The Temptations were the quintessential Motown vocal group. The quintet offered a rich blend of voices accompanied by stylish, coordinated dance moves. With songs and production from some of Motown’s brightest lights – most notably Smokey Robinson (“My Girl”) and Norman Whitfield (“Ain’t Too Proud to Beg”) – the Temptations lived up to their billing as emperors of soul. During the gilded age of soul music in general and Motown in particular, the Temptations delivered the intricate harmonies of streetcorner serenaders and the polished choreography of a Sixties soul revue. Moreover, their story is a long, episodic one of perseverance and dedication that extends from their origins in 1961 to the present day.
For more information see the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Biography.
Ain’t too proud to beg : the troubled lives and enduring soul of the Temptations / Mark Ribowsky. Hoboken, N.J. : John Wiley & Sons, c2010.