American vocal group The Temptations stood out in the ‘60s and ‘70s for their unique dress sense and choreography, but most of all, for their unmatched harmonization. Being the first Motown act in history to win a Grammy Award, they are inarguably music industry legends.
They started out under the name Elgins, with Paul Williams, Melvin Franklin, Eddie Kendricks, David Ruffin, and Otis Williams, the only surviving member, as pioneers. Decades later, Otis shares his thoughts on how times have changed in music while expressing some displeasure.
Where are the Temptations now?
Being the only original living member of The Temptations, Otis now owns legal rights to the group’s name. Other young vocalists, including Jawan Jackson, Tony Grant, and others, have joined Otis to keep the band running, releasing more albums and singles.
Their hit song “My Girl” hit one billion streams on Spotify just in time for its 60th anniversary. At 83, Otis is still touring with the group, as they recently got off the road and are gearing up for a long list of concerts next year. The Temptations’ first stop on January 4th is at the Steven Tanger Center for the Performing Arts in Greensboro, North Carolina.
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What do the Temptations now think of today’s music?
To Otis, the music of today has failed in the aspect of putting together inoffensive and relatable lyrics. He compared recent songs with The Temptations’ classic “My Girl,” noting that it is a simple song with a memorable melody, hence its success.
He acknowledged that people are entitled to freedom of speech, however lyrics of today’s music are a reflection of where society is headed. He added that kids should not be exposed to such degrading lines and called out radio stations for promoting vulgarity to the hearing of all. To Otis’ delight, some of the younger generation have discovered wholesome songs like “My Girl,” hence the rise in streams.