...THE LAST MAN STANDING Dennis Edwards is the soul surviving lead singer of The Temptations. Dennis' easily recognizable voice is the only link to the memory of this fabled group. GET READY... to meet Dennis Edwards!
Dennis brought them into the psychedelic sound and a damn fine job he did . Rest in peace . Seemed like a good dude . There is no replacing David ...its was just a new chapter. Good stuff
Of all the great songs Dennis Edwards sang lead on with the Temptations, my favorite to this day is "Memories," a deep cut off the 1975 album "A Song For You," which went Top 13. The first time I heard it, it sent chills up and down my spine. Edwards vocal tapped into a nostalgia groove that wouldn't quit. Great dynamics with verse and chorus shifting tempo. It's a song for the ages - will have you tearing up at the end with Edwards repeating "You, You, You!" Unforgettable.
I met Dennis Edwards at the mall when I sold him a subscription to the Oakland Press. He was thinner back then and wearing a velvet red ... people were looking at him. I said, 'are you someone I should know?' He just chuckled. I said, 'politics, movies, what....?' He said, 'have you ever heard of the Temptations?' I said, 'No, umm...wait, no THEEE TEMPTATIONS?' He laughed and went his way. Then I saw his picture on the CDs at the mall.
+WayneBrady You must be quoting Norman Whitfield. That's what he said to Dennis when the Temptations were recording papa was a rolling stone in the studio.
OMG yes is so humble & nice... genuinely sincere... an damn great singer with so much so. May God Keep you and forever you will be the most genuine Temp.
I got a chance to meet Dennis Edwards at the PX in Heidelberg Germany. I happened to have a picture of James Jamerson (downloaded from the internet) with me. I asked Dennis Edwards for an autograph. I showed the JJ pic and he wrote a great JJ comment and autographed it. Dennis Edwards was very modest and level-headed just like he is here in this interview. Such a great talent. Cloud-9 blew me away when it came out. Even though I was upset when I found out David Ruffin was no longer in the group. Dennis was the PERFECT replacement hind-sight 20/20. R.I.P Dennis Enjoying this interview. Thanks for posting.
I shared a first class flight with Dennis out to Dubai when his group were performing with Scherrie & Lynda's SUPREMES (I was road manager for S&L) and James Brown. We had a great time chatting. He's a REALLY GENUINE guy. Love him.
great voice...made songs like cant get used to you, papa was a rolling stone, cloud nine, ball of confusion, psychedelic shack, masterpiece etc. marvellous soul singer.
I was born in 1960. My parents would put us to bed so that they could sing dance and share spirits. At a very early age I heard Jerry Butler and Smokey with his miracles..But sitting at the top of the steps in the dark alone..I listened to the Greater Singing group of all my days: THE TEMPTATIONS. MY GIRL..JUST MY IMAGINATION..OH MY LORD. I HAVE BEEB HOOKED ON THEM TILL THIS DAY. I HAVE WSTCHED THEM REGROUP AND CARRY ON. SIMPLY BECAUSE TOO MANY GENERATIONS, ESPECIALLY MINE, STILL WANT THAT MOTOWN SOUND. I STILL HAVE THE ALBUM WITH THEN STANDING ON THE RAILROAD YRACKS. NOW THAT WAS THE POWET ALBUM. ITS WORDS OF THIS CONFUSION WRE HAVE..IN THE PSYCHDELIC HOMES WHETE WE LIVE..TO OUR CHILDREN RUNNING AWAY..CHID RUNNING WILD. EPIC!!! Can I get an AMEN TO THEM ALL. 2021
RIP Mr Dennis Edwards. Thank you for the music and for being one of the most altruistic people in the music industry ever. May you rest in eternal peace.
This was the best Interview I've seen!!! You have to understand, when Dennis was young and Good looking, he brought the Next level to the Temptations......
I use to have a friend in St. Louis who was good friends with Dennis Edwards, he would always say good things about him. I enjoyed hearing him talk about him ❤
The Reunion Tour was the Best!! I was there! It was Magic! It was 1983 Fox Theatre Atlanta Ga. Because David and Eddie Had solo Jams, they would do their solo hit songs. When Eddie did Keep on Truckin' and Boogie Down......Classic Shit!!! The Best Ever! Great Memories
The great Dennis Edwards. I'm so grateful that .Dennis is still with us. Believe it or not, he turns 70 on February 3rd, 2013. Much love and respect to Dennis.
I always loved Dennis Edwards. That comes from a time were live stage acts were polished and trained to be a lead singer. He is a legend. I'm a huge fan ................he was my favorite.
Dennis Edwards is gone but is never to be forgotten he was a very very focused and anchored plus committed entertainer whom will be missed may the Lord render his soul peace.he is loved DPitts. Rest in peace DPItts
Otis was still performing as recently as 2 years ago. Haven't seen anything about them since. Yes, Otis is a founding member and leader of the group, but Dennis was chosen to replace David Ruffin when he flaked out and did a superb job for many years. I was raised on the Temps and know every one of their hits by heart and sing along with them in my car or in the shower. Love them!!!!!
