All I knew was the Temptations were in town and I had not heard them live since the late sixties. So I ran out on the kids after waiting in line for a Mother's Day buffet (thanks Dean and Angel) and got into my dates car with the rest of my dinner in a box. Didn't want to miss a minute of the show. Sunday, May 13, 2012 at the Benedum in Pittsburgh.
It’s a long way from the sixties but trust me Otis Williams still has a million dollar smile and what seems to be the same energy. And this was the first time that I ever heard him sing a solo. Wow! Otis is the only original member of the Temps but it matters not as each of the current members from “Big Love “Bruce Williamson to their new baritone, Joe Herndon each add their own professional energy and charisma to the group.
For those of you who do not know: Over the course of their career, the Temptations have released four Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles and 14 Billboard R&B number-one singles. Their material has earned them three Grammy Awards, while two more awards were conferred upon the songwriters and producers who crafted their 1972 hit "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone". The Temptations were the first Motown act to earn a Grammy Award. Six Temptations: Dennis Edwards, Melvin Franklin, Eddie Kendricks, David Ruffin, Otis Williams, and Paul Williams were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989. Three classic Temptations songs, "My Girl", "Ain't Too Proud to Beg", and "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone", are among The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll. The Temptations portion of the show ended with the Temptations National Anthem, “My Girl” and the audience dancing in and out of their seats. From Wikipedia
What a night! The Four Tops portion of the show was a bit tamer and a lot more nostalgic as their missing members have passed on and the Duke is the only remaining living member. But still it was hard not to think of who you were holding in your arms in High School dancing to the Four Tops. The latest members of the Four Tops are all reminiscent of the original energy of the group. The current members of the group, Lawrence Roquel Payton Jr. Theoplis Peoples III and Lewis Ronald McNeir, all bring unique and legendary talents to the group and make the performance of the Four Tops come to life again.
What a night to remember and by the way it was not just us old timers in the crowd. In my Row J seats up front we were the only “old timers.” Our row was filled with 20 and 30 somethings who unlike us had not forgotten any of the words.
Good News Reporter, Joanne Quinn-Smith is also the Host of PositivelyPittsburghLive Talkcast and the Publisher of PositivelyPittsburghLiveMagazine.com, Pittsburgh's first internet radio and TV network http://pplmag.com
Joanne is the Creative Energy Officer of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates a Pittsburgh Marketing firm which specializes in Web 2.0 Branding. She is a speaker and author and prolific talkcaster. Find her profile on LinkedIn at: http://joannequinnsmith.com
(c) Joanne Quinn-Smith 2012 All Rights Reserved
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