On August 6, 2004, James Ambrose Johnson Jr. aka Rick James died aged 56. He was a singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer, known as “The King of Punk-Funk”. He was a member of few bands, before starting a successful recording career after signing with Motown’s “Gordy Records”. James released twelve studio albums, plus one released posthumously in 2007. As a songwriter and producer, he worked with Smokey Robinson, the Temptations, Teena Marie, The Mary Jane Girls, and Eddie Murphy.
Tag Archives: The Temptations
Arthur Crier
On July 22, 2004, Arthur G.L. Crier died aged 69. He was singer, songwriter, and music producer, member of The Halos, worked with The Four Tops, The Temptations, Little Eva, Gene Pitney, Ben E. King, The Coasters, and Johnny Nash.
Robert Kreinar
On July 16, 2012, Robert Kreinar aka Bob Babbitt died aged 74. He was musician (bass), member of the “Motown Records” studio band The Funk Brothers, MFSB for “Philadelphia International Records”, and founding member of Scorpion. As a session musician Babbitt recorded for Frank Sinatra, Barry Manilow, Gloria Gaynor, Robert Palmer, Alice Cooper, Gladys Knight & the Pips, The Spinners, Stevie Wonder, Edwin Starr, Smokey Robinson & the Miracles, Marvin Gaye, Freda Payne, The Temptations, and The Main Ingredient. “Bass Player” magazine ranked Babbitt at number 59 on its list of the “100 Greatest Bass Players of All Time”.
Uriel Jones
On March 24, 2009, Uriel Jones died aged 74. He was musician (drums), session drummer for Motown’s in-house studio band, the Funk Brothers, during the 1960s and early 1970s. He has recorded with many famous artists including Marvin Gaye, Tammi Terrell, Diana Ross, The Temptations, Smokey Robinson & the Miracles, Stevie Wonder, Carl Dixon BandTraxs and Spider Webb.
The Temptations: In a Mellow Mood
On November 27, 1967, “Motown” label released “The Temptations in a Mellow Mood”, the sixth Temptations studio album. It was recorded 1966 – 1967, and was produced by Frank Wilson and Jeffrey Bowen.
Personnel:
- David Ruffin– vocals
- Eddie Kendricks– vocals
- Paul Williams– vocals
- Melvin Franklin– vocals
- Otis Williams– vocals
- B. Barnum– arrangements
- Oliver Nelson– arrangements
- Don Costa– arrangements
- Frank Wilson– executive producer
Track listing:
- Hello Young Lovers – Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein II
- A Taste of Honey – Ric Marlow, Bobby Scott
- For Once in My Life – Ron Miller, Orlando Murden
- Somewhere – Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim
- Ol’ Man River – Hammerstein, Jerome Kern
- I’m Ready for Love – Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, Eddie Holland
- Try to Remember – Tom Jones, Harvey Schmidt
- Who Can I Turn To (When Nobody Needs Me) – Leslie Bricusse, Anthony Newley
- What Now My Love? – Gilbert Bécaud, Pierre Delanoë, Carl Sigman
- That’s Life – Dean Kay, Kelly Gordon
- With These Hands – Benny Davis, Abner Silver
- The Impossible Dream – Joe Darion, Mitch Leigh
Dennis Edwards
On February 2, 2018, Dennis Edwards died aged 74. He was singer and musician (piano), member of The Mighty Clouds of Joy, Dennis Edwards and the Fireballs, The Contours, but was best known as lead singer in The Temptations. Edwards was leading vocal on some of the group’s biggest hits including “I Can’t Get Next to You”, “Ball of Confusion” and “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone”. In the period between 1984 -1993, Edwards released three solo albums.
The Temptations: With a Lot of Soul
On July 17, 1967, “Gordy” label released “The Temptations with a Lot o’ Soul”, the fifth Temptations (The) studio album. It was recorded 1966 – 1967, in Hitsville, Detroit, and was produced by Norman Whitfield, Smokey Robinson, Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, Frank Wilson and Ivy Jo Hunter.
