Dennis Edwards
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Dennis Edwards | ||
|---|---|---|
 Dennis Edwards performs "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" with The Temptations, on the December 2, 1972 episode of Soul Train.
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| Background information | ||
| Born | February 3, 1943 | |
| Origin | Birmingham, Alabama, USA | |
| Genre(s) | R&B, pop, soul, disco | |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, dancer | |
| Instrument(s) | Singing | |
| Years active | 1966 - present | |
| Label(s) | Motown | |
| Associated acts |
The Temptations, Dennis Edwards & the Temptations Revue | |
Dennis Edwards (born February 3, 1943 in Birmingham, Alabama) is an American soul and R&B singer, most noted for being one of Motown act The Temptations' lead singers.
A member of The Contours during the late-1960s, Edwards soon replaced David Ruffin as lead singer of The Temptations in 1968 after Ruffin was fired for what has been deemed unprofessional behavior. With his gospel-hewn vocals, Edwards led the group through its psychedelic, funk, and disco periods; two of the Temptations songs he apperars on, "Cloud Nine" and "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone", won Grammy Awards.
When "Papa" was first presented to the group, Edwards angrily refused to sing the first verse, because his father had actually died on September 3, just like the father portrayed in the song. He was greatly offended by this coincidence and accused songwriters Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong of deliberately assigning him the verse. They denied that the lyric assignment was intentional.
Edwards remained in the Temptations until being fired by Otis Williams in 1977 just before the group's departure from Motown to Atlantic Records. After a failed attempt at a Motown solo career, Edwards rejoined the Temptations in 1980, when they returned to Motown.
In 1982, Edwards got the chance to sing with Ruffin when Ruffin and Eddie Kendricks were part of the Reunion album and tour. Edwards began missing shows and rehearsals, and was replaced in 1984 by Ali-Ollie Woodson. At this time, Motown launched Edwards' solo career, and he had a hit with the 1984 single "Don't Look Any Further", a duet with Siedah Garrett. When problems arose between Woodson and the Temptations in 1987, Edwards was brought back once again, but was re-replaced by Woodson in 1989 after being fired a third and final time by Otis Williams.
Edwards toured and recorded with fellow ex-Temptations David Ruffin and Eddie Kendricks during the late-1980s as "Ruffin/Kendrick/Edwards, Former Leads of The Temptations". After the deaths of both Ruffin and Kendrick, Edwards was forced to wrap up the project alone. During the 1990s, Edwards began touring under the name "Dennis Edwards & the Temptations", prompting a legal battle between himself and Otis Williams. It was decided that Edwards' group would be called "The Temptations Revue featuring Dennis Edwards", the name that Edwards tours under to this day. Edwards' current group includes former Temptation Ali-Ollie Woodson, David Sea, Mike Patillo, and Chris Arnold.
Edwards was portrayed by Charles Ley in the 1998 Temptatations biographical miniseries, though he was not heavily focused upon, as the miniseries which gave more attention to the Ruffin-era Temptations line up.
