Dr. Otis Clayborn Williams, founding member of the world-renowned, Grammy Award-winning group, The Temptations, is a music legend. From award-winning singer, songwriter to critically acclaimed author, from television producer, and Broadway executive producer to executive producer of the group’s albums, Williams defied all odds, having gone from the dirt roads of rural Texas to the highest heights of Detroit, Motown, and beyond.

One of the world’s most significant and prolific musical institutions of all time, The Temptations are entertainment giants revered for their enduring catalog of music masterpieces. As the solesurviving member of the original Temptations, Williams, now 83, is uniquely one of Detroit’s and America’s national treasures.

Williams has been and still is the chief architect of The Temptations’ evolution throughout the 20th and 21st centuries. Celebrating 60+ years at the forefront of The Temptations, and still performing around the world today, he is a global superstar.

Dr. Otis Williams received an honorary degree, Doctorate of Humane Letters, from Stillman College, a historically Black college and university in Tuscaloosa, Alabama in 2006.

Williams’ personal journey has been documented in his critically acclaimed 1988 autobiography, Temptations, which became the source for both the Emmy® Award-winning television mini-series, Temptations, released in 1998, and most recently the smash hit Broadway musical, Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of The Temptations, which won the 2019 Tony® Award for Best Choreography. Ain’t Too Proud broke house records while on Broadway.

The unique contributions Otis Williams and The Temptations have made to the legacies of Detroit, Motown, The Motown Museum, American Culture and Black communities everywhere, as well as to the global music landscape are undeniable.

Williams said, “In everyone’s life, there are certain key people and events—linchpin friends and incidents without which there’d be an entirely different story to tell. My life has been blessed with many such people and events, and not a small amount of good fortune. But at the heart of my story, of The Temptations’ story, is the place where it all started, the place I will always go back to: Detroit.”

With great affection, Williams often says today, “Detroit was always known for the Big Three: Ford, Chrysler, and GM. However, once Motown, one of the greatest record labels of all time, arrived in the city, it became known for the Big Four: Ford, Chrysler, GM, and Motown.” Williams added, “Looking back, I never could have imagined where my life has taken me. I’m proud of what The Temptations have achieved, and I’m grateful for every opportunity we’ve been so fortunate to receive. The music carries me…”

Born October 30, 1941, in Texarkana, Texas, Williams’ worldview was formed in the homes of his paternal grandmother, Della Gooden and his maternal grandparents Lucinda Eliga and Frank Fisher. The Black Baptist church was at the center of his childhood. His grandparents lived in a segregated community, and he attended an all-black school and an all-black church. Going to church and singing in the gospel choir on Sundays, were beloved rituals during his formative years. He was deeply loved and spoiled as any child brought up by two strict, Godfearing grandmothers could be.

Like many Black families who migrated north in the 50’s, so too did Williams’ mother, Hazel Louise Williams. She found work and a new home among the thriving, working-class black community in Detroit, Michigan. When Otis was eleven years old, he left Texas to join his mother and stepfather, Edgar Little, who worked on the assembly line at Ford Motor Company in Detroit. After arriving in the famous Motor City, it wasn’t long before young Williams set his sights on forming a singing group. Influenced by gospel singers such as the Dixie Hummingbirds, the Swan Silvertones, and others during his early childhood with his grandmothers, Otis did his share of singing in the halls of Hutchins Junior High in Detroit. As a teenager, he was often heard harmonizing with classmate Lamont Dozier of Holland-Dozier-Holland fame in the hallways between classes. Young Williams’ interest in music blossomed when he heard early R&B greats such as Ruth Brown, B.B. King, Nat “King” Cole, and Billy Eckstine on the black radio stations in Detroit. Unlike life in rural Texas, Detroit was a bustling city, filled with bright lights, cars, music, and a strong vibrant Black community.

Once in high school, Williams started attending rock- ‘n’-roll shows at the famous Fox Theater featuring acts like Chuck Berry, Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers and the Cadillacs. Mesmerized by the performers and the roar of live audiences, Otis decided to put his own group together. He pulled together other teenagers from his neighborhood, including Melvin Franklin who attended Northwestern High, the same high school as Otis. With Rock- ‘n’-Roll mania sweeping his generation, Otis formed his first group called Otis Williams and The Siberians, then a group called the El Domingos, and eventually the group, Otis Williams and the Distants. The group consisted of: Otis Williams, Al Bryant, James Crawford, Melvin Franklin, and Richard Street. They released “Come On” in 1959, a song written by Williams. It was while Otis and the group were performing “Come On,” at St. Stephen’s Community Center in Detroit in 1960, that they caught the attention of Berry Gordy. When Otis came off the stage and headed to the bathroom, he encountered Berry Gordy. Impressed with the performance, Berry told Otis if they ever decide to make a change, they should come see him because he was starting his own label.