Personnel:
- David Ruffin– vocals (baritone, tenor)
- Eddie Kendricks– vocals (tenor, falsetto)
- Paul Williams– vocals (baritone)
- Melvin Franklin– vocals (bass)
- Otis Williams– vocals (tenor, baritone)
Track listing:
- (I Know) I’m Losing You – Cornelius Grant, Edward Holland, Jr., Norman Whitfield
- Ain’t No Sun Since You’ve Been Gone – Cornelius Grant, Sylvia Moy, Norman Whitfield
- All I Need – Frank Wilson, E. Holland, Dean Taylor
- (Loneliness Made Me Realize) It’s You That I Need – Holland, Norman Whitfield
- No More Water in the Well – Warren Moore, Smokey Robinson, Bobby Rogers
- Save My Love for a Rainy Day – Roger Penzabene, Norman Whitfield
- Just One Last Look – Holland–Dozier–Holland
- Sorry is a Sorry Word – Holland, Ivy Jo Hunter
- You’re My Everything – Cornelius Grant, Roger Penzabene, Norman Whitfield
- Now That You’ve Won Me – Smokey Robinson
- Two Sides to Love – Sylvia Moy, Norman Whitfield
- Don’t Send Me Away – Eddie Kendricks, Smokey Robinson
The Temptations: Meet The Temptations
On March 20, 1964, “Gordy” label released “Meet the Temptations”, the debut Temptations album for the Gordy (Motown) label. It was recorded 1961-January 1964, and was produced by Berry Gordy, Andre Williams, William “Mickey” Stevenson, Smokey Robinson, and Norman Whitfield.
Personnel:
- Eddie Kendricks – vocals
- Paul Williams – vocals
- Melvin Franklin – vocals
- Otis Williams – vocals
- Elbridge “Al” Bryant – vocals
- Davis “David” Ruffin – vocals
- Eddie Holland – backing vocals
- Brian Holland – backing vocals
- Berry Gordy – executive producer
- Smokey Robinson – executive producer
Track listing:
- The Way You Do the Things You Do – Smokey Robinson, Bobby Rogers
- I Want a Love I Can See – Smokey Robinson
- (You’re My) Dream Come True – Berry Gordy, Jr.
- Paradise – Berry Gordy
- May I Have This Dance – Janie Bradford, Norman Whitfield
- Isn’t She Pretty – Berry Gordy, Eddie Kendricks, Otis Williams
- Just Let Me Know – Berry Gordy
- Your Wonderful Love – Berry Gordy
- The Further You Look, the Less You See – Smokey Robinson, Norman Whitfield
- Check Yourself – Elbridge Bryant, David English, Berry Gordy, Otis Williams
- Slow Down Heart – Smokey Robinson
- Farewell My Love – Berry Gordy
T, J, Tindall
On January 26, 2016, Thomas Joshua Tindall aka T.J. Tindall died aged 65. He was musician (guitar), as member of MFSB he was one of the architects of the Philadelphia Sound. Tindall recorded with many musicians and bands including the O’Jays, the Trammps, Lou Rawls, Teddy Pendergrass, Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, Blue Magic, the Intruders, the Three Degrees, Bonnie Raitt, the Chambers Brothers, the Jacksons, Robert Palmer and the Temptations.Tindall was inducted twice into the “Philadelphia Music Alliance’s Walk of Fame” as a member of MFSB and the Salsoul Orchestra.
Eddie Hazel
On December 23, 1992, Edward Earl “Eddie” Hazel died aged 42. He was musician (guitar), recorded and performed with The Temptations, George Clinton, Axiom Funk and Bootsy Collins, but was best known as lead guitarist of Parliament and Funkadelic. In 1997, he was posthumous inducteed in the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame”, together with fifteen other members of Parliament and Funkadelic.
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