In the public’s eye, no one epitomizes the Motown Sound and legacy more than the legendary The Temptations.
Just the mere mention of the group evokes class, peerless talent, unequaled dance moves and stage show, and vocal prowess that remains the bar that the newest generation of pop and R&B superstars still aspire to.
The group has been awarded more than 50 Gold, Platinum, and Multi-Platinum Records all combined. They have won five Grammy Awards and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989.
The Temptations’ hit singles are now woven into the fabric of not just music history, but the American and worldwide psyche – “The Way You Do the Things You Do,” “Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me),” “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg,” “I Can’t Get Next to You,” “Get Ready,” and “My Girl” – which many call it the group’s magnum opus.
“My Girl” officially hit one billion Spotify streams for its 60th anniversary, putting the group among only a small number of artists to ever reach this milestone. To celebrate further, the single has been officially entered into the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress.
At the height of their powers, The Temptations weren’t afraid to rock the boat with their career, taking on heavy social issues through their music in the vibrant and unsettled 1960s with chart-toppers like “Papa Was A Rolling Stone,” “Cloud Nine,” “Psychedelic Shack,” and “Ball of Confusion.”
The group still remains one of the best-selling brands in the entertainment world today. Founder Otis Williams has continued to lead and carry the torch forward for the next generation of the group’s fans and has been and still is the chief architect of The Temptations’ evolution throughout the 20th and 21st centuries.
He touched on their success, upcoming legacy projects, and how Motown played the key role in why older and new music fans continue to show up, discover and re-discover their classic recordings, and elevate The Temptations’ six-decade journey in this exclusive interview.
Al Gomes (Motif) : Having had the success that The Temptations has achieved that has put you in a very exclusive club of iconic recording artists, did you ever envision this kind of success and longevity?
Otis Williams (The Temptations) : Oh no. When we started out, all we wanted to do was sing, have a few hit records, make money, and maybe get some girls. We had no inclination that we would be where we are 64 years later. We were just trying to make it like everybody else.
AG : You have achieved every accolade and award bestowed on an artist in the music industry. Is there anything left that you’d like to achieve?
OW : Well, you know, I’ll still a hungry artist. I don’t really ever want to be taken for being satisfied. We’ve had so many wonderful accomplishments. But you know, this business can be so fickle that you can be sky-high one minute and the next minute feel like you never got off the ground. So my answer to this is that I’m grateful for every moment and never take any of it for granted.
AG : The Temptations four-hour television miniseries is, in my opinion, one of the best music biopics ever. Is it a hard thing to relive certain moments when you’re working on a project like that?
OW : I try not to let that overtake me because I have to stay focused. We’re getting ready to do The Temptations’ docuseries. It will be more in depth of what we’ve been through and why we’re still around. The miniseries and the Broadway play were very successful, and they told to a certain degree what we went through. But I’m going to tell you something, some areas have not been brought up and I don’t want this to be all fame and glory. It’s not always been that way. We’ve had some moments that have made me scratch my head and say “I can’t believe that happened” some 60 odd years later. But I’m really enjoying a lot of the memories.
AG : When will the docuseries be released?
OW : It will be out next year. We will be telling everything that happened throughout our history. I want this docuseries to be a very interesting conversation piece. I want it to be very honest and to reveal to our fans the many things we have gone through that they never would have imagined. I want it to be actual and factual.
AG : Do you still speak to Motown founder Berry Gordy?
OW : Yes – from time to time. I saw him on his birthday when he turned 95. We had a big party for him and I was there. I talked with him and I told him I loved him. He said, “I love you too.” But you know, I have nothing but love for Berry because he believed in us and he took a chance on us. Even when we were going through changes, he said, “Well, I believe in The Temps.” He’s a very special person in my life.
We were originally with a small label in 1959 called Northern Records, and we recorded as Otis Williams & The Distants. When we and the label became disenchanted with one another, I had already talked with Mr. Gordy. He gave me his card. When Northern Records didn’t want to pay us royalties, little did they know that we already had a place to go. Mr. Gordy had already talked to me and said, “I’m starting my own label.” And that’s what we did. It was really a smooth transition from Northern Records to Motown. And we signed with Berry in 1961.
AG : It does seem like The Temptations’ legacy continues to grow and there’s more attention than ever on the group. I’m sure you’re blown away by how you’ve become this American institution. “My Girl” is now a standard and beloved by multiple generations. Do you continue to see an even bigger response from the audiences at the live shows on this current tour?
OW : Yes. Wherever we go. We still get enthusiastic crowds. Young, old, black, white, all races, all ages. It all continues to happen because it goes right to the beginning. One of the beauties of being with Motown is that we went to school and they would teach us about how to conduct ourselves to be a consummate performer. They would tell us, “Conduct yourselves like gentleman on-stage. No swearing. That will turn the audience off. You are there for the fans.” The reason we’ve been around for over 60 years is because of what Motown taught us. If you always have a wonderful show, you can perform anywhere in the world. With us, you never need to worry if you want to bring your kids to our show. We are not that kind of act. Never have been. And we were always grateful to be able to have wonderful teachers at Motown. We had a battery of people who would instill in us how to really be not just good, but great performers.
The Temptations perform live on Thursday, August 28 at 7:30 pm at the Park Theatre and Event Center, 848 Park Avenue in Cranston, RI. Tickets can be purchased at theparkri.com/tickets-events/ or by calling 800-657-8774.