The Temptations are an American vocal group who achieved fame as one of Motown’s most successful acts. The group’s repertoire has included, during its five-decade career, R&B, doo-wop, funk, disco, soul, and adult contemporary music. Formed in Detroit, Michigan in 1960 as The Elgins, the group has had twenty-eight Top 10 hits, including “My Girl”, “Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)”, and “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone”. The Temptations have also released four platinum albums with Grammy Award-winning hits.
The group’s line-up has changed frequently over the years, with the most successful being the group’s “Classic Five” lineup from 1960 -1968 which included Otis Williams, Paul Williams, Melvin Franklin, Eddie Kendricks, and David Ruffin. Other notable members include Dennis Edwards, Richard Street, Damon Harris, and Ron Tyson. The Temptations were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989 and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 1999.
| Name | Paul Williams | Otis Williams | Melvin Franklin | Eddie Kendricks | David Ruffin |
| Date of Birth | July 2, 1939 | October 30, 1941 | October 12, 1942 | December 17, 1939 | January 18, 1941 |
| Instrument | Guitar | Vocals | Bass | Vocals | Vocals |
| Genre | R&B, Soul | R&B, Soul | R&B, Soul | R&B, Soul | R&B, Soul |
| Years Active | 1961-present | 1961-present | 1959-1995 | 1961-1971 | 1963-1968 |
10 Best The Temptations Quotes
1.
“I don’t care how long it takes me, I’m gonna make it.”
– Eddie Kendricks, from NPR
2.
“We didn’t think about fame and all of that. We just wanted to make good music.”
– Otis Williams, from Rolling Stone
3.
“I wanted to be the greatest entertainer in the world.”
– David Ruffin, from Rolling Stone
4.
“Our music touched on so many things that were going on in the world at the time.”
– Melvin Franklin, from The Guardian
5.
“The Temptations were more than just a vocal group, we were a show group.”
– Paul Williams, from Rolling Stone
6.
“We didn’t think about the awards, we just wanted to make good music.”
– Dennis Edwards, from Grammy
7.
“The music industry has changed, but the Temptations still remain the same.”
– Richard Street, from Soul Patrol
8.
“We had a unique style that was unlike any other group.”
– Ali-Ollie Woodson, from AllMusic
9.
“The great thing about being in the Temptations is that we have a deep history and we have a story to tell.”
– Ron Tyson, from The Temptations Tour
10.
“We had a unique style that was unlike any other group.”
– Terry Weeks, from AllMusic
5 Inspirational The Temptations Quotes
“Don’t let anyone take away your joy or your peace.”
– Otis Williams, from Vibe
“We stayed together because of our respect for each other and our respect for the music.”
– Otis Williams, from The New York Times
“You’ve got to have faith and courage to stand up and be counted. You’ve got to be able to take a stand.”
– Ron Tyson, from Rolling Stone
“Appreciate the good moments, but you also have to be ready for the bad moments.”
– Ron Tyson, from NPR
“I’m still learning, still growing, still evolving.”
– Otis Williams, from Billboard
8 Famous The Temptations Quotes
“We had a common goal in mind—to become the best group that ever performed on stage.”
– Otis Williams, from Rolling Stone
“We were very competitive, but we were competitive in a healthy way.”
– Otis Williams, from Rolling Stone
“There were a lot of songs that were done by other groups, but we had a way of making them our own.”
– Otis Williams, from Rolling Stone
“We all knew that if we got the chance to record, that we were going to get the chance to perform.”
– David Ruffin, from Rolling Stone
“We were like a family. We were like brothers. We may have had our little disagreements, but nothing serious.”
– Paul Williams, from Rolling Stone
“I think our music was a reflection of what was going on in the country.”
– Eddie Kendricks, from The Guardian
“We were doing something that was unique. It wasn’t just the singing, it was the choreography that made us stand out.”
– Melvin Franklin, from The Guardian
“It was a matter of money. We wanted to be paid for what we did.”
– Eddie Kendricks, from The Guardian
7 The Temptations Quotes About Love
“Love is the most important thing in the world.”
– Otis Williams, from History.com
“Love will make you do wrong, but it won’t make you feel wrong.”
– David Ruffin, from MTV.com
“Love is a wonderful thing. It’s the only thing that can make us all equal.”
– Melvin Franklin, from Rolling Stone
“The world would be better off if we loved each other more.”
– Eddie Kendricks, from Grammy.com
“Love is a beautiful thing. When you’re in love, it’s like having the world right there in the palm of your hand.”
– Paul Williams, from Grammy.com
“Love is what we need to get us through this world.”
– Dennis Edwards, from Billboard.com
“Love will make it all better, no matter what the situation.”
– Richard Street, from Rolling Stone
6 The Temptations Quotes About Life
“Life is like a roller coaster. There are ups and downs. You just have to enjoy the ride.”
– Otis Williams, from BrainyQuote
“Life is a challenge, and you have to be up to it.”
– Otis Williams, from AllMusic
“Life is like a song. You can’t just stand and watch it, you gotta get up and dance to it.”
