Otis Williams and the Temptations’ longtime manager, Shelly Berger, held producer titles. Robinson was just one of several Motown veterans involved in the film. “I sat on the curb listening to Smokey Robinson over the phone sing the theme song. “He says, ‘Allan, can I sing you a theme song?’” Arkush recalls, excitedly. In another surreal moment, he called Arkush on set and asked to be in the film (he makes a cameo as himself at the end) and to contribute music. Robinson was impressed with early footage. Arkush relayed the story to the cast, who acted the scene without a script. The legendary Motown songwriter described summoning the Temptations to his piano to teach them a new song he’d written, called “My Girl.”. “The first time I heard Smokey Robinson sing ‘Shop Around,’ it was like, ‘Wow, what is this?’” Arkush says.Īrkush was thrilled to get an opportunity to have lunch with Robinson early into the production. Directing The Temptations was especially meaningful because he grew up on the music of Motown.
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Airing on NBC on November 1 and 2, 1998, the two-part miniseries covered the highs and lows of the group from its origins in the 1950s to the mid-1990s.īefore getting the gig, director Allan Arkush was a seasoned veteran of musical projects, including the cult classic Rock ‘n’ Roll High School with the Ramones, and episodes of the TV series Fame.
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… so that’s a big compliment.”Īccess to the Motown catalog - the movie featured more than 40 songs - meant viewers could sing along to classic ‘60s and ‘70s hits like “My Girl,” “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg” and “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone.” Based on Otis Williams’ book, Temptations, the script gave fans a look into the largely unknown story behind the music.
1 hit “Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me).” “Most times, people think it was him. “It’s nerve-wracking when you’re doing the iconic song,” says Brooks, who was tasked with re-recording Eddie Kendricks’ lead vocal on the group’s 1971 Hot 100 No. All the men learned the intricate choreography of the original group, and some sang in the film. Woodside (Melvin Franklin) and Christian Payton (Paul Williams).
Rounding out the classic Temps lineup were Charles Malik Whitfield (Otis Williams), Terron Brooks (Eddie Kendricks), D.B. That the quote wasn’t even in the script, but ad-libbed by Leon in rehearsal, is evidence of the movie’s superb casting. Today, Otis Williams continues to tour with a revised lineup of The Temptations, keeping alive the hot sounds and memories of Eddie, David, Paul and Melvin.“It doesn’t bother me,” says Williams, who isn’t defensive, but doesn’t laugh, either. “I’m tougher than that because I know the real deal.” David Ruffin dies of a cocaine overdose Eddie Kendricks develops lung cancer and Melvin Franklin dies from overmedication. Eventually, the group is inducted into the 'Rock and Roll Hall of Fame,' but the group overall pays a heavy price. Even after "Cloud Nine" wins The Temptations their first Grammy, their personal lives continue to disintegrate. The hit "My Girl" sends the group soaring to the top of the charts, but personal demons plague each of the members. Life on the road proves to be difficult for the young men, which leads Paul into alcohol dependency andamp Otis to infidelity. With their first hit "The Way You Do The Things You Do," The Temptations begin touring with the Motortown Revue, doing the standard "one-nighters" andamp living in cheap hotels. After Johnnie Mae drops The Siberians, and after The Primes disband, Paul, Eddie, Otis and Melvin join to become The Temptations, eventually adding David Ruffin to the group. Meanwhile, Eddie Kendricks and Paul Williams are burning up the stages of Detroit as The Primes, who are already signed to Motown by entrepreneur/producer Berry Gordy. They quickly come to the attention of Johnnie Mae Matthews who becomes their manager, producer and promoter. In 1958 Detroit, Michigan, 17-year-old singer Otis Williams partners with 16-year-old Melvin Franklin to form The Siberians. But the climb to the top was plagued by competing egos andamp repeated drug and alcohol abuse.
The Temptations had 16 #1 singles on the Billboard charts and received three Grammy Awards. With a sound that's doo-wop, pop and hip-hop, they are rhythm and blues royalty. David Ruffin, Eddie Kendricks, Melvin Franklin, Paul Williams and Otis Williams are five former street corner singers who managed to become Motown legends.
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