Post by tempfan on Dec 12, 2004 15:31:45 GMT -5
Dennis Edwards: Legendary Motown Leader of The Temptations Review
BEACON NEWS
Although Dennis Edwards was not with the legendary Motown group The Temptations from the beginning, he was there for many of the group's biggest hits.
The Detroit-based group first formed in 1961 with the lineup of Eddie Kendricks, Paul Williams, Otis Williams, Melvin Franklin and Elbridge Bryant. David Ruffin later replaced Elbridge Bryant, but Ruffin left the group to go solo in 1968. That was when Dennis Edwards joined the quintet.
Edwards' arrival coincided with The Temptations' move toward more contemporary sounds inspired by the likes of Sly and the Family Stone. This inaugurated the most successful run of single-record releases in The Temptations' long career. Under the direction of songwriter/producer Norman Whitfield during the years from 1968 to 1972, the group turned out an array of funky, relevant hits, including Cloud Nine, Runaway Child, Running Wild, I Can't Get Next to You, Psychedelic Shack, Ball of Confusion and Papa Was a Rolling Stone.
Dennis Edwards currently brings those great hits to the stage as The Temptations Review featuring Dennis Edwards.
"It was the Vietnam era, so there were message songs," said Edwards of his early years with The Temptations. "We were fortunate to capture songs with a message for that time.
"You look back 30 years ago and the young artists then just wanted to make a hit," he continued. "We did not realize the message in these songs. But Ball of Confusion, that sums up our daily lives today, doesn't it?"
Edwards looks back on his years with The Temptations (he had three stints with the group over a 20-year period) with fondness and some regret.
"When you are a young artist, you sign your life away," Edwards said. "At one point, the record executives wanted to put us on a salary, like $1,000 a week. And that was when we were getting $50,000 a night. Three times I left the group and three times I came back, and it was always a dispute about money."
More recent disputes have centered on the Temptations name.
"Me and Motown had a court battle about the name," said Edwards regarding Otis Williams, an original member of the quintet using The Temptations name. "The truce was that they use Temptations and I use Temptations Review. I think without the lawyers, we could have had settled it long ago. Me and Otis sang together for so long, we have no hard feelings. It was my people and his people that had it out."
Edwards said that there is a distinction between the two vocal groups.
"The difference is that in the Temptations Review, I'm the guy on the records," Edwards said. In fact, Edwards sang lead on more hits than Ruffin and Kendricks (both of whom are now deceased) combined.
At 61 years of age, Edwards said he works out more than he used to, spending time on the treadmill every morning, and also takes blood pressure medicine.
"I am more mature, but I have the same energy," he said. "I don't kick the legs quite as high as I used to. The arthritis catches up with me."
Performing with Edwards in the Temptations Review is the ensemble of David Sea, Mike Patillo, Bernard Gibson and Chris Arnold. In addition to the songs in which Edwards sang lead, the group will perform other Temptations hits, including My Girl, Ain't Too Proud to Beg, Beauty's Only Skin Deep, (I Know) I'm Losing You and I Wish It Would Rain.
Edwards believes that The Temptations sound has endured because of wholesomeness and simplicity.
"In our day, you could not say a four-letter word," Edwards said. "They were clean love songs. My Girl is what an average person feels — no vulgarity, no sex. We do shows that you can bring your family to.
"A young rap star once said to me: 'You still wear a tuxedo. You don't grab your crotch. You don't swear. How do you make money?' I said, 'We put on a good, clean show, and people like that,' " Edwards said. "But most importantly, you have to put the public first. People pay to see you perform; that makes it a privilege for us to be out there."
Dennis