With a child heart he song it a t beach party in Port Huron , Lakeside Park tore the place up.What a Giant among Men. Stevie would tell you of his skills.
Still singing them myself. When I hear just my imagination, that was my very first love song. Just was waiting to be old enough to find a boy to go with that ideal. Haven't met him yet. So I am still singing with watery eyes and baited breath.
u must b VERY proud 2 b a Temptation, God blessed u w/that SOULFUL voice, MY favorite group n i aint lying, since u guys started w/david Ruffin 2, i was 15 yrs old when i fell n love w/yalls musac, i love ur voice AND ur songs, ill stop here cuz i could go on n on, i hope u live a LONG life, God bless you Dennis, i feel like i no u since ive seen da Temptations movie soo many times, see, i told i could go on n on, again God bless you
Yes a very good point was made at 24:25 . .. Eddie seemed like a very great friend despite all of what they were going through. . . Also I have to thank Dennis Edwards for giving us this raw and uncut interview. Such a humble person. This interview was way more entertaining then the movie. 🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾
Dennis Edwards is one of the most prolific entertainers that ever lived. I believe every word he uttered in that interview. His words were priceless. He told it just as good, if not better, than the Temptations series. May he rest in peace until resurrection day 🙏 (He's also one of my favorite Temptations! His voice can never be duplicated)
Just to set the record straight, Richard Street was the sixth Temptation from the start. Richard would fill in when someone, such as Paul Williams was sick or someone could not make a show. He later became part of the group full time when Paul Williams died.
It's good to be able to tune into Dennis even after his death he is gone but still with me in spirit he was great all around. DPitts Dennis was a child at heart he got into a wrong group of guys
I love both eras of Temps, Ruffin and Edwards, but being born in 1969, DR, I most identified with. I esp love his lead on "Memories"... the mighty, mighty Temps !!!
Dennis was awesome loved his voice and energy!!! One of my favorites was Memories!!! Great interview!!! Saw him with his own group in Delaware a place called Three Little Baker's .
I've been reading the comments.....Look people, no Dennis is Not the original lead singer and he's not the only surviving lead singer, BUT HE IS THE ONLY LEAD SINGER WHO IS ALIVE WHO CAN TELL YOU THE THIS STORY WHEN THE TEMPS WHERE THE TEMPS AND ANYBODY WANTS TO HEAR ABOUT, THE OTHER ONE IS DEAD...DAVID RUFFIN, I'M TELLING YOU THIS IS HISTORY
It's weird how today's artist pull millions and millions while these men and women die poor. Something should be done to protect them, they are national treasures.
man this here has to b one of the realist behind the scenes stories ever told! It was dead wrong y'all didn't HV a part 2 already made! Bravo brother Dennis,and thanx for the truth.
David Sea. He used to have a local group here in Alabama called David Sea and The Question Marks in the late 1960s. My mom told me she would see him at the Blue Gardenia after her senior prom in 1968.
thank you dennis for telling it liked it is. when you read this i hope you remember that i was the 17 teen year old that sat next to you in muskegon michigan at the holiday inn when they gave you all (meanin the temptations) the key to our city. you kept telling your body guard "seemoore" if i spelled it right) seemo, seemo.. get met some chittilings! remember? being with you guys that (damon, richard,melvin and you left a lasting impression on me. the words you told me was "always keep a woman with you about singing as a career.i never made it as an artist. but i will aways have the love sprit of a temptation! God Bless The Tempatations! and Bless you Dennis for leaving great lasting immpression having a chance to sat next you as a kid.
This post is very intriguing, it is the closest thing i have heard concerning the lost of ruffin to the group and to us the public GOD bless David Ruffin and i know Heaven is glad to have him, don't hate we all fall short, let him that is without sin cast the 1st stone, RIP DAVID RUFFIN.
Willie T. I remember Dennis Edwards when his mom was living next door to my cousins on Ashland St in St. Louis. When the Temps were in town they use to close the block down and we had one he'll of Block Party.
Excellent program. Like most Motown lovers, I have almost every great - and not so great - tune that label pumped out. This interview just added one more chapter to the story. I think all the Temps were leads - in their own way. I'm just thankful that I got to meet them - minus Dennis - back in the eighties in the Count Basie Theater in New Jersey. Melvin Franklin even sat on the edge of the stage to talk to me and thank me for coming. I was in a wheelchair.