As fate would have it, after an initial call to Mr. Gordy, Otis got an audition at Motown with writer and producer William “Mickey” Stevenson in 1961. By then William’s group had picked up new members, Eddie Kendricks and Paul Williams and called themselves The Elgins. Impressed with their sound, Stevenson called in Gordy who after hearing the group offered them their first contract on the spot. According to Williams, a few days before signing, they became known as The Temptations. The lineup of the original Temptations included: Otis Williams, Melvin Franklin, Paul Williams, Eddie Kendricks, and Elbridge “Al” Bryant. From the start, Williams said he served as management liaison, Melvin as treasurer, Paul planned the shows and the choreography, Al arranged the transportation and Eddie handled the wardrobe.

In the beginning, besides doing their regular shows, The Temptations did a lot of background singing for other Motown artists. They made their debut at the famed Apollo Theater in Harlem in the early 60s as background singers for Mary Wells, Motown’s leading star at that time. Hoping for a big hit of their own, the group started to tour outside of Michigan. They did shows in cities such as Cleveland, Ohio with acts like Gladys Knight and the Pips, the Halos, and others. Their song, “Dream Come True,” made a minor splash on the R&B chart at #22. In early 1963, The Temptations cut their sixth single, “I Want a Love I Can See” which was their first time working with the two writer-producers who would create the bulk of their greatest hits through the 1960s and 70s: Smokey Robinson and Norman Whitfield.

By December 1963, Al Bryant had left the group, and in 1964, Otis Williams invited David Ruffin, a long-time friend from his neighborhood in Detroit, to join the group. They lived one block from each other, Williams on Philadelphia Street and Ruffin on Euclid Avenue. The group became known as the legendary “Classic Five” –Otis Williams, Melvin Franklin, Eddie Kendricks, Paul Williams, and David Ruffin. The Classic Five broke out with “The Way You Do the Things You Do” which peaked at #11 on the national pop chart in 1964. The history of the legendary “Classic Five” is woven into the fabric of Detroit. Their rise to international fame is deeply rooted in Detroit’s and Motown’s own rich histories and cultures.

What began in Detroit at Motown, when this remarkable combination of soulful voices united, was the genesis of an epic journey that introduced multiple superstars to the world and produced some of the greatest music in the modern era. The Temptations’ versatile voices, synchronized dance steps, handsome style, and dazzling dress, set a new standard that became world famous and is still the group’s distinguished trademark today.

Taken under the wing of Berry Gordy, his executive team, writers and producers, Otis Williams, and his fellow Temptations, like the other famous Motown recording artists were required to participate in Motown’s Artist Development. Amid segregation, civil rights’ struggles, Vietnam protests, the women’s rights movement and all the upheaval of the 60s, The Temptations began touring the country by bus with Motown’s famous Motortown Revue. Generally, a bus carried five or six acts plus the band and Motown chaperones. By this time, the Motown artist roster was extraordinary, with artists such as The Temptations, The Supremes, Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, Mary Wells, Gladys Knight & The Pips, and others. They all developed a camaraderie, and on and off the road used their voices to bring people together.

Christmas Day in 1964, The Temptations were doing a Motortown Revue show at the Brooklyn Fox Theater with the Supremes, the Marvellettes, Marvin Gaye, the Miracles, and Stevie Wonder. The next day Motown released “My Girl.” It charted at #76 three weeks later. It was 1965, when “My Girl” became a #1 Pop chart hit, that was a game changer for Williams and The Temptations. The Temptations were performing at the Apollo Theater in Harlem when they received a telegram from Berry Gordy, The Supremes, The Beatles, and many others, congratulating them on their #1 success. The Temptations’ fan base went global and like The Beatles, they became a household name worldwide. This was a mic drop moment in Williams’ iconic career. It was The Temptations’ first #1 million copy chart hit. “My Girl” would become the group’s magnum opus, and it was inducted into The Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998, and in 2018 it was entered into the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress. “My Girl” has now become a standard. In fall of 2023, “My Girl” was ranked #3 among Billboard’s 500 Best Pop Songs of all time.

With “My Girl” having opened the door to global attention, the group continued to produce a string of hits that topped the charts in the decades to follow. The crowds and venues became bigger and more diverse. This was the dawn of Motown’s golden era, and The Temptations were at the center of it all.

When their longtime manager, Shelly Berger began managing both The Temptations and The Supremes in 1966, The Temptations made countless appearances on TV programs including

The Ed Sullivan Show, The Hollywood Palace, The Dean Martin Show, Shindig, Hullabaloo, The Tonight Show, Where the Action is and The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour. The group Also became a smash hit at the Copacabana nightclub in New York City, one of many major appearances negotiated by Mr. Berger that symbolized acceptance by the entertainment world at large. The Temptations were now show business titans.

