SANTA MONICA, Calif.,
May 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/
-- Motown/UMe is pleased to announce the kickoff of the
60th Anniversary celebration of the legendary, Grammy
Award-Winning Temptations. The Temptations are one of the most
revered and prolific musical institutions of all time. Motown
luminaries, The Temptations, are today, one of the most iconic,
bestselling brands in the entertainment world. With Otis Williams, the founding and sole surviving
member of The Temptations, their popularity is ever-increasing and
their track record of continuing to sell decades worth of
history-making music is breathtaking.
The Temptations signed their first contract with Motown on
May 15, 1961. The members of the
group at the time of the initial contract signing with Motown
consisted of Otis Williams,
Paul Williams, Eddie Kendricks, Melvin
Franklin and Elbridge Bryant.
By 1964, the group had evolved into what became known as the
world-famous "Classic Five"—Otis Williams, Paul Williams, Eddie
Kendricks, Melvin Franklin
and David Ruffin.
Now 60 years later on May
15th, 2021, to commemorate and mark this historic
occasion, the Temptations' 60th Anniversary campaign is
being launched and will run through June
2022. The year-long campaign includes national and
international concert tours, an upcoming Anniversary album, new
video series, and celebratory events along the way, including the
re-opening on October 16th
of the Broadway musical, Ain't Too Proud: The Life and Times of the
Temptations, based on Otis Williams
'personal journey plus recognition of Otis
Williams' 80th birthday on October 30th.
The Temptations' 60-year legacy spans generations. What began in
Detroit in 1961, when a remarkable
combination of soulful voices united, was the genesis of an epic
journey that has introduced multiple superstars to the world and
produced some of the greatest musical masterpieces in the Modern
Era.
Otis Williams stated, "I've
been blessed to take this journey with Shelly Berger, my manager and dear brother, and
with all my brothers-the Temptations. Now, to be the last one
standing from the classic lineups can be hard sometimes, but I know
God left me here for a reason, and that was to continue to share
with new generations of fans, the great music that we started back
in that two-story house in Detroit, known as Hitsville USA. Music is a universal language, and I know
our music, throughout the years has brought people joy, comfort and
sometimes even hope. I truly hope that was our greater purpose on
earth. Some of the greatest moments in my life have been watching
countless fans, from different walks of life worldwide, come
together around any one of our songs. Reaching this milestone in my
career hasn't always been easy but it's gratifying to know that our
fans have always been there, every step of the way. I am truly
grateful to each and every one of them. We, plan to go back on tour
later this summer and, me and my brothers, Ron Tyson and Terry
Weeks, Temptations for the past 38 years and 24 years
respectively, along with Willie Greene,
Jr., and Mario Corbino look
forward to sharing this special anniversary with all of
you."
President & CEO, UMe Bruce
Resnikoff said, "The Temptations evolution during the
20th and 21st centuries is one of the
greatest American music stories of our generation. They are
among the most legendary artists in the business, and their
meteoric rise to superstardom exceeded all expectations and changed
the course of music history, here and around the world. It is a
tremendous honor to recognize not only the group's legacy, artistry
and distinguished catalog of music, but also the sole-surviving
member of the classic group, Otis
Williams, who continues to carry the torch forward for fans
today."
Shelly Berger, the Temptations
long-time manager, added, "This is a landmark moment. We wish to
thank the venerable Bruce Resnikoff
for taking this journey with us and for years of unwavering
support. This trailblazing experience with the Temptations, and
Otis in particular, is still exhilarating and rewarding sixty years
later. To work with a group as gifted as the Temptations, I quickly
realized early on that I was at the epicenter of music
entertainment globally. Our journey together, throughout the
group's evolution, has been and continues to be a treasure trove of
memorable experiences. The Temptations' music is timeless, and
Otis' tenacity, genius and vision has been the glue that has
remained at the heart of the group since the very
beginning."
