R.I.P. The Agony and Ecstasy of Dennis Edwards, Temptations Lead Singer and Soul Legend

[DonViejo]

“It was Edwards’ approach that came to define the Temptations vocally throughout the 1970s and into the 1980s,” writes Stereo Williams of the late soul crooner.

STEREO WILLIAMS
02.02.18 10:40 PM ET

Dennis Edwards, lead singer of the Temptations from 1968 to 1977, passed away on February 2 at the age of 74. Edwards famously joined the iconic Motown group to replace David Ruffin, the bespectacled vocal dynamo who’d been center stage on such classics as “Ain’t Too Proud To Beg,” “My Girl” and “I Wish It Would Rain.” Stepping into such large shoes has never been easy, but Dennis Edwards would not only sustain the Temptations—he would amplify their musical legacy.

It was Ruffin who gave the thumbs-up for his friend Edwards to replace him in the group, even telling Edwards about the proposed hiring beforehand. He’d been performing with another Motown act, The Counters, and had been vying for a chance at stardom for years. Born in Alabama, Edwards moved to Detroit with his family when he was ten years old. He sang in his father’s church and eventually joined the gospel act The Mighty Clouds of Joy but was turned on by the growing soul sounds coming out of Detroit. And he was inspired by a legend who had crossed over.

“Sam Cooke was a gospel singer like myself and when he crossed over and started singing rock ‘n’ roll, it kind of gave me the green light to go ahead and do it,” Edwards told The News Times in 2004. “At that time, our parents thought it was a bad thing to do. Singing rock ‘n’ roll, they called it singing for the devil. But we all wanted an opportunity to compete in the music industry and that was the opportunity.”

After some false starts, Dennis landed at Motown and with The Contours. But replacing Ruffin in one of the world’s most famous musical acts was stepping up to another level.

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[TheFrenchRazor]

1. RIP. lot of great oldies playing in Clear Lake IA this week; must be anniversary of Buddy Holly's

and big bopper, rudy valen's death in plane crash way back when. my family is from there, so i noticed it. pretty soon nobody will remember these great musicians; it's sad, but their music will live on.