Legacy of The Temptations
Artists and genres The Temptations directly influenced — one hop forward on the family tree of music.
The Four TopsartistThe Four Tops are an American vocal group formed in Detroit, Michigan, in 1953 as the Four Aims. They were one of the most commercially successful American pop music groups of the 1960s and helped propel Motown Records to international fame. The group's repertoire has incorporated elements of soul, R&B, disco, adult contemporary, doo-wop, jazz, and show tunes. Lead singer Levi Stubbs, along with backing vocalists Abdul "Duke" Fakir, Renaldo "Obie" Benson and Lawrence Payton remained together in the group for more than four decades, performing until 1997 without a change in personnel. Along with fellow Motown groups the Miracles, the Marvelettes, Martha and the Vandellas, the Temptations, and the Supremes, the Four Tops helped to establish the "Motown sound"; pop-friendly soul and R&B with a clean, polished production quality. They were notable for having Stubbs, a baritone, as their lead singer, whereas most other male and mixed vocal groups of the time were fronted by tenors.
The Sweet InspirationsartistThe Sweet Inspirations are an American R&B girl group from Newark, New Jersey, founded by American singer Cissy Houston. The group was mostly known for their work as backup singers on studio recordings for other popular music artists but were also a relatively successful group in their own right, earning several charted singles between 1967 and 1970.
Jalen NgondaartistJalen N'Gonda is an American musician based in England. He came to prominence with the release of his debut studio album Come Around and Love Me (2023), and is known for his Motown-inspired soul music. N'Gonda is primarily a singer, but also plays various instruments during live performances.
The Mighty DiamondsartistThe Mighty Diamonds were a Jamaican harmony trio, recording roots reggae with a strong Rastafarian influence. The group was formed in 1969 and were best known for their 1976 debut album, Right Time, produced by Joseph Hoo Kim, and the 1979 release, Deeper Roots.
Welshly ArmsartistWelshly Arms are an American blues rock band from Cleveland, Ohio, United States. The band has been active since their debut in 2013 with the EP Welcome. The following year, they released a covers EP and in 2015, an album titled Welshly Arms. The band writes, produces, and records all of their material in Cleveland. Their name is in reference to a fictional hotel in a Will Ferrell sketch on Saturday Night Live. Their influences include Jimi Hendrix, The Temptations, Otis Redding, and Howlin' Wolf. Musicians from the band's hometown of Cleveland have also influenced them, such as The O'Jays, The James Gang, and The Black Keys.
The Undisputed TruthartistThe Undisputed Truth was an American Motown recording act assembled by record producer Norman Whitfield to experiment with his psychedelic soul production techniques. Joe "Pep" Harris served as main lead singer, with Billie Rae Calvin and Brenda Joyce Evans on additional leads and background vocals.
The Dramaticsartist
Rick AstleyartistRichard Paul Astley is an English singer, songwriter, radio DJ and podcaster. He gained fame through his association with the production trio Stock Aitken Waterman, releasing the 1987 album Whenever You Need Somebody, which sold 15 million copies worldwide and was certified platinum by both the BPI and the RIAA. His debut single "Never Gonna Give You Up" was a No. 1 hit in more than 25 countries, winning the 1988 Brit Award for Best British Single. The song also stayed at the top of the UK chart for five weeks in 1987 and was the best-selling single of that year. His 1988 single "Together Forever" also topped the US Billboard Hot 100 and was one of his eight songs to reach the UK Singles Chart top 10.
Barry Biggsartist
Keith & Texartist- Colby O'Donisartist
Colby O'Donis Colón is an American singer. He is best known for his guest appearance on Lady Gaga's 2008 single "Just Dance" which peaked atop the Billboard Hot 100, spent over 11 months on the chart, and received diamond certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Due to label conflicts, Senegalese-American singer Akon was unable to perform on the song and recruited O'Donis to do so; O'Donis was Lady Gaga's labelmate on Akon's KonLive Distribution label, to which he signed in 2007.
AshartistAsh are a Northern Irish rock band formed in Downpatrick, County Down, in 1992 by vocalist and guitarist Tim Wheeler, bassist Mark Hamilton and drummer Rick McMurray. As a three-piece, they released mini-album Trailer in 1994 and full-length album 1977 in 1996. This 1996 release was named by NME as one of the 500 greatest albums of all time. After the success of their full debut the band recruited Charlotte Hatherley as a guitarist and vocalist, releasing their second record Nu-Clear Sounds in 1998. After narrowly avoiding bankruptcy, the band released Free All Angels in 2001 and a string of successful singles.
Charlie Burgartist
Black MerdaartistBlack Merda is an American rock band from Detroit, Michigan active from the mid-1960s to the early 1970s and reuniting in 2005. The core band members are guitarist/vocalist Anthony Hawkins, bassist/guitarist/vocalist VC L. Veasey, and guitarist/vocalist Charles Hawkins, plus original drummer/vocalist Tyrone Hite. Hite was a native of Detroit; the Hawkins brothers and Veasey were all born in Lyon, Mississippi and came of age in Detroit.
The Elginsartist
Modern RomanceartistModern Romance is a British pop music band that found popularity in the early 1980s. Formed in 1980 by previous members of an earlier group, the Leyton Buzzards, the band achieved a string of UK chart hits before the original group broke up in 1985. Andy Kyriacou reformed the band in 1999 who continue to perform the group's music.
The Natural Fourartist
The PersuasionsartistThe Persuasions were an American a cappella group that formed in Brooklyn, New York in 1962, singing under corner streetlights and in subway corridors. Their style combined gospel, soul, early rock, and jazz into melodic five-part harmonies. Since being discovered by Frank Zappa, the Persuasions have released 23 studio albums to date.
Dennis Coffeyartist
Afghan WhigsartistThe Afghan Whigs are an American rock band from Cincinnati, Ohio. They were active from 1986 to 2001, reformed briefly in 2006 and again from 2011 to present.
RalphartistRaffaela Weyman, known professionally as Ralph, is a Canadian singer and songwriter from Toronto, Ontario.
Emblem3artist- LMNTartist
Neon JungleartistNeon Jungle were a British girl group consisting of Shereen Cutkelvin, Amira McCarthy, Jessica Plummer, and Asami Zdrenka. They were best known for their second single "Braveheart", which peaked at number four on the UK Singles Chart. Their 2014 debut and only album, Welcome to the Jungle, features "Braveheart" alongside fellow top 10 single "Welcome to the Jungle", as well as the top 20 entries "Trouble" and "Louder". The group separated in 2015.