Post by tempfan on Aug 10, 2007 11:47:17 GMT -5
The Last Temptation
Lawrence Poole
Manchester Evening News
WHEN it comes to soul music, there's no doubt the old ones are still the most impressive. Young pretenders like John Legend and Alicia Keys may put a 21st Century twist on the genre, but underneath the bling and Cristal it is Motown stalwarts like Otis Williams they have to thank for their inspiration.
Born in Texarkana, Texas in 1941, the only remaining founding member of the Detroit-formed R&B outfit is rated by some for his contribution to the city's illustrious recording history as much as Smokey Robinson and Marvin Gaye.
Still a regular on the touring circuit, Williams now joined by Terry Weeks, Bruce Williamson, Ron Tyson and Joe Herndon will return to Manchester later this year for an attractive Motown '2 for the price of 1' offer with The Four Tops.
With a combined cannon of hits featuring such standards as Reach Out (I'll Be There), I Can't Help Myself and It's All In The Game from the Four Tops and My Girl, I'm Gonna Make You Love Me, and Just My Imagination from The Temptations, it easy to see how they can still play huge arena tours after all these years.
Currently on tour in America, he may now be 65, but this is no pension plan for Williams. "I always look forward to working, it's a pleasure to come back to work especially after a long time away."
Playing the arenas of the world is a long way from the small town life he lived as a youth in the 40s and 50s.
Like a lot of families in search of a better life, his moved to the city of Detroit. After a number of false starts, the birth of Berry Gordy's Tamla-Motown was just the turn in fortune the young singer had been holding out for.
History of music
One of the most important men in the history of music, Gordy started out, like so many at the time, as a writer of hits for other people. "We used to see him about from time to time and knew he wrote for Jackie Wilson, then he started his own label.
"In those days you used to do record hops and I met him at one and we talked. He gave me his card and told me to come and see him so we left the label we were with and hey, history was made."
And he's still a firm, if not a close friend. The last time the two were together was in Washington last September when Smokey Robinson received a lifetime achievement award.
"It was great seeing him," Williams confirms. "Especially after such a long time, we chit-chatted and it was great. I mean, there was a time when I used to see Berry every day."
My Girl
Coincidently Robinson, who wrote the band's signature tune My Girl, recently performed in the city as part of the Manchester International Festival, but does Williams ever tire of performing the track?
"Oh now, that's The Temps' evergreen song, that's our national anthem. As soon as the crowd hear the da-dum-dum, da-dum-dum it's like a brand new song for them."
And it's that fresh outlook which seemingly has kept Williams still hungry after all these years. "Everybody's got a role to play on this earth and this is mine, fortunately for me it's a labour of love and our fans seem to want us to continue."
After having worked with such a stable of iconic names, the man who calls his group `God's group' due to their ability to be tested, survive and move on, has always firmly cited one-time gospel singer Marvin Gaye as his favourite.
"He always had such a different sound and tone. He's up there with Nat King Cole. He was a true genius of the 20th Century and it was so sad he had to leave us at such an early age."
Once surrounded by a plethora of chart-topping artists from both the Motown and Atlantic labels in particular, Williams now bemoans a relative dearth in the classic soul genre.
"They are not as plentiful today for some reason. Today I hear so many singers who do too much riffing. Luther Vandross used to say the same before he died: `Where are the singers who can actually sing'."
Which, of course, is the reason The Temptations and The Four Tops' music continues to endure. Later this year, an album of classic covers will hit the shops, so expect to hear a few of these in November - plus those da-dum-dums of course.
Lawrence Poole
Manchester Evening News
WHEN it comes to soul music, there's no doubt the old ones are still the most impressive. Young pretenders like John Legend and Alicia Keys may put a 21st Century twist on the genre, but underneath the bling and Cristal it is Motown stalwarts like Otis Williams they have to thank for their inspiration.
Born in Texarkana, Texas in 1941, the only remaining founding member of the Detroit-formed R&B outfit is rated by some for his contribution to the city's illustrious recording history as much as Smokey Robinson and Marvin Gaye.
Still a regular on the touring circuit, Williams now joined by Terry Weeks, Bruce Williamson, Ron Tyson and Joe Herndon will return to Manchester later this year for an attractive Motown '2 for the price of 1' offer with The Four Tops.
With a combined cannon of hits featuring such standards as Reach Out (I'll Be There), I Can't Help Myself and It's All In The Game from the Four Tops and My Girl, I'm Gonna Make You Love Me, and Just My Imagination from The Temptations, it easy to see how they can still play huge arena tours after all these years.
Currently on tour in America, he may now be 65, but this is no pension plan for Williams. "I always look forward to working, it's a pleasure to come back to work especially after a long time away."
Playing the arenas of the world is a long way from the small town life he lived as a youth in the 40s and 50s.
Like a lot of families in search of a better life, his moved to the city of Detroit. After a number of false starts, the birth of Berry Gordy's Tamla-Motown was just the turn in fortune the young singer had been holding out for.
History of music
One of the most important men in the history of music, Gordy started out, like so many at the time, as a writer of hits for other people. "We used to see him about from time to time and knew he wrote for Jackie Wilson, then he started his own label.
"In those days you used to do record hops and I met him at one and we talked. He gave me his card and told me to come and see him so we left the label we were with and hey, history was made."
And he's still a firm, if not a close friend. The last time the two were together was in Washington last September when Smokey Robinson received a lifetime achievement award.
"It was great seeing him," Williams confirms. "Especially after such a long time, we chit-chatted and it was great. I mean, there was a time when I used to see Berry every day."
My Girl
Coincidently Robinson, who wrote the band's signature tune My Girl, recently performed in the city as part of the Manchester International Festival, but does Williams ever tire of performing the track?
"Oh now, that's The Temps' evergreen song, that's our national anthem. As soon as the crowd hear the da-dum-dum, da-dum-dum it's like a brand new song for them."
And it's that fresh outlook which seemingly has kept Williams still hungry after all these years. "Everybody's got a role to play on this earth and this is mine, fortunately for me it's a labour of love and our fans seem to want us to continue."
After having worked with such a stable of iconic names, the man who calls his group `God's group' due to their ability to be tested, survive and move on, has always firmly cited one-time gospel singer Marvin Gaye as his favourite.
"He always had such a different sound and tone. He's up there with Nat King Cole. He was a true genius of the 20th Century and it was so sad he had to leave us at such an early age."
Once surrounded by a plethora of chart-topping artists from both the Motown and Atlantic labels in particular, Williams now bemoans a relative dearth in the classic soul genre.
"They are not as plentiful today for some reason. Today I hear so many singers who do too much riffing. Luther Vandross used to say the same before he died: `Where are the singers who can actually sing'."
Which, of course, is the reason The Temptations and The Four Tops' music continues to endure. Later this year, an album of classic covers will hit the shops, so expect to hear a few of these in November - plus those da-dum-dums of course.