The Temptations story is undeniably, a road map through American
history. The group's distinguished heritage, influence and
contributions to African American and American culture in general,
and to the global music landscape is awe-inspiring. The Temptations
were pioneers. They were among the first African American groups on
mainstream television programs in the 60's. The phenomenal
television exposure popularized their music and coupled with the
support of DJ's across the country, led to chart-topping success,
not only on R&B lists but on Billboard Hot 100 charts too. On
their renowned Motortown Revue bus tours during the height of the
civil rights and voting rights movements, they often faced racism
and discrimination first-hand, but they were not detoured. Instead,
they raised their voices with songs that were socially relevant in
the country. Many of those songs are still meaningful today. Their
songs were also an inspiration to American soldiers fighting in the
Vietnam War. Quite often, on concert tours, the Temptations are
welcomed by Military Veterans sharing stories about the inspiring
effect of their music.
In the 70's, the rising Black middle class fueled growth in arts
and entertainment for Black Artists and the Temptations were among
the groups at the forefront of that wave. Their influence on
mainstream and global artists, such as the Beatles, Rolling Stones,
Bob Dylan, Tina Turner, Annie Lennox, Jose
Feliciano, and others, is notable. Artists who have recorded
Temptations' songs these past 60 years reads like a "Who's Who" of
the music recording industry. By the 80's, the Temptations'
resilience is visible and singular. They launch a reunion tour that
unites David Ruffin and Eddie Kendricks with the lineup at the time, and
headline on the Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever network
television special. Before the decade is out, they are inducted
into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
As the 20th Century nears its end, the Temptations
send a message to the world that they like their album Phoenix
Rising, will keep rising up and singing their way into the
hearts of fans. They win several more awards and both "My Girl,"
what many call their magnum opus, and "Papa Was A Rollin' Stone"
are inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, in 1998 and 1999,
respectively. In the decades to follow in the 21st
Century, the group is awarded their fourth GRAMMY for their "Top
20" R&B chart album, Ear-Resistible, awarded Best
Traditional R&B Vocal Performance and they receive a Grammy
Lifetime Achievement Award, the group's fifth GRAMMY.
In addition to The Temptations' phenomenal catalog of music, it
is worth noting that the group's famous choreography, sophisticated
style and wardrobe revolutionized stage performance in the music
world forever. Their famous trademarks, the Temptations' walk, and
the well-known four-headed microphone, both inventions of their
own, are indelibly stamped on their enduring legacy for
eternity.
The Temptations:
The Temptations ranked #1 in Billboard magazine's most
recent list of Greatest R&B/Hip-Hop Artists of All Time and the
group appears in the magazine's list of 125 Greatest of All Time
Artists. In September of 2020, the editors of Rolling Stone
magazine commented that the Temptations are "Indisputably the
greatest black vocal group of the Modern Era…," and listed the
group's Anthology album among the 500 Greatest Albums of All
Time. The Group has sold millions of albums and has won five Grammy
Awards, including a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. The
Temptations have been inducted into the Grammy, Rock and Roll,
Rhythm and Blues Music, and Vocal Group Halls of Fame. They have a
star on both the Hollywood Walk of Fame and the Apollo Theater's
Walk of Fame. The Temptations delivered Motown's first-ever GRAMMY
at the 11th Annual Grammy Awards ceremony in 1969 for
Best Rhythm and Blues Performance by a Duo or Group, Vocal or
Instrumental for the song, "Cloud Nine." They have released
countless gold, platinum and multi-platinum chart hits, many of
which are considered American masterpieces. They have 16 #1 R&B
chart albums, 44 Top 10 R&B chart hits, including, 14 #1
R&B singles, plus four Billboard #1 singles.
Universal Music Enterprises:
Universal Music Enterprises (UMe) is the global catalog and
special markets division of Universal Music Group. Working closely
in concert with UMG's record labels, territories, and operating
companies, UMe provides a frontline approach to catalog management,
an emphasis on strategic marketing initiatives and creating
opportunities in new technologies.
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SOURCE UME/Motown