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Eddie Kendricks

Biography

Known for both his years using the Temptations and his main single hits from the 1970s, Eddie Kendricks was at spirit legends who did his component to place Motown in the map. The expressive vocalist (who frequently sang within a falsetto), delivered Edward Adam Kendrick, was raised in Birmingham, Alabama, nonetheless it was Detroit’s Motown label that produced him a superstar. Kendricks was still surviving in Alabama in the past due ’50s when he produced the Primes with Kell Osborne and Temptation-to-be Paul Williams. After shifting from Alabama to Detroit, the Primes captured the attention of the Motor Town group referred to as the Distants, whose users included Temptations-to-be Otis Williams, Elbridge Bryant, and Melvin Franklin. The Primes split up after becoming together just a few years, as well as the Temptations (originally referred to as the Elgins) had been created when, in 1961, users from the Primes as well as the Distants arrived together. Having a lineup that included previous Primes users Kendricks and Paul Williams, and previous Distants users Otis Williams (who was simply unrelated to Paul), Melvin Franklin, and Elbridge Bryant, the Temptations authorized using the little-known Motown subsidiary Wonder. The Temptations, who experienced many personnel adjustments over time, didn’t achieve success immediately, but from the middle-’60s, that they had become large because of such smashes because the Kendricks-led “HOW YOU Do the items YOU ARE DOING” and “My Woman.” The group loved one mega-hit after another within the middle- to past due ’60s, including “The Girl’s Alright beside me” and “PREPARE YOURSELF.” Kendricks also do just a little songwriting and produced lots of the group’s vocal plans. By enough time the Temptations obtained their 11th number 1 R&B strike with “Simply My Creativity,” Kendricks experienced remaining to pursue a single a profession. Many supporters questioned the intelligence of his departing such an effective group, but he became quite viable being a single act because of early-’70s singles like “Continue Truckin,'” lots one R&B strike, and “Boogie Down,” which visited number two in the R&B graph. Other noteworthy single hits implemented, including “Shoeshine Youngster,” “Have the Cream Off the very best,” “Happy” in 1975,” and “He’s a pal” in 1976. The majority of his single albums arrived on Motown, although Kendricks documented for Arista and Atlantic through the past due ’70s and early ’80s. By that point, however, his reputation had decreased significantly. The vocalist wasn’t noticed from much within the ’80s, though in 1985, he do take part in the Performers United Against Apartheid’s Sunlight City task and documented Live on the Apollo with Daryl Hall, John Oates, and Enticement partner David Ruffin. 2 yrs afterwards, he and Ruffin released an record for RCA. Unfortunately, the ’90s would start to see the early fatalities of a minimum of three previous associates from the Temptations. Initial, Ruffin died of the cocaine overdose in 1991, accompanied by the fatalities of Kendricks in 1992, and Melvin Franklin (from a human brain seizure) in 1995. (Tragedy was nothing at all not used to Temptations associates: Paul Williams acquired committed suicide back 1973). Kendricks was just 52 when he passed away of lung cancers in his indigenous Birmingham on Oct 5, 1992.

Quick Facts


Full Name Eddie Kendricks
Date Of Birth December 17, 1939
Died October 5, 1992, Birmingham, Alabama, United States
Height 1.86 m
Profession Singer, Songwriter
Nationality American
Spouse Patricia Kendrick
Children Parris Kendrick, Aika Kendrick, Paul Kendrick
Parents Lee Bell Kendrick, Johnny Kendrick
Music Songs My Girl, Papa Was a Rollin' Stone, Keep on Truckin', Just My Imagination, Girl You Need a Change of Mind, Ain't Too Proud to Beg, Shoeshine Boy, Tell Her Love Has Felt the Need, Get Ready, Date With the Rain, Boogie Down, Intimate Friends, I Wish It Would Rain, I Can't Get Next To You, One More For The Lonely Hearts Club, Since I Lost My Baby, Each Day I Cry a Little, I Want a Love I Can See, If You Let Me, The Way You Do the Things You Do, Ball of Confusion, I'm Gonna Make You Love Me, I Did It All for You, Skippin' Work Today, I'm Losing You, Beauty Is Only Skin Deep, Oh, Mother of Mine, I Couldn't Believe It, The Best of Strangers Now, Silent Night, My People... Hold On, I Second That Emotion
Albums People ... Hold On, Ruffin & Kendrick, He's a Friend, Goin' Up in Smoke, All by Myself, Vintage '78, Boogie Down!, The Hit Man, For You, Slick, The Temptations Wish It Would Rain, Psychedelic Shack, The Temptations Sing Smokey, Temptations Live!, Diana Ross & the Supremes Join The Temptations, Gettin' Ready, Cloud Nine, The Temptations Christmas Card, The Temptations in a Mellow Mood, Meet the Temptations, The Temptin' Temptations, Greatest Hits, Eddie Kendricks, The Thin Man: The Motown Solo Albums Vol. 2, Love Keys, The Ultimate Collection, The Best of Temptations, The Motown Solo Albums, Volume 1, 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection: Best of Eddie Kendricks
Nominations Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals
Movies Dancin' in the Street


