Dennis Edwards, Temptations Lead Vocalist, Dies

Who out there hasn’t been touched by the definitive male vocal group of the 60s, The Temptations? The band succeeded in captivating fans with their tight harmonies and their fine-tuned choreography for over five decades. Today the Best Classic Bands newsletter arrived in my inbox informing me of the death of Temptations’ lead vocalist Dennis Edwards.

As I read through the news, I thought I’d go ahead and snag the article, written by the Best Classic Bands staff, and post it here to share with you, in its entirety. I also put together a nice little Temptations playlist for your enjoyment, which you can find at the end of this post. Grab your headphones, turn up the volume and groove to what surely will be some of your favorites.

by Best Classic Bands Staff

This uncredited photo of Dennis Edwards accompanied Otis Williams’ tribute on the Temptations Facebook page on Feb. 2, 2018

Dennis Edwards, who was the first to replace one of the so-called “Classic 5” members of the popular soul vocal group The Temptations, died today (Feb. 2), one day before his 75th birthday. His family announced that Edwards died in Chicago, though no cause of death was revealed.

Edwards joined the Motown singing group in 1968, replacing original member David Ruffin, and sang lead vocal on many of their most popular hits including 1968’s “Cloud Nine” (#6 pop, #2 R&B), 1969’s “I Can’t Get Next to You” (#1 on both charts), 1970’s “Ball of Confusion (That’s What the World is Today)” (#3 pop, #2 R&B) and 1972’s “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone” (#1 pop, #5 R&B).

Four of the original members of the group–Ruffin, Eddie Kendricks, Paul Williams and Melvin Franklin –predeceased Edwards. Only Otis Williams survives. On the group’s Facebook page, Williams wrote:

“We learned today with great sadness of the passing of our brother, Dennis Edwards. He is now at peace, and our love and prayers go out to his family. At this moment and always, we acknowledge his extraordinary contribution to The Temptations legacy, which lives on in the music. Temptations, forever.”

Watch the Temptations perform “Ball of Confusion”

In their long career, the group enjoyed 16 U.S. Top 10 pop hits and a whopping 45 Top 10s on the R&B chart. Their first hit was the 1964 song “The Way You Do the Things You Do” which reached #11 pop and R&B, with Kendricks singing lead. One year later, they scored their first #1 pop hit, “My Girl,” with Ruffin on lead vocal.

Along with Diana Ross & the Supremes, Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder, the Four Tops and Marvin Gaye, the Temptations were among the biggest acts for the label empire known as Hitsville U.S.A. (The Temptations’ recordings actually came out on the Gordy Records imprint.) Soon after, they were joined by the Jackson 5, the Commodores, and more.

In 1977, Edwards was fired from the Temptations. He returned in 1980 when they re-joined Motown after a brief, and unsuccessful run on Atlantic Records. He ultimately sang with Ruffin on the group’s 1982 Reunion album.

The Temptations–including Edwards–were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989.

Edwards was born February 3, 1943, in Fairfield, Alabama, outside of Birmingham. The son of a pastor, he joined a gospel vocal group in his teens. In 1966, he signed with Motown, who briefly assigned him to the Contours. Within two years, he replaced Ruffin in the Temptations.

Edwards earned three Grammy Awards with the Temptations—Best Rhythm and Blues Performance by a Duo or Group for “Cloud Nine” for 1968, and Best R&B Instrumental Performance and Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo, Group, or Chorus for “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone” for 1972. The Temptations were also honored with the Recording Academy’s Lifetime Achievement Award for 2013.

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Watch the Temptations perform “I Can’t Get Next to You”

 

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And here’s a little playlist I put together of some favorite Temptations songs, most of which feature Dennis Edwards (although a few are from the time before Edwards joined the group in 1968, in which case David Ruffin is the lead vocals).

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What are your favorite Temptations songs?

Do you have a special Temptations memory?

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Check this out: This link was provided at the end of the article as a related tidbit so if you’re interested in all things Motown, you might be interested in this book from 2016:

Authors discuss their stunning Motown book

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