8V37ymCQ&sig2=ICJf6apCVoKLpMlaCGOXRw&bvm=bv.115277099,d.eWE&cad=rja

[lockhartgary]

I can understand why they gave Ricky Owens a tryout. He came from a group that actually existed before the Temptations were formed so he had professional experience and the group were dynamic dancers. Those 2 things, to me, are major pluses. It just wasn't in the cards.

[Boogiedown]

If Ricky predates the temptations maybe it was realized he brought an oldness to an already aging group. Maybe he was even a little stiff/less agile in his stage motions.
They certainly went in an entirely different direction by going with young and limber Damon.

[Spreadinglove21]

Damon was a good replacement for Eddie Kendricks. He could fulfill the vocal duties but brought his own spin/personality to the act. Interesting that just 8 years after My Girl, the Temptations would be number 1 with the radically different Papa was a Rollin' Stone, and 3 of the members on that one weren't on My Girl. Amazing the changes the Temptations navigated in such a time span.

[lockhartgary]

If Ricky predates the temptations maybe it was realized he brought an oldness to an already aging group. Maybe he was even a little stiff/less agile in his stage motions.
They certainly went in an entirely different direction by going with young and limber Damon.
Good points!

[arr&bee]

Otis also states that because of damon's youth[19yrs old]he wasn't sure that the kid would be mature enough, and he was proven right when damon mouthed off to berry...career suicide!

[MIKEW-UK]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5k15NrDjTM

Ricky Owens on lead for The Vibrations

[jboy88]

Eddie Kendricks once said he’d considered leaving the group in 1965, but ultimately thought better of it. I personally believe Ricky Owens would have fared much better if he’d joined in the mid sixties.

[CJD88]

From all that’s been written, it’s been made to believe Ricky joined the group, did a few gigs, and was fired. But we’ve seen from photos that he replaces Eddie and the new lineup with Paul Williams still in the group does a photo session [[these go unpublished for decades) and a few gigs including one where Otis is absent and it’s just four Temptations. Paul then leaves due to health reasons and Richard Street steps in. The new lineup does a photo session and more gigs before Ricky is fired.

So what’s the time line of all this? It has to be more than just a few weeks.

I'm going through old threads and couldn't believe I saw this!
There were shows where Otis was absent? Do pictures of this gig still exist? I can't find any info on this online other than here.

[jboy88]

I'm going through old threads and couldn't believe I saw this!
There were shows where Otis was absent? Do pictures of this gig still exist? I can't find any info on this online other than here.

This will help clarify that! https://www.instagram.com/p/C4ljq7-x4EX/?igsh=ZXNud3RocGF4ZHFv

Attached are the aforementioned photos and a not so positive review of the performance. Paul visibly looked dazed in the photo with Ricky singing lead.

[jboy88]

On a side note, Otis’s injury would sadly prevent him from appearing for Paul’s final show in Chicago later that Summer.

[jsmith]

I have Otis's book here somewhere but it's not to hand.
SO, can someone tell me if Otis deals with his time of absence from the group in 1971. When did it begin & end ?
If Otis wasn't performing with the group when Ricky was, then it seems strange that the criticism of the 4 strong group's performances during that period were all put down purely to Ricky not being 'up to the job'.
With Paul Williams having suffered with major health problems for around 6 years, his ongoing affair being at odds with his determination to stand by his wife & kids, his upset & depression that Cholly Atkins had been brought in to upgrade the group's stage presentation [[a role Paul had till then undertaken), his money problems [[a failed business with his lover), and his alcoholism ... the other members of the group were having to cover for Paul by the time Ricky was hired. Paul resisted all attempts to get him to seek medical help till April 71 even though all his problems had ravaged his singing voice. Richard Street finally officially replaced Paul in the group that summer.
. . . . So Eddie was out of the group by early March 71, they were 'carrying' Paul Williams and Otis went missing for a period of time ...
So they were just 4 strong [[June, July, August?) with Melvin, Dennis & 'new boy' Ricky trying to cover for Paul [[but with Richard helping out 'off-stage).
The group must have been in total chaos at the time, but it seems an absent Otis was allowed to put the blame for their disorganised performances at the door of Ricky.
....... I always have questioned lots of Otis' decisions, this just reinforces my belief that he put his own interests ahead of those of the group on occasions.
. . . Ricky seems to have gotten a bum deal

[jboy88]

Otis only missed the first two gigs with Ricky. He made it to the Carter Barron dates. Given that Ricky had already loused up two shows prior, Otis was somewhat showing him some slack. The Carter Barron show I gather was the third strike.