  • Facts
  • Filmography
  • Awards
  • Salaries
  • Quotes
  • Trademarks
  • Pictures

#Fact
1 Father of Aika Kendrick, and Paul Kendrick.
2 Uncle of Jamaul Kendrick.
3 The Temptations were awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 7060 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California.
4 Is portrayed by Terron Brooks in The Temptations' 1998 TV miniseries, The Temptations (1998).
5 Disliked the "psychdelic soul" music that The Temptations began singing in the late 1960s and early 1970s. This was one of the reasons why he eventually left the group.
6 Was close, longtime friends with his fellow The Temptations singer Paul Williams. They grew up together and were in a band called the Primes before joining Otis Williams and Melvin Franklin to create The Temptations.
7 Despite knowing that he would be arrested for back child support if he returned to Michigan, he attended David Ruffin's funeral in 1991 and was arrested right after the graveside service.


Soundtrack

Soundtrack

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Lovelace 2013 performer: "Keep on Truckin'"
More Than a Game 2008 Documentary performer: "Lights Camera Action!"
Everybody Hates Chris 2007 TV Series performer - 1 episode
Barbershop 2002 performer: "Lights, Camera, Action!"
China Doll 1975 performer: "Boogie Down" - uncredited
Soul Train 1971 TV Series documentary performer - 1 episode

Music Department

Music Department

TitleYearStatusCharacter
The Temptations 1998 TV Series composer - 2 episodes

Self

Self

TitleYearStatusCharacter
The Original Leads of the Temptations 1992 Video documentary Himself
Grammy Legends 1990 TV Special Himself (as The Temptations)
Ebony/Jet Showcase 1988 TV Series Himself
Soul Train 1971-1988 TV Series documentary Himself / Guest
Lou Rawls Presents Black Gold Hits 1988 TV Movie Himself
Dancin' in the Street 1987 Video documentary Himself
Deja View 1986 Video Himself (as Eddie Kendrick)
Sun City: Artists United Against Apartheid 1986 Video documentary Himself (as Eddie Kendrick)
Motown on Showtime: Temptations and Four Tops 1986 TV Movie documentary Himself
Artists United Against Apartheid: Sun City 1985 Video short Himself (uncredited)
MTV Video Music Awards 1985 1985 TV Special Himself - Performer (as The Temptations)
Live Aid 1985 TV Special documentary Himself
Diana Ross in Concert! 1979 TV Movie documentary Himself - Audience Member (uncredited)
Soul Alive 1977 TV Series Himself
New American Bandstand 1965 1973-1976 TV Series Himself
Rock Concert 1975 TV Series Himself
The Midnight Special 1974 TV Series Himself
The Mike Douglas Show 1974 TV Series Himself
In Concert 1974 TV Series Himself
In Session 1974 TV Series Himself
The David Frost Show 1971 TV Series Himself
The Ed Sullivan Show 1967-1971 TV Series Singer
The Andy Williams Show 1970 TV Series Himself
The Leslie Uggams Show 1969 TV Series Himself
TCB 1968 TV Movie Himself (as The Temptations)
Laugh-In 1968 TV Series Himself - Guest Performer
The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour 1967 TV Series Himself
The Lloyd Thaxton Show 1966 TV Series Himself
It's What's Happening, Baby! 1965 TV Special Himself (as The Temptations)
Ready, Steady, Go! 1965 TV Series Himself
Thank Your Lucky Stars 1965 TV Series Himself

Archive Footage

Archive Footage

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Unsung 2013 TV Series documentary Himself
TV in Black: The First Fifty Years 2004 Video documentary Himself
Ed Sullivan's Rock 'n' Roll Classics, Vol. 4: Elvis & Other Rock Greats 2003 Video Himself (as The Temptions & The Supremes)
Motown 40: The Music Is Forever 1998 TV Movie documentary Himself
The Temptations 1998 TV Series
Smokey Robinson: The Quiet Legend 1990 TV Movie documentary Himself
Hittimittari 1985 TV Series Himself
Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever 1983 TV Movie documentary Himself (Temptations member / solo artist)

Nominated awards

Nominated awards

YearAwardCeremonyNominationMovieAward shared with
1999 OFTA Television Award Online Film & Television Association Best Music in a Motion Picture or Miniseries The Temptations (1998)


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#Quote
1 I don't really know what a superstar is. I don't think you could ever become a superstar - they call you what they want to call you - but I don't think you could ever become a superstar because that means you have made it. You have achieved it all. I don't think I want to get that big. I don't want to blow myself out of proportion. That's too heavy a cross to bear.

#Trademark
1 Falsetto singing voice


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