Otis Williams
Otis Williams | |
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Background information | |
Birth name | Otis Miles Jr. |
Born | Texarkana, Texas, U.S. | October 30, 1941
Origin | Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
Genres | |
Occupation(s) |
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Years active | 1958–present |
Labels |
Otis Williams (born Otis Miles Jr.; October 30, 1941) is an American second tenor/baritone singer.[1][2] He is occasionally also a songwriter and a record producer. Williams is the founder and last surviving original member of the Motown vocal group The Temptations,[1] a group in which he continues to perform; he also owns the rights to the Temptations name.
Early life
Williams was born Otis Miles Jr.[2][3] in Texarkana, Texas, to Otis Miles and Hazel Louise Williams. The couple separated shortly after their son's birth.[2] While he was still a toddler, his mother married and moved to Detroit, Michigan, leaving the younger Otis Miles to be raised by both of his grandmothers in Texarkana.[2]
Hazel Williams moved her son to Detroit when he was ten years old, where he lived with his mother and his stepfather.[2]
Career
1950s-1990s
Becoming interested in music as a teenager, Otis Miles Jr. adopted his mother's maiden name for his stage name, and as Otis Williams put together a number of singing groups. These groups included Otis Williams and the Siberians, the El Domingoes, and the Distants. In 1959, The Distants scored a local hit, co-written by Williams and their manager/producer
The Temptations became one of the most successful acts in
The Temptations biggest selling tracks include: My Girl, and (I Know) I'm Losing You, among many others. The groups have won four Grammy Awards, and have been nominated for nine.[5]
Although he has served the longest tenure in the Temptations, Williams rarely sings lead, focusing instead on his role as the group's leader and organizer, and as the
Most notably, rare showcases for Williams singing lead are: "
Williams has provided non-singing (spoken word) contributions to some Temptation songs, including: "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me" (1968, a hit duet with Diana Ross and Eddie Kendricks sharing the lead vocals), "I'm the Exception to the Rule", from the album Sky's the Limit (The Temptations album) (1971) which features leads from both Eddie Kendricks and Dennis Edwards, During the opening verse of "Masterpiece" (1973), and "For Your Love", which is done in a medley with "You Send Me" (led by Ali-Ollie Woodson) on the For Lovers Only album (1995).
1990s-present
The Temptations lineup changes were so frequent, stressful and troublesome that Williams and Melvin Franklin promised each other they would never quit the group.[4]: 146–147 Franklin would remain in the group until 1994, when he became physically incapable of continuing. Franklin died on February 23, 1995, leaving Otis Williams, then 53, as the last surviving original member of the quintet.[4]: 223
Williams still remains in the Temptations as of 2024, has performed on every release by the band, including their most recent studio album, Temptations 60, released on January 28, 2022, which also included a collaboration with Motown artist Smokey Robinson.[6]
Additional works
Williams is the co-author, with Patricia Romanowski, of Temptations, a 1988 book that served as both his autobiography and a history of the group. Ten years later, the book was adapted into an
Personal life
Williams married Josephine Rogers in 1961;[4]: 52–53 [7] the couple's son, Otis Lamont Miles, was born the same year.[4]: 52–53 [7] He and Josephine divorced in 1964. Otis Lamont Miles was a construction worker who died from falling off a building in a workplace accident in Detroit in 1985.[4]: 214–15 Williams was engaged to Patti LaBelle. She ended the engagement when he asked her to quit music and become a housewife.[citation needed]
Williams was married to Ann Cain from 1967 to 1973.
Awards and honors
In 1989, Otis Williams was inducted into
In popular culture
- The Temptations.
- Berkeley Repertory Theater in September 2017. Williams was played by Derrick Baskin. The show then reached Broadway's Imperial Theater, opening March 21, 2019.[15]
The musical then debuted on the West End in the Prince Edward Theatre in 2023.
Discography
References
- ^ a b Ankeny, Jason. "Biography: The Temptations". AllMusic. Retrieved October 23, 2010.
- ^ a b c d e Ribowsky, Mark (2010). Ain't Too Proud to Beg: The Troubled Lives and Endearing Soul of the Temptations. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons. pp. 7–9
- ^ Higgins, Chester (April 1971 – February 22, 2013:). "The Temptations". Ebony. Retrieved February 17, 2013.
- ^ ISBN 0-8154-1218-5.
- ^ "The Temptations". www.grammy.com. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
- ^ Greene, Andy (September 24, 2021). "The Temptations Celebrate 60th Anniversary With New Smokey Robinson-Penned Song". Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
- ^ a b "RUFFIN-STEINBACK v. dePASSE (UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE SIXTH CIRCUIT)" (PDF). September 28, 2001. Retrieved February 17, 2013.
- ISBN 978-0-380-70097-4.
- ^ Ribowsky, Mark (2010). Ain't Too Proud to Beg: The Troubled Lives and Endearing Soul of the Temptations. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons. pp. 263
- ^ [1] Archived March 12, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "The Temptations Rock and Roll Hall of Fame".
- ^ "Who are the next Rock & Roll Hall of Famers?". Future Rock Legends. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
- ^ "About". The Temptations. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
- ^ "From Our Town to Motown". www.txkmag.com. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
- ^ "Review Roundup: AIN'T TOO PROUD - The Temptations Musical - at Berkeley Repertory Theatre". Broadwayworld.com.
External links
- Otis Williams' official website
- Otis Williams interview by Pete Lewis, 'Blues & Soul' March 2010
- Otis Williams on AngelFire
- Interview with Otis Williams by Gary James at Classic Bands.
- Otis Williams discography at Discogs