2 ★
J ★ ittib'Ji*
• ★ iwmqi*
ta«tf« Omwin* <j»«niminit> «r*-M\ "
. gi - . - '■ */''T^‘"'"''‘‘^‘,l^'*"'^""'',*,"',p"' . ' _
y-‘ ■..■-'•* . ■•■■■ . • - v -«■■••■ -•" _. Thursday, October 17. IMS - THE CHARLOTTE POST - Page IB
The Temptations Have Endured
Despite The Obstacles
And now the 80’s are here and
so are the Temptations, doing
what. know how to do best,
alter hit with each
they (hake. Songs like
L_lOn roTop," “Truly
For You” and “treat Her Like A
Lady,’? are testimonies to that
fact. They have endured despite
the seemingly Insurmountable
obstacles placed in their path.
Not only have they faced the
challenges put before than that
occurred in the music industry,
but have effectively minimized
the damage that personnel
changes can have on a group.
When the Temptations formed
hack in the 50’s, the group
consisted of the founder, Otis
Williams, Melvin Franklin,
Eddie Kendricks, \ Elridge
Bryant and Paul Williams By
1963 Bryant had left the group
•and David Ruffin replacpohim.
The live of them were
responsibly for the urtparallelled
success experienced during that
rteeordi ■ with Grammy
THE TT-" STATIONS
-Jwi as “ temptingn cu'ever
awards were standard for the
quintet.
After Paul Williams’ death and
David Ruffin’s departure in ’67,
the Temptations added Dennis-^"
Edwards to the group. Danupr
Harris and Richard Street filled
two of the vacant spots that" were
created when Eddie Kendrick
also made his exit in 71. Four
years later, Qlenn Leonard
replaced Damon Harris and
today, Rotr^fyson claims the
honor of' being the newest
Temnt&tion. As a result of a
number of personnel changes,
Otis Williams and Melvin
Franklin remain the only
original Temptations.
While the members of this
soulful team took on new faces,
nothing altered about the quality
and the style that has become a
trademark for the Temptations.
With their highstepping choreo
graphy was also silk voices that
blended in complete harmony.
As ,trendsetters in music, the 4
Temptations reach for early
/ youthful melodies and chords,
the ones that favored earlier
hits, yet innovative enough to
bring a new type of musical
excitement to any song.
Today the Temptations are:
Otis Williams, Melvin Franklin,
Richard Street, Ron Tyson and
Ollie Woodson.
As founder of the Temptations,
Otis Williams grew up listening
to Hank Ballard and the
Midnighters and Bill Ward and
the Domingos.
The other original Temptation,
Melvin Franklin, is best known
to his fans as the man with the
deep bass voice. His much cele
brated bass is perhaps the most
recognizable one of the
Temptations
Melvin Street was a quality
control evaluator before he
joined the Temptations. Before
that, he was a member of the
Monitors who recorded “Say
You” and “Greetings (This Is
Uncle Sam).”
From North Carolina,
Temptation member Ron
Tyson’s first outing with the
group was the “Motown 25th
Anniversary Special.” Before
becoming a Temptation, Tyson
worked with the group as a
writer-producer. He’s also
worked with the Four Tops,
Curtis Mayfield, The Dells, the
O’Jays and Harold Melvin and
the Bluenotes.
The latest addition to the
Temptations, Ollie Woodson,
once auditioned for the group
back in ’77. Last year, he ran into
Franklin and Williams in Atlanta
and was extended an invitation
to join. He brings to the group a
wealth of experience, having had
stints with James Brown, Issac
Hayes, Patti Austin and Ray
Parker, Jr.
Martin Luther King
Series To Air
“Memories of Martin,” 45, 25
second programs, which can be
linked to a billboard as a 30
Second spot will be aired from
January lb, Dr. King’s birthday,
through Feburary 26, the con
clusion of Black History Month.
“Memories of Martin” is be
ing produced with the assist
ance of Mrs. Coretta King and
the Martin Luther King Jr.
Center for Non-Violent Social
Change in Atlanta.
Harry Belafonte, Sen. Edward
Kennedy, and Rep. Walter
Fauntroy are just a few of the
participants to be signed for the
series.
“Memories of Martin” is a co
production of Black Enter
tainment Television, NEP
Programs, Inc.-TVI and
WNEV-TV, Boston