Post by Jonel on Mar 27, 2003 21:47:51 GMT -5
Otis Williams and The Temptations. Courtesy photo
The Temptations: Original member Otis Williams and his group perform at the Mann
Friday, March 28, 2003
By NANCY STETSON, nrstetson@naplesnews.com
Disco diva Gloria Gaynor may have sung "I Will Survive," but that sentiment seems to be singer Otis Williams' theme song, too.
The man has survived not only a constantly changing music industry, but more than 40 years later he's still performing with a group that's been rattled by the deaths of the four other original singers and countless personnel changes.
Otis Williams is the last remaining original singer of The Temptations.
The Temptations perform at 8 p.m. Thursday, April 3, at the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall.
"I just love what I do and focus and hang in there," Williams says. "The one thing that's constant is change. Knowing how things can be, dealing with people, you do what you can at the time. It means change. I've been able to adapt to my surroundings and continue on with the challenge.
"That is our strength, being able to adapt and take on different forms in the music business, to be able to still be around. We're in a business that changes; every six months there's a new trend, a new sound, a new this and that on the radio."
But, Williams says, people know that Temptations songs are "genuine, not nasty, something they can hum along and sing to, and not feel offended when they listen to our lyrics.
"The Temptations are an act that has been able to adapt and stay positive and be an act that continues to do good, true music that has stood the test of time, even though they've been released 40 years ago."
That repertoire includes such classic songs as "My Girl," "I Wish It Would Rain," "Ball of Confusion," "Papa Was a Rolling Stone," "Ain't Too Proud to Beg," "Cloud Nine," "I Can't Get Next to You" and "Psychedelic Shack."
Ask Williams if he has any favorites, and he says, " 'My Girl,' right out the gate. That's the perennial favorite out of the Temptations catalog. Then everything else falls into place: 'Ball of Confusion,'I Wish It Would Rain,'Just My Imagination.' But starting off will be 'My Girl.' "
Williams first knew he wanted to be a singer in the late '50s when he was a teenager and saw Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers in concert in Detroit.
"It was not only Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers, but The Cadillacs," Williams says. "I grew up listening to the early favorite black artists, the Nat King Coles, the Jackie Wilsons ... and the list is endless. I was inspired to sing, after seeing them."
His original groups sang doo wop. In 1961, his group The Elgins, were signed to Miracle Records, a subsidiary of Motown, by Berry Gordy Jr. Renamed The Temptations, they had their first hit in 1964 with "The Way You Do The Things You Do," which hit No. 11.
"It was wonderful back then, when Smokey (Robinson) was producing us, a great time and place," Williams says. "The Supremes were doing their thing with (songwriting and producing team) Holland/Dozier/Holland. We would tour together. It was a great time, people coming together to make harmonious music that would ignite us all. And here it is, the 21st century. We had no idea we would become such a world-renowned group."
He acknowledges that other groups tour using the Temptations name, but "they are splinter groups, who have capitalized on and use the name," Williams says. "My group has the legitimate ownership of the Temptations name. I'm the original Temptations. Some guys try to capitalized on it, if they have been in the Temps. We understand we are up against that. We try to get people to know the real Temptations are the ones that are coming to town."
They still have the harmonies and the sophisticated dance moves that The Temptations of the '60s were known for. And, they still have the rivalry with The Four Tops.
Ask Williams who's better, The Temptations or The Four Tops, and he chuckles. "The Temps," he says, with no hesitation. "We still have that rivalry. The Tops and us worked together a few weeks ago, and we're going to be doing a big tour this summer with The O'Jays, The Temps and the Four Tops and The Whispers. We tour quite a bit with The Four Tops. It's a great fun rivalry. We still try to outdo each other."
IF YOU GO
Temptations in concert
When: 8 p.m. Thursday, April 3
Where: The Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall, 8099 College Parkway, Fort Myers
Cost: Tickets are $38, $28 and $20
Information: Call (239) 481-4849
Courtesy Naples Daily News
www.naplesnews.com/03/03/showcase/d906613a.htm
