Dennis Edwards facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Dennis Edwards
Edwards performing with The Temptations on The Ed Sullivan Show in September 1969
Background information
Birth name	Dennis Edwards Jr.
Born	(1943-02-03)February 3, 1943 Fairfield, Alabama, U.S.
Origin	Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Died	February 1, 2018(2018-02-01) (aged 74) Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Genres	R&B, soul
Occupation(s)	Singer
Instruments	Vocals piano
Years active	1961–2017
Labels	Motown International Soulville
Associated acts	The Temptations The Contours The Temptations Review featuring Dennis Edwards David Ruffin Eddie Kendricks

Dennis Edwards Jr. (born February 3, 1943 – died February 1, 2018) was an American soul and R&B singer. He was best known as the lead singer for the famous group The Temptations. They recorded music on Motown Records.

Edwards joined The Temptations in 1968. He sang with them for many years. He was part of the group from 1968 to 1976, then again from 1980 to 1984, and finally from 1987 to 1989. In the mid-1980s, he also had a solo career. His song "Don't Look Any Further" became a big hit in 1984. Until he passed away, Edwards was the lead singer of The Temptations Review. This was a group that continued the legacy of The Temptations.

Biography

Early Life and Music Career

Dennis Edwards was born in Fairfield, Alabama. This town is near Birmingham. His father, Reverend Dennis Edwards Sr., was a church leader. Dennis started singing in his father's church when he was only two years old.

When Dennis was about ten, his family moved to Detroit, Michigan. He kept singing in his father's church. He even became the choir director. As a teenager, Edwards joined a gospel group called The Mighty Clouds of Joy. He also studied music at the Detroit Conservatory of Music.

His mother did not want him to sing or listen to pop music. But in 1961, he started his own soul and jazz group. It was called Dennis Edwards and the Fireballs. That same year, he recorded a song called "I Didn't Have to (But I Did)".

Edwards served in the U.S. Army from 1961 to 1963. He was stationed in Europe for most of this time. In 1966, he tried out for Motown Records in Detroit. He was signed to the label. Later that year, he joined the group The Contours. They needed a new lead singer.

In 1967, The Contours opened for several Temptations concerts. Members of The Temptations, Eddie Kendricks and Otis Williams, noticed Edwards. They were thinking about replacing their own lead singer, David Ruffin. Ruffin was a friend of Edwards.

Joining The Temptations

In 1967, Edwards left The Contours. He was then asked to join The Temptations in June 1968. They had just decided to part ways with David Ruffin. Ruffin actually told Edwards that he was being considered as his replacement. This made it easier for Edwards to take the spot.

The Temptations officially introduced Dennis Edwards on July 9, 1968. This happened on stage in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. Edwards was the first new singer to join The Temptations after their famous "Classic 5" lineup.

With his powerful, gospel-style vocals, Edwards helped the group explore new sounds. They moved into psychedelic, funk, and disco styles. He sang lead on many big hits. These included "Cloud Nine" (1968), "I Can't Get Next to You" (1969), and "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" (1972).

Two of these songs, "Cloud Nine" and "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone", won Grammy Awards. This was a huge achievement for the group.

Edwards stayed with The Temptations until 1977. He rejoined them in 1980 when they returned to Motown. In 1982, Edwards sang with David Ruffin and Eddie Kendricks on the Reunion album and tour. Edwards was replaced in 1984 by Ali-Ollie Woodson.

In 1989, Edwards was honored. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of The Temptations. He was also inducted into the Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame with The Temptations in 2013.

Solo Career and Later Years

Motown helped Edwards start his solo career again in 1984. He released the hit song "Don't Look Any Further". It was a duet with Siedah Garrett. The album with the same name reached number 2 on the R&B music charts.

When there were issues with the group in 1987, Edwards came back to The Temptations. They recorded an album called Together Again. It featured the popular song "I Wonder Who She's Seeing Now". Edwards left the group for the last time in 1989.

Edwards also toured with other former Temptations members, David Ruffin and Eddie Kendricks. This was in the late 1980s. After Ruffin and Kendricks passed away, Edwards continued the project alone.

The Temptations Review featuring Dennis Edwards

In the 1990s, Edwards started performing as "Dennis Edwards & the Temptations". This led to a legal disagreement. In 1999, it was decided that Edwards could not use the band's original name. So, his group became known as The Temptations Review featuring Dennis Edwards.

His group included Paul Williams Jr., who was the son of an original Temptations member. The Temptations Review group was inducted into the Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame in 2015. Edwards also received the Living Legend Award at that time. His group still performs today.

Personal Life and Passing

Dennis Edwards had a relationship with the singer Aretha Franklin. She said he was the reason for her 1972 song "Day Dreaming". Edwards was briefly married to Ruth Pointer in 1977. They had a daughter named Issa Pointer. Issa later became a member of her mother's group, The Pointer Sisters.

Edwards moved to Florissant, Missouri in the 1980s. He wanted to be closer to his mother.

Dennis Edwards passed away in an Illinois hospital on February 1, 2018. He was 74 years old, just two days before his 75th birthday. He had been battling an illness called meningitis.

Discography

This section lists the albums and songs Dennis Edwards released.

Albums

Singles

See also

In Spanish: Dennis Edwards para niños