Dennis Edwards is still holding on anchored focused and truly committed simply because he had two most important people in his life and that's his mother and the Lord had some of those entertainers reverted back in time of trouble and addiction plus other ills many of them would still be us I personally am vaguely familiar with Dennis from Maule Lounge and the Green and Gold Lounge it was obvious he was going to make it .God bless u Dennis your wife and children should be proud to have u and your Mother she is the kind of Mother we need more of these days I would love to see pictures of Dennis Mother his wife and Children God bless Dorothy Pitts
It seems that Eddie respected the "voices" of the Temptations and valued the "authentic sound. He admires Dennis for ushering the group into the new era. A feat which many other groups don't achieve, And, yet, a valued David for being 1 half (along with himself) as the voices of the original 5.HAd he (Eddie) lived, he would've added Ollie Woodson to this list as well.
@@michaelmullens7762 He stated his opinion that had Eddie lived- he would have had Ollie Woodson in that " Original Lead Tempts Review" group that he & David & Mr. Edwards toured under- is one I agree with. Paul Williams was dead since the early 70s. Dennis in fact after Eddie's passing, some years later did have Ollie Woodson in his continuation of the " Tempts Lead Vocalists" group that David & Eddie started - the " Tempts Review" group. That was a monster vocal group with Mr. Woodson joined Dennis & the supremely underrated Mr. David Sea.
Well, haven (where ever that is) might have picked D.E. as the best lead of the psychedelic Temptations, but David Ruffin will always be the best lead singer of the original Temptations and he resides in Heaven! . . . . And you know what . . . . it ain't even close! . . . . and that is my opinion based on most of the world's taste . . . . Just listen to what Dennis says about Ruffin in this video and I'd have to say that he agrees with the rest of us. . . . Ruffin is a dynamic incomparable R & B singer with a lot of Soul . . . . Dennis Edwards, on the other hand, is a Gospel singer who screams instead of sings like a raving preacher. That's not Soul , 'cause he never learned it.
Uh, mah man... You DON'T GO TO HEAVEN in a crack STUPOR! Sorry! Please pay at least passing attention to the Creator's book... it is called the Bible... it's 'around' - big seller! You'll find it. However, I DO agree with your assessment - they BOTH were GREAT in their respective styles, and each brought their own 'specialness' to the TEMPS that they were a part of. As a musician, I agree wholeheartedly. It seems the TEMPS adjusted to each man's style with SMASHING results!
It makes me feel good to know that Otis and Dennis is still living - it gives me a connection to the other greats that was a part of the temptations that is no longer with us.
gee gee k The legacy of the original Temptations will never be surpassed by any of the reconstituted iterations that followed David, Eddie, Paul, Melvin, and of course Otis. Their songs, showmanship, and harmonies are forever classic! The latter groups were successful too in their own right at various times and with diverse styles of music and performance. Ironically, 1968, the same year Ruffin left, marked a stark change in musical direction that Motown successfully navigated. With the addition of Dennis' voice and the new use of vocal interplay with the other four members sharing lead, they shifted gears from sweet to psychedelic soul, without missing a beat. Dennis was right for the time, and carried the baton until his departure. To everything there is a time, a purpose, and a season. Scriptures tell us this. So rather than try to replace the past seasons, we simply engage the new ones as they are presented to us; and thank God for having experienced what we have in our lifetime. Thank you Dennis, thank you David, thank you Eddie, thank you Paul, and thank you Melvin for your time, your purpose, and your season. The music world is a much better place because of what you gave us. 👑🎸🎵
Thank U Tom for keeping my memories of Dennis intact this is a very very special special person when the real Dennis Edwards was at his best Heaven is a better place because of him. DPitts
I was trying to are if he can recall singer with my Mom and Dad at their Church in Detroit. This was a great story til he got to the end but keep sailing on Dennis. We luv ya. Prayers to the fam
WOW ........ABSOLUTELY AMAZING ......PART 1 ......ONE OF BEST INTERVIEWS I EVER SAW....I LOVE TEMPTATIONS .....GREAT INSIDE STORY ... REALLY TOUCHED ME....AGAIN ITS BEEN SAID THE PEOPLE WHO GREW UP IN THE 60'S ARE THE FUNKIEST, COOLEST HEAVIEST AND LUCKIEST HUMAN BEINGS TO HAVE LIVED AND WITNESSED DURING THIS TIME
Tom thanks a lot for this great interview with great Dennis E. Dont get me wrong,huge respect for David and Eddie,but Dennis is also great singer.. Please let him know that he`s famous in Bosnia (ex-Yugoslavia)...me an my friends found relief listening his Temps recordings in the middle of crazy war.....Thanks Dennis.
Maaaan, I gotta say...this is Freakin GREAT.....This is the REAL DEAL....and TOTALLY HONEST, he has nothing to prove and no beef with anyone and telling it exactly how it went. This is the REAL HISTORY OF THE TEMPTATIONS.....I FREAKIN LOVE THIS...THEY NEED TO DO ANOTHER MOVIE WITH DENNIS TELLING OR WRITING THE STORY.
