The Temptations

Formed in Detroit in 1961 from the coming together of members of the Distants and the Primes, The Temptations first established themselves in the wake of Motown's soul and rhythm and blues, with a male quintet whose tight harmonies, the interplay between lead voices and the choreographic work became a signature. After hesitant beginnings, the group found its first turning point with Smokey Robinson, who wrote and produced notably 'My Girl' in 1964, then followed with 'The Way You Do the Things You Do', 'Ain’t Too Proud to Beg' or 'I Wish It Would Rain'. The period led by David Ruffin, Eddie Kendricks, Paul Williams, Melvin Franklin and Otis Williams remains central, before the arrival of Dennis Edwards in 1968 and the shift driven by producer Norman Whitfield toward a harder, psychedelic and progressive soul, audible on Cloud Nine (1969), Puzzle People (1969), Psychedelic Shack (1970), All Directions (1972) or Masterpiece (1973). Over the decades, The Temptations have undergone many lineup changes and evolved their repertoire toward funk and then a more contemporary R&B, while continuing to record, tour and revisit their vocal heritage. Among the later milestones are Phoenix Rising (1998), Ear-Resistible (2000), Still Here (2010), All the Time (2018) and Temptations 60 (2022). Today, The Temptations still march on around Otis Williams, the last founding member still on stage.