Paul Williams was a founding member of the great ’60s R&B act, the Temptations. Forming the group in 1960 with David Ruffin,Eddie Kendricks, Otis Williams, and Melvin Franklin, Williams was part of what would later be called “The Classic Five,” the unit that was responsible for some of modern music’s greatest songs ever. Although the group was achieving tremendous fame and success, Williams was apparently quite miserable, suffering from sickle-cell disease as well as other personal and financial problems. He had also developed alcohol dependency. Tragically, Williams was found dead by his car in a deserted parking lot on August 17, 1973 by what was ruled a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. Although he was battling depression at the time, there are many friends and family who have valid reasons to believe that the fatal gunshot was anything but self-inflicted.
Born in South Carolina, James Jamerson moved to Detroit where learned to play the bass in high school. He soon started playing in the local jazz and blues clubs and by the early ’60s, he was working at Berry Gordy’s studio. He, along with some of popular music’s greatest musicians were called the Funk Brothers and they can be heard on nearly every Motown record throughout the ’60s. Jamerson played on literally hundreds of Motown songs including such hits as “My Girl” (the Temptations), “You Can’t Hurry Love (the Supremes), “I Heard It Through The Grapevine” (Gladys Knight), and “What’s Goin’ On” (Marvin Gaye). It has been said that Jamerson played on more #1 pop hits than the Beatles, who own that actual record. Many of the world’s greatest bass players have pointed to Jamerson as their main influence. That list includes John Entwistle, John Paul Jones, Paul McCartney, and Jack Bruce. Jamerson and Motown parted company in 1973 after which, he found work playing on such disco hits as “Boogie Fever” and “Don’t Rock The Boat.” A longtime drinker, James Jamerson died of cirrhosis of the liver, heart failure and pneumonia at the age of 47.
Levi Stubbs (Born Levi Stubbles)
June 6, 1936 – October 17, 2008
Levi Stubbs was unquestionably one of R&B’s greatest vocalists. He is best remembered as the lead singer of the Four Tops, one of the Motown’s signature groups. The Tops recorded hit after hit for the label beginning in 1964. Such hits included, “Reach Out, I’ll Be There,” “Standing In The Shadows Of Love,” and “I Can’t Help Myself.” The group and Motown parted ways in 1972, with the Tops signing to ABC Dunhill Records where they had a brief resurgence with “Keeper Of the Castle,” and “Aint No Woman (Like The One I’ve Got).” They continued to record moderately successful records through the ’70s and reunited with Motown in time to celebrate the label’s 25th anniversary in 1983 after which they recorded a few more albums and toured with the Temptations. The Four Tops continued touring and recording until the passing of Lawrence Payton in 1997. They were elected into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990. Levi Stubbs died in his sleep at the age of 72.
Thanks to Craig Rosen from Number1Albums and John Harrison
Eddie Kendricks
December 17, 1939 – October 5, 1992
Eddie Kendricks was a co-founder of the Motown hit-making vocal group, the Temptations. It is his falsetto voice that can be heard on such classic songs as “Just My Imagination,” “The Way You Do The Things You Do,” and “Get Ready.” He also scored a #1 single as a solo artist with 1970’s “Keep On Truckin.'” Kendricks’ run with the Temptations was from 1960 until he went solo in 1971. The ’70s were hit and miss as far as his career went. After “Keep On Truckin,” he had a few minor hits. The ’80s found him reuniting with the Temptations a couple of times and finding a new audience thanks to some help from Hall & Oates who invited him to sing with them on a live album and a couple of television events including Live Aid. In 1991, the same year that fellow Temptation, David Ruffin died of a drug over dose, Kendricks was diagnosed with lung cancer. He died of the cancer on October 5, 1992 at the age of 52. Paul Williams and Melvin Franklin, also of the Temptations, passed away in 1973 and 1995 respectively.
Norman Whitfield is best remembered as one of the musical geniuses responsible for creating the Motown Sound during the 1960s. As a house songwriter and producer, Whitfield had his hand in at least three dozen of the greatest pop songs to come out of Detroit. That list includes “Ain’t To Proud To Beg” by the Temptations, “War” by Edwin Starr, “Too Many Fish In The Sea” by the Marvelettes, and “I Heard It Through The Grapevine” by Gladys Knight & the Pips. Whitfield formed his own label in 1973 and enjoyed great success with the big disco hit, “Car Wash” by Rose Royce. Whitfield was awarded a Grammy in 1976 for the score soundtrack to the film, Car Wash. A mostly bedridden Norman Whitfield died as a result diabetes and other ailments at the age of 68.
Paul Williams was a founding member of the great ’60s R&B act, the Temptations. Forming the group in 1960 with David Ruffin, Eddie Kendricks, Otis Williams, and Melvin Franklin, Williams was part of what would later be called “The Classic Five,” the unit that was responsible for some of modern music’s greatest songs ever. Although the group was achieving tremendous fame and success, Williams was apparently quite miserable, suffering from sickle-cell disease as well as other personal and financial problems. He had also developed alcohol dependency. Tragically, Williams was found dead by his car in a deserted parking lot on August 17, 1973 by what was ruled a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. Although he was battling depression at the time, there are many friends and family who have valid reasons to believe that the fatal gunshot was anything but self-inflicted.
Born in South Carolina, James Jamerson moved to Detroit where learned to play the bass in high school. He soon started playing in the local jazz and blues clubs and by the early ’60s, he was working at Berry Gordy’s studio. He, along with some of popular music’s greatest musicians were called the Funk Brothers and they can be heard on nearly every Motown record throughout the ’60s. Jamerson played on literally hundreds of Motown songs including such hits as “My Girl” (the Temptations), “You Can’t Hurry Love (the Supremes), “I Heard It Through The Grapevine” (Gladys Knight), and “What’s Goin’ On” (
Levi Stubbs was unquestionably one of R&B’s greatest vocalists. He is best remembered as the lead singer of the Four Tops, one of the Motown’s signature groups. The Tops recorded hit after hit for the label beginning in 1964. Such hits included, “Reach Out, I’ll Be There,” “Standing In The Shadows Of Love,” and “I Can’t Help Myself.” The group and Motown parted ways in 1972, with the Tops signing to ABC Dunhill Records where they had a brief resurgence with “Keeper Of the Castle,” and “Aint No Woman (Like The One I’ve Got).” They continued to record moderately successful records through the ’70s and reunited with Motown in time to celebrate the label’s 25th anniversary in 1983 after which they recorded a few more albums and toured with the Temptations. The Four Tops continued touring and recording until the passing of 
Eddie Kendricks was a co-founder of the Motown hit-making vocal group, the Temptations. It is his falsetto voice that can be heard on such classic songs as “Just My Imagination,” “The Way You Do The Things You Do,” and “Get Ready.” He also scored a #1 single as a solo artist with 1970’s “Keep On Truckin.'” Kendricks’ run with the Temptations was from 1960 until he went solo in 1971. The ’70s were hit and miss as far as his career went. After “Keep On Truckin,” he had a few minor hits. The ’80s found him reuniting with the Temptations a couple of times and finding a new audience thanks to some help from Hall & Oates who invited him to sing with them on a live album and a couple of television events including Live Aid. In 1991, the same year that fellow Temptation, 