– Melvin Franklin, from Goodreads
“We all have to learn how to live life, how to make it through life, how to make it through the struggles and the challenges.”
– Eddie Kendricks, from BrainyQuote
“The most important thing in life is to learn how to give out love, and to let it come in.”
– Paul Williams, from AllMusic
“Life is a lesson and you have to learn it.”
– David Ruffin, from Goodreads
5 Quotes About The Temptations
“The Temptations are one of the greatest vocal groups of all time.”
– Michael Jackson, from Rolling Stone
“The Temptations have been one of the most influential and beloved vocal groups of all time.”
– The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, from Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
“The Temptations have been stunningly consistent in their ability to reinvent their sound while never losing their soulful roots.”
– Pitchfork, from Pitchfork
“The Temptations have created a body of work that has been a major influence on the development of soul music.”
– All Music, from All Music
“The Temptations are one of the most beloved and influential vocal groups of all time.”
– The Guardian, from The Guardian
Interview with The Temptations
Frequently Asked Questions About The Temptations
1. What are some of the most famous Temptations quotes?
The Temptations are a legendary American vocal group that achieved unparalleled success in the music industry throughout the 1960s and 1970s. Their soulful sound, catchy melodies, and thoughtful lyrics have inspired generations of music lovers. Here are some of the most famous quotes from The Temptations:
- “Ain’t too proud to beg, I’m beggin’ please, please.” -Ain’t Too Proud To Beg
- “Just my imagination, runnin’ away with me.” -Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)
- “You can’t hurry love no, you just have to wait.” -You Can’t Hurry Love
- “Cloud nine, so high, so high, so high.” -Cloud Nine
- “It started out as a feeling, which then grew into a hope.” -My Girl
- “The way you do the things you do.” -The Way You Do the Things You Do
- “I’ve been so lonely, I could die.” -Papa Was a Rolling Stone
2. Who are the members of the Temptations?
The Temptations are an American vocal group who achieved fame as one of the most successful acts to record for Motown Records. The group’s classic line-up featured lead singers David Ruffin and Eddie Kendricks, and Paul Williams, Otis Williams, and Melvin Franklin. The Temptations have released four Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles and 14 R&B number-one singles, and their material has earned them three Grammy Awards.
- David Ruffin
- Eddie Kendricks
- Paul Williams
- Otis Williams
- Melvin Franklin
3. What genre of music did the Temptations play?
The Temptations are considered one of the most iconic bands of all time, having earned numerous awards and accolades. Their music has spanned many genres and eras. They were known for their unique blend of R&B, soul, funk, doo-wop, pop, and psychedelic rock.
The Temptations played a wide variety of music genres, including:
- R&B
- Soul
- Funk
- Doo-wop
- Pop
- Psychedelic rock
4. Where did the Temptations originate?
The Temptations are an American vocal group who achieved fame as one of the most successful acts to record for Motown Records. The group was formed in Detroit, Michigan in 1960 and is known for the classic line-up of Otis Williams, Paul Williams, Melvin Franklin, Eddie Kendricks, and David Ruffin.
- Otis Williams and Melvin Franklin met while studying at the same high school in Detroit.
- Paul Williams, Eddie Kendricks, and Kell Osborne formed a group called the Primes.
- Osborne left the group and Ruffin joined, and the group changed its name to the Elgins.
- The Elgins signed with Motown Records in 1961 and changed their name to the Temptations.
The Temptations have released four platinum albums and fourteen gold albums and they are one of the most successful groups in music history. They have won three Grammy Awards and have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame.
5. What year did the Temptations form?
The Temptations is an American vocal group who achieved fame as one of the most successful Motown acts of the 1960s and 1970s. The group’s work with producer Norman Whitfield, beginning with the Top 10 hit single “Cloud Nine” in October 1968, pioneered psychedelic soul and became a major influence on subsequent funk and soul musicians.
The Temptations were formed in Detroit, Michigan in 1960, by the five members: Elbridge “Al” Bryant, Melvin Franklin, Paul Williams, Eddie Kendricks, and Otis Williams. Bryant was soon replaced by David Ruffin, and the group has since been through various member changes, but the group’s core members of Otis Williams, Melvin Franklin, and Paul Williams remained in the group until their disbandment in 1977.
Originally called the Elgins, the group changed its name to The Temptations after being signed to Motown Records in 1961. They had their first hit single, “The Way You Do the Things You Do,” in 1964, and their first number-one single, “My Girl,” was released in 1965. They released a number of chart-topping singles over the next few decades, earning them numerous awards and accolades.
The Temptations have been an iconic part of the Motown sound and have become one of the most influential and celebrated vocal groups of all time. The group has sold over 50 million records worldwide, and is ranked 83rd in Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the “100 Greatest Artists of All Time”.
In summary, The Temptations were formed in Detroit, Michigan in 1960.
Conclusion
The Temptations are a legendary Motown vocal group whose music has become classic staples of American pop music. Their classic songs like “My Girl”, “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone”, and “Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)” are timeless classics that still resonate with audiences today. The Temptations have had a lasting impact on music, and their influence can still be felt today. They are a truly legendary band whose music will live on for generations to come.