By 1967, the Classic Five released their first live album, Temptations Live, which is also the only live album ever recorded featuring David Ruffin. It was recorded at the famous Rooster Tail Club in Detroit on October 3, 1966. The album reached #10 on the Pop chart and was on Billboard’s Top 200 list for almost an entire year.

After David Ruffin’s departure, Dennis Edwards joined the group in 1968. In 1968, and 1969, respectively, Diana Ross and the Supremes and The Temptations starred in primetime network television specials “TCB (Taking Care of Business)” and “G.I.T. (Getting It Together) on Broadway.” Never had two contemporary African American groups headlined their own #1 nationally rated television specials, all produced by Motown, an African American owned company. The “TCB” special was named the #1 rated variety show in 1968 and received an Emmy® nomination. The original cast soundtrack album, TCB, reached #1 on Billboard’s Top 200 Albums chart. At the time, this was an unparalleled accomplishment for African American entertainers. The Temptations helped change the face of primetime television and fueled the growth in the performing arts and entertainment world for African Americans artists forever. Considered trailblazers, The Temptations opened doors for many artists who followed in their footsteps, reaching mainstream audiences here and abroad.

Otis Williams’ dream of performing in front of live audiences, was realized when he was but a teenager. However, he never imagined that The Temptations’ songs and performances would take him around the world performing for Presidents, and Heads of State, and fans everywhere, and that their songs would continue to be passed between generations, more than 60 years later. The Temptations’ music, then and now, continues to raise the spirit of the country and uplift a nation searching for common bonds and glimmers of hope and humanity.

Otis Williams and The Temptations are still lighting up concert stages around the world. The Temptations’ presence in the world today has never been more vivid, and their popularity is ever-increasing. Williams’ remarkable achievements, and the longevity of his distinguished musical career, make him unlike any other musical artist in American culture in the modern era.

Ron Tyson is a first tenor and lead vocalist for the Temptations, and has been with the group since February 1983.  Born February 8, 1948, in Philadelphia, PA, he was raised in Monroe, NC, where he recorded his first record at the age of 7 while singing with his grandfather’s gospel group, Southern Gospel Six.  His grandfather’s home was a place where young Ron was introduced to many famous artists like Sam Cooke and the Soulters.  In the segregated South of the 50s and 60s African-American recording artists often relied on the hospitality of local folks while touring the region because they weren’t allowed to eat at certain restaurants or stay in the upscale hotels.  Ron’s grandfather, Horace Presson Sr., who also had a radio show promoting gospel music, welcomed those artists into his home and offered them meals.  While at his grandfather’s dinner table, Ron was inspired and further drawn to music.As he grew older, Ron discovered he had a real talent for singing and returned to Philadelphia to attend Thomas Edison, Olney and Granoff School of Music where he studied opera and guitar.  It was in Philadelphia that he found himself surrounded by world famous artists like Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes (who lived a few doors down from him), and Russell Thompkins of the Stylistics.  By 1967, at age 19, Ron was lead singer of The Ethics, a group that originated in Philadelphia.  Later changing their name to Love Committee the group released several disco and R&B hits in the 1970’s.As his career began to take off Ron was inspired by Eugene Booker Record, lead vocalist for the Chicago based Chi-lites to become a songwriter.  Says Tyson, “I used to see his credits on various records and thought wow, this is what I want.  I want to write!  Eugene had written and produced many of the group’s hit songs, as well as songs for other artists. Without Eugene knowing it I learned what I wanted to do as a songwriter and singer from him.  I’m so glad I was able to tell him that years later.”  Tyson was also inspired as a songwriter by legendary R&B artists Bunny Sigler, and Joe Simon, who helped Ron fine tune his songwriting skills, including counting bars, and also Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff who owned and ran Philadelphia International Records.  Ron wrote or co-wrote the majority of the songs for both The Ethics and Love Committee but his writing career truly took off as he began writing and co-writing songs for a wide range of famous artists including the Dells, Gloria Gaynor, The Four Tops, Curtis Mayfield, Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, The O’Jays, Blue Magic, Archie Bell & The Drells, The Trammps, and many others.  To date, Ron has written more than 200 songs.Ron was a big Temptations fan growing up and idolized Eddie Kendricks and his style.  He feels blessed to have become a member of the group and has often referred to his Temptations career as one of the greatest things to happen to him.  Ron’s first appearance as a member of the Temptations was on the “Motown 25, Today, Yesterday, Forever” television special in 1983.  Says Tyson, “I remember practicing with choreographers Lon Fountain and Cholly Atkins at Lon’s house in advance of that show, every morning from 8:00am until noon.  We’d take a lunch break and then continue working out from 1:00pm until 4:00pm.  Coming from Philadelphia, a city of music, and growing up listening to the Temptations, and Marvin Gaye, the Four Tops, and so many others—all these people I admired—it was incredible being part of that historic show.  I remember Martha Reeves saying everyone was going to be watching me because I was the new kid on the block, taking over the role originally sung by Kendricks.  During the broadcast, as Smokey introduced us, and we walked up the four steps to the stage, I was just thinking ‘feet don’t fail me now.’  Then I heard him say ‘Ladies and Gentlemen, the Temptations and the Four Tops.’  It’s a moment I’ll always remember.”

