Kell Osborne facts for kids

Kell Osborne (born March 12, 1939 – died January 29, 2012) was an American singer. He was famous for being part of a group called The Primes. This group later became the very well-known band, The Temptations.

Early Life and Music Beginnings

Kell Osborne was born in Birmingham, Alabama on March 12, 1939. He was raised by his stepfather, who hoped he would become a minister. But Kell chose to follow his dream of becoming a singer.

In 1955, Kell and his friends Eddie Kendricks, Paul Williams, and Willy Waller formed a singing group. They called themselves The Cavaliers. They started performing in Birmingham. In 1957, Willy Waller left the group, making them a trio.

In 1958, the group left Birmingham to try and make it big in the music world. They moved to Cleveland, Ohio. There, a man named Milton Jenkins became their manager.

The Primes and The Primettes

Later, the group moved to Detroit, Michigan. Soon after, their manager, Milton Jenkins, changed their name to The Primes. They also had a spin-off group called The Primettes. This group included future stars like Diana Ross, Florence Ballard, Mary Wilson, and Betty McGlown.

In 1960, Kell decided to leave The Primes. He moved to Los Angeles, California to start a solo singing career. After he left, The Primes group broke up. Eddie Kendricks and Paul Williams later joined another group, which became the famous The Temptations.

Kell Osborne's Solo Career

After moving to Los Angeles, Kell Osborne signed with a record label called Trey. Famous producers Lester Sill, Lee Hazlewood, and Phil Spector worked with him. He recorded two songs, "Bells Of St Mary's" and "That's Alright Baby." Atlantic Records helped distribute these songs across the country. Both songs became hits in Baltimore, Maryland.

Kell later left the Trey label and signed with Class Records. There, he recorded more songs like "Chickadee" and "Do You Mind." In 1963, he signed with Capitol Records. However, his music career was put on hold because he was drafted into the military that same year.

Military Service and New Labels

While in the military, Kell's friend and fellow soldier, Billy Revis, became his manager. Kell recorded songs like "Yaya Yaya" during this time. In 1965, he finished his military service.

After the military, Osborne signed with Warner Bros. Records. He recorded the song "You Can't Outsmart A Woman" with them. He didn't stay with Warner Bros. for long. Many record labels were interested in Kell. But his close friendship with Billy Revis sometimes made it hard to get good opportunities. For example, the ABC label wanted Kell but not Revis. So, Kell ended his management contract with Revis and signed with Mercury Records. However, he didn't find much success there and soon left.

Later Years and Legacy

In 1995, Kell Osborne decided to leave the music business. He started working as a bus driver to have a steady income.

He returned to music in 2005. He released a new album, and Universal Records showed some interest in his new work. Kell Osborne made many important contributions to music throughout his life. He passed away on January 29, 2012.