Melvin Franklin
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Melvin Franklin | |
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Background information | |
Birth name | David Melvin English |
Born | Montgomery, Alabama, U.S. | October 12, 1942
Died | February 23, 1995 Los Angeles County, California, U.S. | (aged 52)
Genres | |
Occupation(s) | Singer |
Years active | 1958–1995 |
Formerly of | The Temptations |
David Melvin English (October 12, 1942 – February 23, 1995) better known by the stage name Melvin Franklin or his nickname "Blue", was an American bass singer. Franklin was best known for his role as a founding member of Motown singing group The Temptations from 1960 to 1995.
Early life
David English was born in Montgomery, Alabama to Rose English, a teenage mother from nearby Mobile.[1] His biological father was the preacher of the English family's church in Mobile; he impregnated her through rape.[2] Following David's birth, Rose English married Willard Franklin and moved to Detroit. Her grandmother however insisted on raising young David and was left behind in her care. David English later moved to Detroit with his mother and stepfather in 1952 at age ten.[3]
Taking on his stepfather's surname for his stage name as a teenager, David English—now Melvin Franklin—was a member of a number of local singing groups in Detroit, including The Voice Masters with Lamont Dozier and David Ruffin, and frequently performed with Richard Street.[4] In 1959, the Voice Masters signed with Anna Records, a label co-founded by Berry Gordy's sister Anna. The group recorded several singles, including "Needed" and "Hope and Pray".[5][4] Franklin often affectionately referred to Street and Ruffin as his "cousins" (although they were not related).[6] Around this time, Franklin romantically pursued future Supremes singer Mary Wilson.[7]
Career
1958–1960: Early career
In 1958, Otis Williams, a classmate of Franklin's at Detroit's Northwestern High School, had formed his own singing group, Otis Williams and the Siberians. The group were negotiating a contract with record producer Johnnie Mae Matthews to record singles. However, Arthur Walton, the group's bass singer, departed the group to finish high school.[8] To replace him, Williams remembered Franklin from the Voice Masters. He spotted Franklin walking along a nearby neighborhood and rushed him with an offer to join the group as their bass singer. Franklin responded, "Well, I don't know you. You have to ask my momma." Williams explained the situation to Rose Franklin, who agreed to have her son join the group.[9] Vernard Plain, the group's lead singer, also departed the group, in which Franklin brought in Street to replace him.[9]
The Siberians (now renamed Otis Williams and the Distants)—Williams, Franklin, Street, Elbridge "Al" Bryant, and James "Pee Wee" Crawford—recorded at Matthews' Northern Records, releasing singles such as "Come On" (1959) and "Alright" (1960).[10] Around this time, Franklin briefly attended Wayne State University.[11] A dispute over the group's royalties with Matthews led to the termination of their contract with Northern Records. By 1960, the Distants had been reduced to a trio after Street left the group.[12]
1961–1995: The Temptations
After losing the Distants name, the remaining members aligned with
Franklin and Otis Williams were the only founding Temptations who never left the group. One of the most famous
In the fall of 1978, Franklin was shot in the hand and leg while trying to stop a carjacking outside of a hair salon in West Hollywood. He had earlier left his vehicle running when he stopped to talk with a female friend. During the struggle, the carjacker recognized Franklin from the Temptations, pushed him out of the car, and sped off.[17][18][19] The incident prevented Franklin from participating in the Temptations' upcoming tour of Poland, which at the time was still behind the Iron Curtain. Otis Williams assumed Franklin's bass parts during his recovery.[20] Aside from the Temptations, Franklin also worked as a voice actor. In 1984, he provided the voice for the character of "Wheels" in the animated series Pole Position.
In 1989, Franklin was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of The Temptations.[21] During the summer of 1994, Franklin was rushed to the hospital and diagnosed with necrotizing fasciitis. To save his life, surgeons operated on Franklin's arm, but because he was immunocompromised, Franklin remained at risk for remission.[22] A few months later, in September 1994, the Temptations received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.[23] In January 1995, Franklin's last recording with the Temptations was "Life Is But a Dream" for the album For Lovers Only. Following Franklin's death, he was replaced with Ray Davis.[24]
Personal life and death
Franklin was married to his second wife named Kimberly at the time of his death.