Now, thirty-six years later, Ron says, “The original five paved the way.  Now I feel like I’m a contributor on this end of history.  It’s a great honor and privilege to be a Temptation.  I’ve traveled a long way on a path that began at my grandfather’s house in North Carolina, took me back to Philadelphia, and then onto stages around the world.  I take great pride in helping to carry the Temptations’ legacy on into the 21^st century.”

Terry Weeks is a lead vocalist for The Temptations and has been a member of the group since 1996.

Born December 23, 1963, a month before the “Classic Five” members of The Temptations released their first big national hit, “The Way You Do the Things You Do,” Terry grew up in Bessemer, Alabama (near Birmingham) listening to gospel, bluegrass, and country music. He once described his hometown as the best place, hands down, to learn group harmony. A graduate of McAdory High School in Alabama, Weeks’ first love was playing the bass but as he started trying out for, and working with, local bands he realized people were drawn more to his singing than his playing a musical instrument.

The original catalyst for his transition from musician to vocalist came while working at a local supermarket. When he and a co-worker, who was part of a local group, began harmonizing as they were stocking shelves the co-worker told Weeks, “You’re a singer, you just don’t know it,” and urged him to come to his group’s rehearsal.  Weeks said, “I was just out of high school and about to start my enlistment in the Air Force but in those few months he taught me how to be a singer. I was like a sponge, soaking it all up.  As I moved away from playing the bass and gained more confidence as I opened up my voice, people started recognizing me for my singing talent.”

Weeks would spend eight years in the Air Force, from 1982 to 1990, serving in Korea and in the U.S. at McConnell Air Force Base in Wichita, KS and Gunter Air Force Station in Montgomery, AL. He would often sing locally around the Montgomery base, and performed in Tops in Blue, an Air Force ensemble, made up of active duty members, that toured globally performing for airmen and their families.

Once Weeks realized he wanted to make a go of it as a professional singer he gave himself a five-year window to make it happen. In the early 1990s, Weeks, then in his late 20s, was visiting friends in Los Angeles when they encountered Otis Williams, founding member of The Temptations, on Hollywood Boulevard.  Weeks said, “We introduced ourselves and I sang a Donny Hathaway tune for Otis right there on the sidewalk. He asked if I was working with anyone. I told him I was still in the military, and it would be a month before I get out.  We exchanged phone numbers, but I never imagined I would hear from him.  When I got home later that day he had already left two messages on my answer machine.  I couldn’t believe it. When I called him back he said he wanted to sign me to his production company to do studio work.  That was the beginning of my professional music career.”

While working for Williams, Weeks formed a group that signed with Motown which released their self-titled album in 1995. Eventually the group split up and Weeks continued doing studio work for Williams. He also worked with The Temptations during summers on the road, helping with wardrobe and security. Watching The Temptations at work—and the other groups they were performing with such as the O’Jays and the Spinners—Weeks was once again a sponge, absorbing everything he could.  Weeks added, “I was in awe of these guys and saw close up the hard work needed to do what they were doing.”

Around this time Weeks was asked to fill in for Ali-Ollie Woodson who was dealing with health issues.  The one-month fill-in gig became nine-months and in 1996 Weeks was made a permanent member of The Temptations, a role he sees as a sacred trust. “It’s a huge undertaking and I don’t take it lightly,” said Weeks, who’s often told by veterans he meets on the concert tours how the music of the Temptations got them through the war in Vietnam.

Now, twenty-nine years with The Temptations, and counting, Weeks shared, “I defend the legacy of the Temptations as I’d defend my own family name.  It means so much in the world of music, and culturally the group helped African Americans find their own voice in the 60’s while striving to be recognized within society.  You can’t tell the story of African Americans in this country without talking about the affect this music, and the music of so many others, had on Black culture. It’s part of the fabric of everything that was going on in the country at the time.  I feel like I’m a caretaker of it.  It’s an honor to be a part of a group, whose rich history and legacy I respect so much.”