If you want to learn more about life with The Temptations, read the book titled "Temptations", or view the miniseries titled " The
Temptations - the Unforgettable Story of one of Motown s Hottest Acts", click on Store for
more information.
If you want to learn more about life with The Temptations, read the book titled "Temptations", or view the miniseries titled " The Temptations - the
Unforgettable Story of one of Motown s Hottest Acts", click on Store for
more information.
| ...the story goes on | |
| 2006 | "Reflections" album released |
| 2004 | "Legacy" album released |
| 2003 | G.C. Cameron and Joe Herndon join The Temptations |
| 2002 | Updated Edition of "Temptations" published by Cooper Square Press |
| 2001 | "Awesome" released "The Best of The Temptations Christmas" released |
| 2000 | "Ear-Resistible" released, Fresh Hit "I'm Here" Grammy Winner, Best Traditional R&B Recording |
| 1998 | "Phoenix Rising" Platinum Single "Stay" tops Billboard AC Charts for 3 months - biggest selling album of
their career "Phoenix Rising" nominated for Traditional R&B Vocal Performance; "Stay" nominated for R&B Vocal Performance by Duo or Group The Temptations miniseries airs on NBC, number one in timeslots; "Anthology: The best of Temptations" jumps from 1400 to 4 for sales on amazon.com Theo Peoples leaves, Barrington Henderson "Bo" joins |
| 1997 | George Jackson becomes President of Motown, understands The Temptations |
| 1996 | Ali Ollie Woodson is relieved of his duties and Terry Weeks joins in England mid-tour |
| 1994 | January -- "For Lovers Only" released - a collection of classic songs Melvin's FINAL Recording with The Temptations "Life is but a Dream" Melvin lapses into a coma, dies six days later Bass singer Ray Davis brought on to complete the album Due to health problems, Ray has to leave the group Harry McGillberry "Harry Berry" joins |
| 1993 | Richard Street leaves The Temptations for the last time |
| 1991 | The Jones #4 R&B June 1- David Ruffin dies of crack cocaine overdose, Eddie, Melvin, Ron, Richard & Otis sing "My Girl" at David's ceremony; last time Otis will sing with Eddie October 5 - Eddie Kendricks dies |
| 1990 | "Soul to Soul" #12 R&B |
| 1989 | The Temptations inducted into Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Last time Eddie, Melvin, Otis, David, and Dennis are together Richard Street, Ron Tyson and Ali Ollie Woodson also attend The "Now Tempts" hit the road 30 - 40 weeks a year Dennis Edwards leaves for a 3rd time Ali Ollie Woodson rejoins |
| 1988 | "Temptations", my memoir written with Patricia Romanowski, is published by Putnam Showtime Special with the Four Tops shot at Hitsville and Roostertale, Detroit Berry Gordy sells Motown |
| 1987 | Ollie out for lateness, Dennis Edwards back Motown contract renewed "I Wonder Who She's Seeing Now" features harmonica solo by Stevie Wonder |
| 1983 | Motown 25 Special, The Temptations & The Four Tops "battle" TNT tour kicks off and still runs to this day Lamont Williams dies in a construction accident at the age of 23. Goldie and I get married |
| 1982 | Ron Tyson and Ali Ollie Woodson join The Temptations Back to Basics - Norman Whitfield produces 5 of 8 tracks Shelly Berger leaves Motown - starts own management firm |
| 1981 | Motown records "Reunion" album, launches national tour Tour contract contingent on all 7 appearing in shows, David misses first 3 shows |
| 1980 | Otis visits his father, Otis Miles/Sonny One; Melvin comes along |
| 1979 | Atlantic releases last single from "Bare Back " Terminates relationship with The Temptations Louis leaves group. Dennis starts calling Melvin, Dennis, Eddie, David meet in Philly to discuss a reunion; it doesn 't happen Meet with Berry Gordy to rejoin Motown Record " Power" Miami Race Riots cause stations to drop " Power" from playlists |
| 1977 | The Temptations sign with Atlantic Records Melvin shot by car thief, misses European tour |
| 1976 | Motown reverses the rights to the name Temptations to me and Melvin |
