Music Analysis: The Temptations

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Temptations Forever Obtaining a wide variety of desire in music makes it difficult for me to just pick one person or group I prefer over another. Instead I will discuss the musical group that has held a special place in my heart since I was a child. The Temptations are one of the greatest musical groups to come out of Detroit in the 60s and one of the most successful groups in music history. The Temptations received numerous awards, performed classical significant music, upheld a strong brotherhood, wore trendsetting outfits and could “cut a rug”. The “Classic” Temptations consisted of five male vocalist David Ruffin, Melvin Franklin, Paul Williams, Otis Williams, and Eddie Kendricks. The group formed in 1960 in Detroit, Michigan under the name "The Elgins" (later changed to The Temptations). David Ruffin, who was the lead vocalist on a number of the group's biggest hits, including "My Girl" (1964), "Ain't Too Proud to Beg" (1966), and "I Wish It Would Rain" (1967). Ruffin was replaced in 1968 by Dennis Edwards. The group continued to record hit records such as "Cloud Nine" (1968) and "Ball of Confusion (That's What the World is Today)"…show more content…
The Temptations were the first Motown recording act to win a Grammy Award. They won this award for "Cloud Nine" in 1969 and in 2013 received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. In 1989 six of the Temptations (Edwards, Franklin, Kendricks, Ruffin, Otis Williams and Paul Williams) were inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Three classic Temptations songs, "My Girl", "Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)", and "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone", are among The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll. The Temptations were also ranked at #68 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 100 Greatest Artists of all

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