List of the Temptations members

This page is a chronology of the Motown singing group the Temptations. It lists the members of the group during all phases of the group's history. While the Temptations have frequently changed their lineup, the group has always employed a person for each of the following roles:

• main lead singer (e.g., David Ruffin)
• secondary lead singer (e.g., Paul Williams)
• first tenor/falsetto lead singer (e.g., Eddie Kendricks)
• bass lead singer (e.g., Melvin Franklin)
• background second tenor/baritone w/ occasional lead (since 1961 Otis Williams has always held and continues to hold this role)

During their live performances, the falsetto and secondary leads have always been as predominant on stage as the group's official main lead/front man. Also, the falsetto lead position is always considered equal to the main lead position on studio recordings as well; the secondary lead was elevated to almost the same status in the studio from 1968 to 1972 and from 1993 onward.

The background/occasional lead role was originally that of another secondary lead singer before 1961.

The group has performed as a quintet throughout its history, with five exceptions:

• The Cavaliers' lineup (1955–57)
• The Primes' lineup (1958–60)
• April – May 1971 (no falsetto)
• The 1982 reunion lineup
• The later half of 1995, following the departure of Ray Davis

Since 1976, the name "the Temptations" has been a registered trademark definitively owned by Otis Williams and (the estate of) Melvin Franklin.^[1][2]

The Cavaliers

The Cavaliers lineup

(1955–1957)	Kel Osbourne – tenor Eddie Kendricks – tenor Paul Williams – baritone Wiley Waller – bass

The Primes

The Primes lineups

(1957–1958)	Kel Osbourne – tenor Eddie Kendricks – tenor Paul Williams – baritone Wiley Waller – bass
(1958–1960)	Kel Osbourne – tenor Eddie Kendricks – tenor Paul Williams – baritone

Otis Williams & The Siberians/The El Domingoes

The Siberians/The El Domingoes lineups

(1958–1959)	Elbridge "Al" Bryant – tenor Otis Williams – tenor James "Pee-Wee" Crawford – tenor Vernard Plain – baritone Arthur Walton – bass
(1959)	Elbridge "Al" Bryant – tenor Otis Williams – tenor James "Pee-Wee" Crawford – tenor Richard Street – baritone Melvin Franklin – bass

The Distants

The Distants lineups

(1959)	Elbridge "Al" Bryant – tenor Otis Williams – tenor James "Pee-Wee" Crawford – tenor Richard Street – baritone Melvin Franklin – bass
(1959–1960)	Elbridge "Al" Bryant – tenor Otis Williams – tenor Albert "Mooch" Harrell – tenor Richard Street – baritone Melvin Franklin – bass

The Elgins

The Elgins lineup

(1960–1961)	Elbridge "Al" Bryant – tenor Otis Williams – tenor Eddie Kendricks – tenor Paul Williams – baritone Melvin Franklin – bass

The Temptations

• Members of the classic lineup are in bold.

The Temptations lineups

(1961–1963)	Elbridge "Al" Bryant – tenor Otis Williams – tenor Eddie Kendricks – tenor Paul Williams – baritone Melvin Franklin – bass
(1964–1968)	David Ruffin – tenor Otis Williams – tenor Eddie Kendricks – tenor Paul Williams – baritone Melvin Franklin – bass
(1968–1971)	Dennis Edwards – tenor Otis Williams – tenor Eddie Kendricks – tenor Paul Williams – baritone Melvin Franklin – bass
(1971)	Dennis Edwards – tenor Otis Williams – tenor Ricky Owens – tenor Paul Williams – baritone Melvin Franklin – bass
(1971)	Dennis Edwards – tenor Otis Williams – tenor Ricky Owens – tenor Richard Street – baritone Melvin Franklin – bass
(1971–1975)	Dennis Edwards – tenor Otis Williams – tenor Damon Harris – tenor Richard Street – baritone Melvin Franklin – bass
(1975–1977)	Dennis Edwards – tenor Otis Williams – tenor Glenn Leonard – tenor Richard Street – baritone Melvin Franklin – bass
(1977–1980)	Louis Price – tenor Otis Williams – tenor Glenn Leonard – tenor Richard Street – baritone Melvin Franklin – bass
(1980–1982)	Dennis Edwards – tenor Otis Williams – tenor Glenn Leonard – tenor Richard Street – baritone Melvin Franklin – bass
(1982)	David Ruffin – tenor Dennis Edwards – tenor Otis Williams – tenor Eddie Kendricks – tenor Glenn Leonard – tenor Richard Street – baritone Melvin Franklin – bass
(1982–1983)	Dennis Edwards – tenor Otis Williams – tenor Glenn Leonard – tenor Richard Street – baritone Melvin Franklin – bass
(1983–1984)	Dennis Edwards – tenor Otis Williams – tenor Ron Tyson – tenor Richard Street – baritone Melvin Franklin – bass
(1984–1987)	Ali-Ollie Woodson – tenor Otis Williams – tenor Ron Tyson – tenor Richard Street – baritone Melvin Franklin – bass
(1987–1989)	Dennis Edwards – tenor Otis Williams – tenor Ron Tyson – tenor Richard Street – baritone Melvin Franklin – bass
(1989–1992)	Ali-Ollie Woodson – tenor Otis Williams – tenor Ron Tyson – tenor Richard Street – baritone Melvin Franklin – bass
(1992–1994)	Ali-Ollie Woodson – tenor Otis Williams – tenor Ron Tyson – tenor Theo Peoples – baritone Melvin Franklin – bass
(1995)	Ali-Ollie Woodson – tenor Otis Williams – tenor Ron Tyson – tenor Theo Peoples – baritone Ray Davis – bass
(1995–1997)	Ali-Ollie Woodson – tenor Otis Williams – tenor Ron Tyson – tenor Theo Peoples – baritone Harry McGilberry – bass
(1997–1998)	Terry Weeks – tenor Otis Williams – tenor Ron Tyson – tenor Theo Peoples – baritone Harry McGilberry – bass
(1998–2003)	Terry Weeks – tenor Otis Williams – tenor Ron Tyson – tenor Barrington "Bo" Henderson – baritone Harry McGilberry – bass
(2003–2007)	Terry Weeks – tenor Otis Williams – tenor Ron Tyson – tenor G. C. Cameron – baritone Joe Herndon – bass
(2007–2015)	Terry Weeks – tenor Otis Williams – tenor Ron Tyson – tenor Bruce Williamson – baritone Joe Herndon – bass
(2016–present)	Terry Weeks – tenor Otis Williams – tenor Ron Tyson – tenor Larry Braggs – baritone Willie Green – bass

Timeline

References

1. Ex-Temptations Singer Dennis Edwards Loses His Court Battle To Use 'Temptations' Name, a January 1999 Jet magazine article via findarticles.com
2. Williams, Otis and Romanowski, Patricia (1988, updated 2002). Pg. 181.