It is the power of music, here and abroad, by artists, including The Temptations, that help raise the spirit of the country and uplift a nation desperately searching for common bonds and a glimmer of hope and humanity. Amid the intense racial tensions at home and a raging war in Vietnam, the cultural upheaval gives birth to the Temptations’ own political consciousness, which finds its way into their music by the decades’ end. The Temptations and other African American artists, stare down racism and discrimination on bus tours throughout the South during these turbulent times of civil unrest. The nation is suffering from the loss of its president, the civil rights and feminist movements are in full swing, and the marches for equality and the freedom to vote are unraveling the thin threads holding the country together. The group’s coming of age, and musical development happens at a volatile time in the country’s history. Looking through a rear-view lens, what follows is a celebration of The Temptations’ artistry, legacy, and revered music that will live on for all eternity.įrom their origins in Detroit, Michigan six decades ago, to countries around the globe, from concert stages worldwide, to one of the greatest stages on earth – Broadway - in 2019, The Temptations’ journey covers not only their personal history but the history of America, as well. Otis Williams, the sole surviving, original member of The Temptations, turned 80 on October 30 th of 2021.īelow is a brief retrospective of The Temptations’ legendary history and distinguished contributions over the past sixty years. To mark this milestone, The Temptations released on January 28, 2022, a brand-new album, Temptations 60, with nearly all-original songs, plus they are currently touring in the U.S and will tour abroad in the fall of 2022. The Temptations are celebrating their 60 th Anniversary through 2022. Rolling Stone magazine named them among the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time, and in September of 2020, the editors of Rolling Stone 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 Temptations’ Anthology album has appeared in all three of Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums’ lists. Billboard magazine ranked The Temptations #1 in their most recent list of the Greatest R&B/Hip-Hop Artists of All Time, and in November of 2019 named them one of The 125 Greatest of All Time Artists.
The genesis and magnitude of their greatness is one of the most extraordinary stories of the 20 th and 21 st Centuries. The Temptations’ story is an epic journey of courage, struggle, triumphs, setbacks, and ultimately, international superstardom.
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