Post by Jonel on Oct 3, 2002 9:41:53 GMT -5
Solid-gold Motown sound in Monroe
Chuck Cannon
Posted on August 16, 2002
After more than 30 years performing with the Temptations, Dennis Edwards said he still enjoys the adoration of fans - even if it is shared with a younger generation of musicians.
"We were with 'N Sync in Jackson, Miss., recently," Edwards said. "At the hotel after the concert, there were a bunch of young girls yelling and screaming: It made me think back to the day, when the fans used to yell and scream when they saw us."
Area music fans will get an opportunity to hear the sounds of Motown again when The Temptations Revue, featuring Edwards, rolls into the Monroe Civic Center at 8 p.m. Saturday.
The Temptations' track record includes 14 gold albums and five Grammy awards. Their hits include "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone," "My Girl" and "Can't Get Next to You."
Edwards said he realizes that after four decades in the music business, the Temptations are fortunate to still be performing to sellout crowds.
"We didn't know back in the day, when we were going strong, that we would still be this popular so many years later," Edwards said. "I think that our music was a little ahead of its time."
Today, Edwards said he sees traces of the Motown Sound made popular by the Temptations in current boy groups such as 'N Sync and Boyz II Men.
"A lot of groups today give us great compliments," Edwards said. "They say they listened to us and wanted to sing that same close harmony that we sing. That blend of voices, singing about the love between a man and a woman."
While he talks up the aforementioned groups, Edwards said he is disappointed with a lot of the music produced today.
"Some of the music today, I don't know about," Edwards said. "You never know what some of them are going to say, so you have to be careful with your kids. I'm glad they can express themselves. They just need to clean it up a bit."
Edwards said he believes clean lyrics are one reason for the Temptations' enduring popularity through the years.
"We keep our music clean, we wear our tuxes and we don't do things like grab our crotch," Edwards said. "We're a class act; someone you can bring your family to see. The sex part of it has become a sideshow. We wanted you to make love to your woman, but not at the concert. Go home and do it."
Singing is just part of a show by the Temptations: flashy clothes and choreographed moves are trademarks of the group. Edwards said those items were added to the show for the fans.
"In the day, you had to do more than just stand there and sing," Edwards said. "The technology and light shows you see today weren't around back then. We were lucky to have one microphone, and even luckier if it worked."
Saturday's performance will be a homecoming of sorts for Edwards.
"My wife has family in Delhi," Edwards said. "We expect a lot of family members to be at the show.
"And let everyone know that we're not afraid of mosquitoes. We've heard about your problems with the little bugs and we're not worried. We're going to give them a show."
Edwards has seen the face of the Temptations change through the years, and said he has no plans to slow down or retire anytime soon.
"I've lost four members from the group," Edwards said. "When I think about all I've seen and done, and the guys I've sung with, I realize that I'm still around for a reason - to keep on singing.
"As long as I feel like singing, and people enjoy it, I'll keep doing it."
Which is good news for Temptations fans.
The Temptations Revue featuring Dennis Edwards at 8 p.m. Saturday at Monroe Civic Center Arena, 401 Lea Joyner Expressway. Local band LC Smoove will open for the concert. Tickets range from $25-$35. Call 329-2338 or Ticketmaster at 329-0001.
Copyright © 2002 The News-Star, a Gannett publication.
www.thenewsstar.com/html/B15357D3-7EF6-415A-BF25-564DD1998A0C.shtml
Chuck Cannon
Posted on August 16, 2002
After more than 30 years performing with the Temptations, Dennis Edwards said he still enjoys the adoration of fans - even if it is shared with a younger generation of musicians.
"We were with 'N Sync in Jackson, Miss., recently," Edwards said. "At the hotel after the concert, there were a bunch of young girls yelling and screaming: It made me think back to the day, when the fans used to yell and scream when they saw us."
Area music fans will get an opportunity to hear the sounds of Motown again when The Temptations Revue, featuring Edwards, rolls into the Monroe Civic Center at 8 p.m. Saturday.
The Temptations' track record includes 14 gold albums and five Grammy awards. Their hits include "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone," "My Girl" and "Can't Get Next to You."
Edwards said he realizes that after four decades in the music business, the Temptations are fortunate to still be performing to sellout crowds.
"We didn't know back in the day, when we were going strong, that we would still be this popular so many years later," Edwards said. "I think that our music was a little ahead of its time."
Today, Edwards said he sees traces of the Motown Sound made popular by the Temptations in current boy groups such as 'N Sync and Boyz II Men.
"A lot of groups today give us great compliments," Edwards said. "They say they listened to us and wanted to sing that same close harmony that we sing. That blend of voices, singing about the love between a man and a woman."
While he talks up the aforementioned groups, Edwards said he is disappointed with a lot of the music produced today.
"Some of the music today, I don't know about," Edwards said. "You never know what some of them are going to say, so you have to be careful with your kids. I'm glad they can express themselves. They just need to clean it up a bit."
Edwards said he believes clean lyrics are one reason for the Temptations' enduring popularity through the years.
"We keep our music clean, we wear our tuxes and we don't do things like grab our crotch," Edwards said. "We're a class act; someone you can bring your family to see. The sex part of it has become a sideshow. We wanted you to make love to your woman, but not at the concert. Go home and do it."
Singing is just part of a show by the Temptations: flashy clothes and choreographed moves are trademarks of the group. Edwards said those items were added to the show for the fans.
"In the day, you had to do more than just stand there and sing," Edwards said. "The technology and light shows you see today weren't around back then. We were lucky to have one microphone, and even luckier if it worked."
Saturday's performance will be a homecoming of sorts for Edwards.
"My wife has family in Delhi," Edwards said. "We expect a lot of family members to be at the show.
"And let everyone know that we're not afraid of mosquitoes. We've heard about your problems with the little bugs and we're not worried. We're going to give them a show."
Edwards has seen the face of the Temptations change through the years, and said he has no plans to slow down or retire anytime soon.
"I've lost four members from the group," Edwards said. "When I think about all I've seen and done, and the guys I've sung with, I realize that I'm still around for a reason - to keep on singing.
"As long as I feel like singing, and people enjoy it, I'll keep doing it."
Which is good news for Temptations fans.
The Temptations Revue featuring Dennis Edwards at 8 p.m. Saturday at Monroe Civic Center Arena, 401 Lea Joyner Expressway. Local band LC Smoove will open for the concert. Tickets range from $25-$35. Call 329-2338 or Ticketmaster at 329-0001.
Copyright © 2002 The News-Star, a Gannett publication.
www.thenewsstar.com/html/B15357D3-7EF6-415A-BF25-564DD1998A0C.shtml
