Post by tempfan on Jan 16, 2005 20:21:19 GMT -5
TEMPTATIONS DENNIS EDWARDS STILL SINGING WITH SOUL
The Ohio Advocate
ST. LOUIS -- Back in the day, Dennis Edwards of The Temptations made women swoon.
Now, he's driving them to dance class.
"I love for the fans to know I'm still alive, kickin' and (doing) well -- being a dad, being a cabdriver, taking the kids to dance class and the like," Edwards says. "It's funny how kids are always planning something, and it always seems to involve me driving them somewhere."
In a telephone interview from his home in St. Louis, the former lead singer of the Motown supergroup says he enjoys fatherhood, but he also loves singing for his fans -- something he's not ready to give up, even after 40 years in show business.
"I just feel so blessed to be able to still be doing this, after 30, 40 years on the road," says Edwards, the voice behind "I Can't Get Next to You" and "Papa Was a Rolling Stone." "It's a thrill for me even now, because people still like the songs we sang."
Edwards' own career began at the age of 2, in the Birmingham, Ala., church where his father was a minister. After singing in church at that tender age, Edwards grew up in the world of music, moving with his family to Detroit when he was 7.
He studied piano and composition at the Detroit Conservatory of Music, and sang with gospel groups and soul-jazz bands before becoming a Motown artist in the 1960s. Edwards sang with The Contours and then was asked to join The Temptations in 1968.
Edwards' soulful, gritty voice fueled several Temptations' hits, including "Ball of Confusion" and "Psychedelic Shack," and his off-stage tussles with the group caused him to join it and leave it several times. His last performance with the group was in 1988.
In 1989, Edwards, as well other Temptations members David Ruffin, Eddie Kendricks, Paul Williams, Otis Williams and Melvin Franklin, were inducted into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame.
"We didn't know 30 years ago that our music would last," Edwards says. "But we got caught up in that wonderful Motown sound, and the rest is history, as they say."
The father of five and grandfather of three, the singer has one daughter in the business -- Issa, who's now singing in mother Ruth Pointer's act, The Pointer Sisters. Another daughter, Ericka Turner, tried out for "American Idol," but didn't get into the final auditions, which is quite all right with papa.
"She's a great talent, but I'm sort of glad she didn't make it, so she can finish college," he says.
Edwards' love for music endures; these days he listens to Alicia Keyes, Usher, and country and western music "because the lyrics are so true."
"These days, when I look at the business, I get kind of sad," he says. "When we were coming up in the music world, you couldn't say four-letter words, because the kids were watching us and were emulating us. Now, that's all you seem to hear. I think it's important for entertainers to do and say the right thing.
"Some day, it's going to change back. Some day, these people are going to be grandfathers, and they're going to have kids, too. I know musicians have something inside them that wants to come out, but I think you've got to pay attention to what you say."
By contrast, Edwards says, The Temptations made their name with songs "about love. It's about loving your girl, losing your girl, being with your girl. It will never grow old, and those kinds of things don't cause any damage to anybody."
Taking the stage with Edwards now is his Temptations Review a hand-picked band of voices he says blend beautifully to convey the power and beauty of The Temptations's many hits.
"We were such a great group that all good singers wanted to be a part of The Temptations," Edwards says. "I've got Mike Patillo, Bernard Gibson, and also Chris Arnold, and David Sea. These guys have studied us, and are wonderful singers."
The current Temptations Review show include Edwards' greatest hits, as well as tributes to Temptations members who have passed away, and a salute to America's military men and women.
Fans can expect a new album from Edwards sometime this year.
"Aretha Franklin started her own record label, and I'm going to be one of the first singers on that label," Edwards says. "I'm planning to be in the studio in February. It's like having a new child."
Until then, the 61-year-old singing sensation will be working out daily on his treadmill at home, noodling on his home keyboard writing songs, and thrilling audiences with his hits on the weekends.
"I think I must be one of the most blessed people in the world," he says.
The Ohio Advocate
ST. LOUIS -- Back in the day, Dennis Edwards of The Temptations made women swoon.
Now, he's driving them to dance class.
"I love for the fans to know I'm still alive, kickin' and (doing) well -- being a dad, being a cabdriver, taking the kids to dance class and the like," Edwards says. "It's funny how kids are always planning something, and it always seems to involve me driving them somewhere."
In a telephone interview from his home in St. Louis, the former lead singer of the Motown supergroup says he enjoys fatherhood, but he also loves singing for his fans -- something he's not ready to give up, even after 40 years in show business.
"I just feel so blessed to be able to still be doing this, after 30, 40 years on the road," says Edwards, the voice behind "I Can't Get Next to You" and "Papa Was a Rolling Stone." "It's a thrill for me even now, because people still like the songs we sang."
Edwards' own career began at the age of 2, in the Birmingham, Ala., church where his father was a minister. After singing in church at that tender age, Edwards grew up in the world of music, moving with his family to Detroit when he was 7.
He studied piano and composition at the Detroit Conservatory of Music, and sang with gospel groups and soul-jazz bands before becoming a Motown artist in the 1960s. Edwards sang with The Contours and then was asked to join The Temptations in 1968.
Edwards' soulful, gritty voice fueled several Temptations' hits, including "Ball of Confusion" and "Psychedelic Shack," and his off-stage tussles with the group caused him to join it and leave it several times. His last performance with the group was in 1988.
In 1989, Edwards, as well other Temptations members David Ruffin, Eddie Kendricks, Paul Williams, Otis Williams and Melvin Franklin, were inducted into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame.
"We didn't know 30 years ago that our music would last," Edwards says. "But we got caught up in that wonderful Motown sound, and the rest is history, as they say."
The father of five and grandfather of three, the singer has one daughter in the business -- Issa, who's now singing in mother Ruth Pointer's act, The Pointer Sisters. Another daughter, Ericka Turner, tried out for "American Idol," but didn't get into the final auditions, which is quite all right with papa.
"She's a great talent, but I'm sort of glad she didn't make it, so she can finish college," he says.
Edwards' love for music endures; these days he listens to Alicia Keyes, Usher, and country and western music "because the lyrics are so true."
"These days, when I look at the business, I get kind of sad," he says. "When we were coming up in the music world, you couldn't say four-letter words, because the kids were watching us and were emulating us. Now, that's all you seem to hear. I think it's important for entertainers to do and say the right thing.
"Some day, it's going to change back. Some day, these people are going to be grandfathers, and they're going to have kids, too. I know musicians have something inside them that wants to come out, but I think you've got to pay attention to what you say."
By contrast, Edwards says, The Temptations made their name with songs "about love. It's about loving your girl, losing your girl, being with your girl. It will never grow old, and those kinds of things don't cause any damage to anybody."
Taking the stage with Edwards now is his Temptations Review a hand-picked band of voices he says blend beautifully to convey the power and beauty of The Temptations's many hits.
"We were such a great group that all good singers wanted to be a part of The Temptations," Edwards says. "I've got Mike Patillo, Bernard Gibson, and also Chris Arnold, and David Sea. These guys have studied us, and are wonderful singers."
The current Temptations Review show include Edwards' greatest hits, as well as tributes to Temptations members who have passed away, and a salute to America's military men and women.
Fans can expect a new album from Edwards sometime this year.
"Aretha Franklin started her own record label, and I'm going to be one of the first singers on that label," Edwards says. "I'm planning to be in the studio in February. It's like having a new child."
Until then, the 61-year-old singing sensation will be working out daily on his treadmill at home, noodling on his home keyboard writing songs, and thrilling audiences with his hits on the weekends.
"I think I must be one of the most blessed people in the world," he says.
