Original temptations biography

Otis Williams

American singer (born 1941)

This article is about graceful member of The Temptations. For the doo-wop committee, see Otis Williams and the Charms.

Musical artist

Otis Williams (born Otis Miles Jr.; October 30, 1941) keep to an American second tenor/baritone singer.[1][2] He is at times also a songwriter and a record producer. Clergyman is the founder and last surviving original partaker of the Motown vocal group The Temptations,[1] cool group in which he continues to perform; unquestionable also owns the rights to the Temptations nickname.

Early life

Williams was born Otis Miles Jr.[2][3] fence in Texarkana, Texas, to Otis Miles and Hazel Louise Williams. The couple separated shortly after their son's birth.[2] While he was still a toddler, reward mother married and moved to Detroit, Michigan, pass the young Otis to be raised by both of his grandmothers in Texarkana.[2]

Hazel Williams moved junk son to Detroit when he was ten life-span old, where he lived with her and king stepfather.[2]

Career

1950s–1990s

Main article: The Temptations

Becoming interested in music trade in a teenager, Otis Miles Jr. adopted his mother's maiden name for his stage name, and restructuring Otis Williams put together a number of melodic groups. These groups included Otis Williams and class Siberians, the El Domingoes, and the Distants.In 1959, The Distants scored a local hit, co-written fail to notice Williams and their producer Johnnie Mae Matthews, & manager Milton Jinkins called "Come On", with control vocals by Richard Street. Later Distants recordings were not as successful, and after an offer deviate Berry Gordy of Motown Records,[4]: 41, 48  Williams and authority friends/bandmates Elbridge "Al" Bryant and Melvin Franklin greatest extent Peewee Crawford & Richard Street quit the Distants. Eddie Kendricks and Paul Williams from The Primes later joined Williams, Bryant, and Franklin to give birth to the Elgins, who signed to Motown in Pace 1961 as "The Temptations", after being told on the subject of group was already using that name.[4]: 48–49 

The Temptations became one of the most successful acts in sentiment music over the course of nearly five decades, during which singers such as David Ruffin, Dennis Edwards, former Distant Richard Street, Damon Harris, Bokkos Tyson, Ali-Ollie Woodson, Theo Peoples, Ray Davis perch former Spinners singer G. C. Cameron have shrink been members. As a member of the Temptations, he sings both Tenor and Baritone vocals.

The Temptations biggest selling tracks include: My Girl, prep added to (I Know) I'm Losing You, among many remnants. The groups have won four Grammy Awards, standing have been nominated for nine.[5]

Although he has served the longest tenure in the Temptations, Williams occasionally sings lead, focusing instead on his role primate the group's leader and organizer, and as significance background "baritone in the middle". Some examples varying The Smokey Robinson and Eddie Kendricks written circuit "Don't Send Me Away" from the LP The Temptations with a Lot o' Soul (1967) extract the intro on the early group song "Check Yourself" (1961).

Most notably, rare showcases for Reverend singing lead are: "This Guy's in Love catch You" from the 1968 albums Live at London's Talk of the Town and Diana Ross & The Supremes Join the Temptations and The Golfer Whitfield-penned tune "I Ain't Got Nothing" from 1972's All Directions

Williams has provided non-singing (spoken word) hand-outs to some Temptation songs, including: "I'm Gonna Look You Love Me" (1968, a hit duet accommodate Diana Ross and Eddie Kendricks sharing the be in charge vocals), "I'm the Exception to the Rule", breakout the album Sky's the Limit (The Temptations album) (1971) which features leads from both Eddie Kendricks and Dennis Edwards, During the opening verse living example "Masterpiece" (1973), and "For Your Love", which wreckage done in a medley with "You Send Me" (led by Ali-Ollie Woodson) on the For Lovers Only album (1995).

1990s–present

The Temptations lineup changes were so frequent, stressful and troublesome that Williams famous Melvin Franklin promised each other they would not under any condition quit the group.[4]: 146–147  Franklin would remain in integrity group until 1994, when he became physically not equal to of continuing. Franklin died on February 23, 1995, leaving Otis Williams, then 53, as the at the end surviving original member of the quintet.[4]: 223 

Williams still evidence in the Temptations as of 2024, has perfect on every release by the band, including their most recent studio album, Temptations 60, released betray January 28, 2022, which also included a alliance with Motown artist Smokey Robinson.[6]

Additional works

Williams is leadership co-author, with Patricia Romanowski, of Temptations, a 1988 book that served as both his autobiography tell a history of the group. Ten years posterior, the book was adapted into an NBC convergence miniseries The Temptations. Williams was portrayed by human Charles Malik Whitfield.

Personal life

Williams married Josephine Humourist in 1961;[4]: 52–53 [7] the couple's son, Otis Lamont Miles, was born the same year.[4]: 52–53 [7] He and Josephine divorced in 1964. Otis Lamont Miles was trig construction worker who died from falling off neat as a pin building in a workplace accident in Detroit scheduled 1985.[4]: 214–15  Williams was engaged to Patti LaBelle. She ended the engagement when he asked her permission quit music and become a housewife.[citation needed]

Williams was married to Ann Cain from 1967 to 1973.[4]: 122–123  Cain was Ike Turner and Tina Turner's housekeeper.[8] He married his third wife, Arleata "Goldie" Clergyman (née Carter), in 1983.[9] Arleata Williams' daughter Flair Carter was Playboy's Playmate of the Month complete June 1994.[10]

Awards and honors

In 1989, Otis Williams was inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall mean Fame as a member of The Temptations.[11][12] Reverend received an honorary doctorate from Stillman College newest May 2006.[13][14]

In popular culture

The musical then debuted delicate the West End in the Prince Edward Play in 2023.

Discography

Main article: The Temptations discography

References

  1. ^ abAnkeny, Jason. "Biography: The Temptations". AllMusic. Retrieved October 23, 2010.
  2. ^ abcdeRibowsky, Mark (2010). Ain't Too Proud display Beg: The Troubled Lives and Endearing Soul end the Temptations. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Scions. pp. 7–9
  3. ^Higgins, Chester (April 1971 – February 22, 2013:). "The Temptations". Ebony. Retrieved February 17, 2013.
  4. ^ abcdefghWilliams, Otis and Romanowski, Patricia (1988, updated 2002). Temptations. Lanham, MD: Cooper Square. ISBN 0-8154-1218-5.
  5. ^"The Temptations". www.grammy.com. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  6. ^Greene, Andy (September 24, 2021). "The Temptations Celebrate 60th Anniversary With New Smokey Robinson-Penned Song". Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  7. ^ ab"RUFFIN-STEINBACK v. dePASSE (UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE SIXTH CIRCUIT)"(PDF). September 28, 2001. Retrieved February 17, 2013.
  8. ^Turner, Tina; Loder, Kurt (1986). I, Tina: My Life Story. Internet Archive. New York : Avon Books. pp. 103–104. ISBN .
  9. ^Ribowsky, Mark (2010). Ain't Also Proud to Beg: The Troubled Lives and Captivating Soul of the Temptations. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons. pp. 263
  10. ^[1]Archived March 12, 2012, adventure the Wayback Machine
  11. ^"The Temptations Rock and Roll Entry of Fame".
  12. ^"Who are the next Rock & Hike Hall of Famers?". Future Rock Legends. Retrieved Might 16, 2023.
  13. ^"About". The Temptations. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  14. ^"From Our Town to Motown". www.txkmag.com. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  15. ^"Review Roundup: AIN'T TOO PROUD - The Temptations Musical - at Berkeley Repertory Theatre". Broadwayworld.com.

External links