Bill DeYoung: What's in a name? Not much, sometimes
By Bill DeYoung entertainment editor
October 24, 2003
Would the Rolling Stones without Mick Jagger still be the Rolling Stones? Could Diana Ross tour as the Supremes with two virtual unknowns flanking her?
The answers are 1. Of course not, and 2. She already did it.
The issue of what -- or who -- constitutes a "real" big-name act has been on my mind this week, as I ponder a couple of local shows on the oldies-circuit horizon.
First up is a concert billed as The Legendary Lead Singers of The Temptations Starring Glenn Leonard. This takes place at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the St. Lucie County Civic Center in Fort Pierce.
I happen to be a major Tempts fan. All the truly legendary lead singers -- David Ruffin, Eddie Kendricks and Dennis Edwards -- are long dead. Group founder Otis Williams is still out there touring with four replacement Temptations.
This ain't Otis.
Glenn Leonard, as it turns out, was with the Tempts from 1975 to 1983 -- quite a while after the group's last big hit, "Papa Was a Rolling Stone" (that was Edwards on lead).
He was in the group for one final Motown album and an ill-advised foray into disco on Atlantic Records.
I'm sure Leonard and his bunch will do all the old hits, and maybe they'll be great -- but at $35 per ticket, forewarned is forearmed. Don't say I didn't tell you.
On Nov. 8, the Coasters and the Platters are playing Club Med in Port St. Lucie. Coasters founder Carl Gardner, who lives in the area, is the sole original member of the harmony/comedy group that gave us "Yakety Yak," "Charlie Brown" and so many others.
The 76-year-old Gardner, therefore, is the rightful heir to this rock 'n' roll legacy. He's still out front.
Over the years, there have been a plethora of groups using the Platters name. Herb Reed, one of the original singers, fronts the incarnation that will appear at Club Med.
So I guess the idea is to groove to "Only You" and "The Great Pretender," close your eyes and imagine it's the late '50s and you're actually listening to the Platters.
Last week I had a phone interview with Mary Wilson, who was, of course, one of the original Supremes, Motown's star act (12 chart-topping singles).
A Nov. 7 Kravis Center concert is billed as The Supremes with Mary Wilson. Ross, of course, always stole the Supremes' thunder, and Wilson -- a terrific vocalist herself -- has had her troubles with the great diva over the years.
Wilson didn't participate in Ross' "reunion" tour three years ago because she was offered $3 million, with Ross taking a reported $15-20 million cut.
Where did our love go?
Opening for Wilson will be the Spinners. Now, you'll remember "Then Came You," "One of a Kind Love Affair" and "Could it Be I'm Falling in Love," great Philly soul records from the '70s.
The most distinctive thing about those Spinners classics was the mellifluous voice of lead singer Phillipe Wynne. He's not doing this tour, folks -- he died of a heart attack in 1984.
Forewarned. Remember.
If you have arts or entertainment news of announcements for Center Stage, please call Bill DeYoung at 221-4232, or e-mail bill.deyoung@scripps.com. Add me to your e-mailing list!
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Copyright 2003, TCPalm. All Rights Reserved.
Courtesy of Treasure Coast & Palm Beaches News.
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HOLD UP...WAIT A #$@!&%! MINUTE!!.... if he's such a MAJOR Tempts fan ... He should know that Dennis Edwards is NOT DEAD!!.... and plus he FORGOT to even acknowledge Paul Williams and Melvin Franklin,...TRULY LEGENDARY Tempts lead singers, who are no longer among us !!!.... a TRUE Tempts fan would NEVER forget! 