In January 1995, while recording the album For Lovers Only,
In February 2013, Franklin was posthumously awarded a
In popular culture
In 1998, Franklin was portrayed by actor
In April 1999, Rose Franklin filed suit against Williams, Shelly Berger,
Discography
References
- ^ Ribowsky 2010, p. 14.
- ^ Ribowsky 2010, pp. 14–15.
- ^ Ribowsky 2010, p. 15.
- ^ a b Ribowsky 2010, p. 40.
- ^ Williams & Romanowski 2002, p. 32.
- ^ Ribowsky 2010, p. 93.
- ^ Williams & Romanowski 2002, p. 34.
- ^ Ribowsky 2010, pp. 39–40.
- ^ a b Williams & Romanowski 2002, pp. 33–34.
- ^ Williams & Romanowski 2002, pp. 34–35.
- ^ Berger, John (December 26, 1994). "Irresistible Temptations". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. pp. B1–B2. Archived from the original on April 14, 2023. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
- ^ Williams & Romanowski 2002, pp. 42–43.
- ^ Williams & Romanowski 2002, p. 46.
- ^ Williams & Romanowski 2002, p. 48.
- ^ Ribowsky 2010, p. 65.
- ^ Ribowsky 2010, p. 210.
- ^ Williams & Romanowski 2002, pp. 187–188.
- ^ Ribowsky 2010, p. 263.
- ^ Tobler 1992, p. 317.
- ^ a b Ribowsky 2010, p. 264.
- ^ Williams & Romanowski 2002, p. 224.
- ^ a b Williams & Romanowski 2002, pp. 232–233.
- ^ Taylor, T. Shawn (October 2, 1994). "Star-less Temptation". Chicago Tribune. Section 5, p. 2. Archived from the original on August 19, 2022. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
- ^ Williams & Romanowski 2002, pp. 232–234.
- ^ a b "Jet". Johnson Publishing Company. March 13, 1995.
- ^ Ribowsky 2010, p. 162.
- ^ Williams & Romanowski 2002, p. 232.
- from the original on July 24, 2017. Retrieved September 25, 2017.
- ^ Williams & Romanowski 2002, p. 234.
- ^ "The Recording Academy Announces 2013 Special Merit Awards Recipients". Grammys.com (Press release). December 12, 2012. Archived from the original on December 14, 2012. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
- ^ Bhatia, Kabir (August 19, 2013). "R&B Hall of Fame makes Cleveland its home... for now". WKSU 89.7. Archived from the original on September 6, 2013. Retrieved August 20, 2020.
- ^ Vancheri, Barbara (August 15, 1998). "Miniseries' praises sung". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Archived from the original on March 26, 2023. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
- ^ Williams & Romanowski 2002, p. 238.
- ^ "Two Lawsuits Are Filed Against 'Temptations' Television Miniseries". Jet. April 5, 1999. p. 23. Archived from the original on April 14, 2023. Retrieved April 13, 2023 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Cheryl Ruffin-Steinback, et al. v. Suzanne de Passe, et al. [Appeal]". OpenJurist. September 28, 2001. Archived from the original on November 20, 2017. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
Bibliography
- Ribowsky, Mark (2010). Ain't Too Proud to Beg: The Troubled Lives and Enduring Soul of the Temptations. ISBN 978-0-470-26117-0.
- Tobler, John (1992). NME Rock 'N' Roll Years (1st ed.). London: Reed International Books. CN 5585.
- Williams, Otis; Romanowski, Patricia (2002) [1988]. Temptations. ISBN 978-0-815-41218-2.
External links
- Melvin Franklin at IMDb
- Melvin Franklin interviewed on the Pop Chronicles (1970)
- Melvin Franklin discography at Discogs
- Melvin Franklin in-depth interview by Pete Lewis, 'Blues & Soul' October 1992 (reprinted February 2009)
- Melvin Franklin at Find a Grave