| 1975 | Concert in Manila The Temptations sing "Ain't Too Proud to Beg" to Mohammed Ali before his fight with Joe Frazier |
| 1974 | "Heavenly" honored at the American Music Awards The Temptations not able to attend, Motown President Ewart Abner's acceptance speech alienates disc jockeys, record gets little airplay Goldie and I meet |
| 1973 | Ann & I end our marriage August -- Paul Williams found dead of a self-inflicted gun shot wound to the head |
| 1971 | "Papa Was a Rolling Stone" 4th #1 - 2 million copies sold March -- Eddie officially leaves The Temptations Ricky Owens in for one show only Damon Harris joins for 4 years |
| 1970 | My Mother, Hazel Louise Williams dies. We spoke before I left on tour. |
| 1969 | David Ruffin records " My Whole World Has Ended " May -- The Temptations appear at Tricia Nixon' s Masque Ball at the White House |
| 1968 | David Ruffin relieved of his duties with The Temptations Dennis Edwards invited to join the group Dennis debuts with The Temptations at the Forum, break the Supremes attendance record of 20,000 by 7 seats NBC Special airs " TCB: Diana Ross, The Supremes and The Temptations Taking Care of Business ", the first Black television special in history Martin Luther King assassinated at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, a motel at which The Temptations had stayed, while touring |
| 1967 | Release " In a Mellow Mood", a collection of standards I meet Ann Cain July -- "Lots of Soul" album released |
| 1966 | Norman Whitfield arranges The Temptations songs for 5 distinct lead singers rather than one lead and a do-wop
chorus Introduction of the 4-mike stand which gives us more individual presence and facilitates our intricate dance moves |
| 1965 | " My Girl" first #1 selling one million copies Choreographer Cholly Atkins builds moves around the singing BBC Special "The Sound of Motown" |
| 1964 | "The Way You Do the Things You Do" #11 Josephine and I divorce |
| 1963 | Al Bryant is out, David Ruffin joins The Temptations |
| 1962 | None of the released singles hit The Temptations release material under the name The Pirates |
| 1961 | Josephine Rogers and I marry My son, Otis Lamont Williams is born. He was always known as Lamont |
| 1960 | Berry Gordy hears The Distants sing at St. Stephen Community Center; during a chance meeting in the men' s
room, Berry gives Otis his TAMLA-Motown business card The Distants leave Johnnie Mae Matthews, and she keeps the name! The Primes deal falls apart. Eddie Kendricks and Paul Williams join the group, naming themselves The Elgins after the watch. The Elgins audition for Berry Gordy He signs the group but tells them to change the name! |
| 1959 | Otis hears Melvin Franklin sing with the Voicemasters Asks Melvin' s mom if he can join The Distants Al Bryant/James Crawford/Melvin Franklin/Richard Street/ Otis Williams record " Come On/Always " as The Distants on Specialty Records |
| 1958 | WCBH Joltin Joe Howard announced over the radio for Otis Williams & the Distants to get in contact with WCHB radio station. Johnnie Mae Matthews manages The Distants. |
| 1956 | I form a singing group with 4 other guys
and try to break into the record business.
I endure my first process hairstyle, a "Tony Curtis." |
| 1955 | At thirteen, I meet James Bowman a.k.a. Red , an older kid who has his own singing group. I hang out and see what it' s all about. |
| 1952-53 | I make new friends, collect comic books, dodge gangs, ride my J.G. Higgins red and white bicycle, and decide girls are wonderful. |
| 1951 | Hazel brings me to Detroit to live with her and my
stepfather Edgar Little in an apartment on Brush & Alfred.
My half-brother Allan and half-sister Denise born shortly thereafter. |
| 1942-50 | I'm raised by my paternal grandmother, Gooden, but my 1950 maternal grandmother, Lucinda (Eliga) also took an active role in my childhood. |
| 1941 | I was born October 30, to Hazel Louise Williams and Otis Miles a.k.a. Sonny One in Texarkana, Texas. |