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Temptations music biography continued...

in the early 60s from two rival groups, The Temptations worked the local talent shows with a lineup of Eldridge Bryant, Otis Williams, Paul Williams, Eddie Kendricks and the group's true vocal anchor, bass singer Melvin Franklin. By the time they landed at Motown with their first hit in 1964, Smokey Robinson's "The Way You Do The Things You Do," Bryant had been replaced by David Ruffin, and the most famous version of the group was in place. Led by Ruffin's gruff, passionate baritone and Kendricks' soaring falsetto, the group scored one classic hit after another over the next several years, including such signature Temptations songs as "My Girl," "It's Growing" and "Since I Lost My Baby." The Temptations currently hold 13 gold and six platinum albums. The group's chart statistics are unparalleled: between 1964 and 1975 19 Top 20 albums. Over its career, the group has had 37 Top 40 singles (among them 15 Top 10s, including 4 at #1) and 32 R&B Top 10 albums (including 17 at #1).
During their heyday, The Temptations were known for "their ability to move comfortably from smooth pop and standards to provocative, politically charged rock soul, from the Apollo to the Copacabana (and back)." (Rolling Stone). Despite personnel changes and conflicts, through an untold number of triumphs and setbacks, the Temptations, with Franklin and Otis Williams at the helm, forged ahead. Today, with Williams the sole surviving original member, the group continues. Their final Motown album, Legacy, was released in 2004. Later that year, The Temptations asked to be released from their Motown contract, and moved to another Universal Motown Records Group label, New Door Records. Their latest album, Reflections, was released in January 2006, and contained covers of several popular Motown songs, including Diana Ross & the Supremes' "Reflections", the Miracles' "Ooo Baby Baby", Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell's "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing", and the Jackson 5's "I'll Be There." The Temptations were nominated for the 2007 Grammy Award for Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance, for their version of Gaye's "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)" from Reflections, giving fans old and new, a fresh look a living institution.