[jsmith]

The shows at the Carter Baron were a 7 day booking, the group performing each night. The LA Forum gig was 3 weeks after their Carter Baron stint had commenced. So Ricky can't have been sacked after the Carter Baron booking as he was one of the 4 members of the group who performed @ the LA Forum.
I think Otis [[as he did with much of the group's history) has amended the facts to suit his own agenda.

[bradsupremes]

The shows at the Carter Baron were a 7 day booking, the group performing each night. The LA Forum gig was 3 weeks after their Carter Baron stint had commenced. So Ricky can't have been sacked after the Carter Baron booking as he was one of the 4 members of the group who performed @ the LA Forum.
I think Otis [[as he did with much of the group's history) has amended the facts to suit his own agenda.

It's been written his Ricky's first gig was Carter Baron, but the Forum show was June 19th and there is a review of the show that calls out Ricky as not being up to par and Paul being "obnoxiously awkward." The night before was a show at the Cow Palace that Otis busted an artery in and caused him to miss the Forum show. I haven't come across a review for the Cow Palace show but I'm assuming Ricky did that show too given it was the night before the Forum show. So here's my question surrounding the shows. We know they performed as a quartet for some shows in the spring. I'm assuming the shows in Twin Coaches and Honolulu were done was a quartet. There is the Cow Palace, Forum and then Carter Barron that we know Ricky did. Just a few weeks after they do a show in Detroit. Was Ricky tossed before that? Did they go back to performing as a quartet? And when exactly was Paul's last shows?

May 21-28 - Twin Coaches / Pittsburgh, PA
May 31 - Honolulu International Center / Honolulu, HI
June 18 - Cow Palace / San Francisco, CA
June 19 - The Forum / Los Angeles, CA
June 28-July 4 - Carter Barron Amphitheatre / Washington D.C.
July 18 - Edgewater Park Ballroom / Detroit, MI

[jboy88]

Ricky was gone after the Carter Barron run, if not after the second show. Damon Harris auditioned between shows during that week. As for Paul Williams, his final show was in Chicago on July 25th. His final show with Otis present was probably the Detroit date.

[jsmith]

The Temptations played Pittsburgh Civic Arena, Pittsburgh on February 5th -- was that Eddie's last show as a member of the group ?
The group's next [[known) gigs were 21st to 29th May @ Twin Coaches, Belle Vernon, Pa -- is it known who the members were for these shows ?
Next Honolulu & then the Cow Palace, SanFran.
... Then came the LA Forum show on 19th June without Otis performing in the group.
They played Edgewater Park Ballroom, Detroit on 18th July. That venue had been a local 'happy hunting ground' for Motown stars but by 1971, Invictus & Hot Wax groups were muscling in on the act.
Over a months break followed before a show @ the Kentucky State Fair on 21st August [[Freedom Hall, Louisville). I guess the new group line-up was in place for this show [[Damon, no Paul but Richard in his place on stage) & the month's break had been used to get the new guys up to speed.
Then @ the end of August, gigs @ Painters Mill Theatre, Maryland.
The music press & newspapers hadn't kept up with changes in the group as the Painters Mill gigs [[end of Aug / Sept) press info had the group members still being Eddie, Paul, Melvin, Otis & Dennis.
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[jsmith]

In summer 1971 they were asking ARE THE TEMPTATIONS DEAD ...
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[jboy88]

As frustrating as it was for the group, David Ruffin showing up unannounced during Dennis Edward’s first appearances, must have given Dennis a tremendous boost of confidence to take on his new position. Despite his bitterness towards his former group mates, David gave Dennis his blessings.

Eddie Kendricks on the other hand, likely couldn’t have cared less about his replacement. He wanted to get as far from Otis and Melvin as possible. So him popping up for a “special appearance” was not in the cards for Ricky Owens. He was left to the mercy of hostile fans who were still angry about Eddie leaving the group.

[jsmith]

The 'classic' sound of the Tempts was almost 100% based around David & Eddie's lead vocal work ... so I can fully understand the group's fans being totally pissed off in 1971 with both exceptional singers being gone from the group at that time.
It's just a pity that Motown didn't really seem to furnish either of them [[as solo singers) with top class material on a regular basis. Otherwise, Motown could have ended up with a Teddy P type of situation [[or Lionel Richie / Commodores; Diane / Supremes; Smokey / Miracles scenario).

[jsmith]

Just days before he quit the group, Eddie fronting them up on the Ed Sullivan show [[31st Jan 71) ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvhwFAuvLwc