Post by Ivory Fair on Apr 22, 2002 12:24:13 GMT -5
TO P T U N E S- 'My Baby' Is The Temptations' Latest
By RONNIE OBERMAN
Star Special Writer
If the Temptations ever tire of singing, they can always turn to playing basketball for a living.
They're made to order for the game. Besides the fact that there are five members in the group, each is a six-footer, the shortest 6 feet 1 and the tallest 6 feet 3.
"When we're drlvlng in our station wagon, everywhere we stop people think we're basketball players," says David Ruffin, who recently phoned from Birmingham, Ala., before an engagement. He adds that each member is a pretty good ball player.
Besides 24 year-old David, the Temptations are Eddie Kendricks, 25; Otis Williams, 23; Melvin Franklin, 22, and Paul Williams, 25. All live in Detroit.
Height doesn't pose many problems for the group, according to David. "When we had our smaller car, we used to have a little trouble switching seats," he recalls.
The Temptations, whose last hit on the Gordy label, "Since I Lost My Baby," is tapering off while a new one, "My Baby," is moving up the charts, are on the road about 11 months a year, says David, adding that "our car's become a home,"
"Whenever we get back to town (Detroit) the first thing we do is go to the studio," David says. "Then we go home. Each of us lives within a range of six blocks and we all live no more than eight blocks from the studio."
Asked what he thinks about when onstage facing an audience, David replied that he's just concerned with pleasing his fans. "When I go out there to sing I'm out there to perform for the people who put us where we are," he says. "I put everything into it to satisfy them."
David has been with the group only since their first big hit, "The Way You Do the Things You Do," in the winter of 1964. He replaced Elbridge Bryant, who was drafted.
The group got together about six years ago in Detroit. One night the boys were attending a house party and learned that a local theater needed a "fill-in" vocal group for a rock-and-roll show. They took the job for $15 a man.
David says that it was because of vocalist Jackie Wilson that the Temptations got on the Gordy label, whitch is a subsidiary of Motown Records. "Jackie was home one day and the group went over to his house," David explains. "He (Jackie) was in the room but then just got up and left. He left at noon and came back at 5 p.m."
David says he doesn't know why Jackie left before hearing the group. But when he returned to his home, he listened to the fivesome and liked what he heard. He then contacted Berry Gordy, president of Motown, who signed the group to a contract.
Since then, the act's hits have included "The Way You Do the Things You Do," "I'll Be in Trouble," "The Girl's All Right With Me," "Girl, Why You Wanna Make Me Blue?", "My Girl " "it's Growing," and "Sinc'e I Lost My Baby." The Temptations also were honored by being selected to record an album in tribute to Bill (Smokey) Robinson, who has written almost all the group's hits. The LP, "The Temptations Sing Smokey," contains a selection of tunes penned by Smokey for the Temptations and other acts On the Motown roster.
David, who calls Washington his "second home," will be in town with the rest of the Temptations for the big Motown Revue show November 7 at Washington Coliseum.
By RONNIE OBERMAN
Star Special Writer
If the Temptations ever tire of singing, they can always turn to playing basketball for a living.
They're made to order for the game. Besides the fact that there are five members in the group, each is a six-footer, the shortest 6 feet 1 and the tallest 6 feet 3.
"When we're drlvlng in our station wagon, everywhere we stop people think we're basketball players," says David Ruffin, who recently phoned from Birmingham, Ala., before an engagement. He adds that each member is a pretty good ball player.
Besides 24 year-old David, the Temptations are Eddie Kendricks, 25; Otis Williams, 23; Melvin Franklin, 22, and Paul Williams, 25. All live in Detroit.
Height doesn't pose many problems for the group, according to David. "When we had our smaller car, we used to have a little trouble switching seats," he recalls.
The Temptations, whose last hit on the Gordy label, "Since I Lost My Baby," is tapering off while a new one, "My Baby," is moving up the charts, are on the road about 11 months a year, says David, adding that "our car's become a home,"
"Whenever we get back to town (Detroit) the first thing we do is go to the studio," David says. "Then we go home. Each of us lives within a range of six blocks and we all live no more than eight blocks from the studio."
Asked what he thinks about when onstage facing an audience, David replied that he's just concerned with pleasing his fans. "When I go out there to sing I'm out there to perform for the people who put us where we are," he says. "I put everything into it to satisfy them."
David has been with the group only since their first big hit, "The Way You Do the Things You Do," in the winter of 1964. He replaced Elbridge Bryant, who was drafted.
The group got together about six years ago in Detroit. One night the boys were attending a house party and learned that a local theater needed a "fill-in" vocal group for a rock-and-roll show. They took the job for $15 a man.
David says that it was because of vocalist Jackie Wilson that the Temptations got on the Gordy label, whitch is a subsidiary of Motown Records. "Jackie was home one day and the group went over to his house," David explains. "He (Jackie) was in the room but then just got up and left. He left at noon and came back at 5 p.m."
David says he doesn't know why Jackie left before hearing the group. But when he returned to his home, he listened to the fivesome and liked what he heard. He then contacted Berry Gordy, president of Motown, who signed the group to a contract.
Since then, the act's hits have included "The Way You Do the Things You Do," "I'll Be in Trouble," "The Girl's All Right With Me," "Girl, Why You Wanna Make Me Blue?", "My Girl " "it's Growing," and "Sinc'e I Lost My Baby." The Temptations also were honored by being selected to record an album in tribute to Bill (Smokey) Robinson, who has written almost all the group's hits. The LP, "The Temptations Sing Smokey," contains a selection of tunes penned by Smokey for the Temptations and other acts On the Motown roster.
David, who calls Washington his "second home," will be in town with the rest of the Temptations for the big Motown Revue show November 7 at Washington Coliseum.