I recently attended a concert with 'The Temptations Review, Bobby Womack, and The Manhattans. It was a GREAT show. I loved it all. But of course, it was "The Temptations Review" that stole the show and brought back indelible memories of the "Classic Five temptations. These guys won a place in my heart forever. They had the audience on their feet and feeling so good. We clapped, we shouted, we danced, we sang, our emotions were moved, and we felt the power of "The Temptations Review". Their line up consists of Dennis Edwards, David Sea, Mike Patillo, Bernard Gibson, and Chris Arnold.
What a special night this was for me because not only did I get to see the show, but also to go backstage and meet the guys of "The Temptations Review." I was shown to their dressing room by their manager Ben Crosby and told that they were in the special guest quarters but would be down in a few minutes. As I waited I looked around the room. To my right was an opened closet and hanging there were five beautiful red suites and also in a perfect row sat five matching pairs of red shoes. Gosh, this reminded me of the tale I heard of the time when The Classic Five were on tour along with other Motown stars and all their shoes had been polished and left outside their door. David Ruffin who was said to sometimes be a prankster mixed the shoes all up and the guys had to scramble at the last minute to find their shoes and get dressed. It must have been a comical sight to see these sophisticated guys running around comparing shoes to find their own.
Oh gosh I though, I'm really in their dressings room. as I smiled nervously the door opened and in walked Mr. Dennis Edwards. He towered over my 5' 2" in heels. All I could do for a few seconds was stare like an idiot. After all, Mr. Edwards is still a very attractive man. But then common courtesy came to my rescue and I introduced myself and told him I was the lady that wanted to ask a few questions and take a couple of pictures for their web site. He shook my hand and invited me to sit down. He was so nice and down to earth.
I told him a little about myself and asked if there were anything special he wanted people to know about him other than his love of singing and performing? He said that he felt it important that people know that he was a very spiritual person and felt very blessed. He said one of the things he felt determined to do was to continue to carry the torch for his fellow brother Tempts who had passed on. He then with sort of a sad smile mentioned by name David Ruffin, Eddie Kendricks, Paul Williams, and Melvin Franklin. He said he would always love and remember them. That's why he said I always make sure to speak of them in every show.
Of course, I've never interviewed a star before (or anybody else for that matter), but I felt I was warming up to it a little bit and feeling more comfortable when the door opens again and in walked three other members of the group, Mike Patillo,Bernard Gibson and Chris Arnold. At this point I felt swamped by these tall good-looking guys. I could feel my poor heart skip a beat. Dennis introduced me to the guys and told them why I was there. I shook their hands. A few seconds later the door opens again and in walks Mr. Crosby their manager. Looking at Dennis he says that there is some problem with Bobby Womack and they would have to go on next instead of last. The guys had a brief discussion and agreed that if that was the way it had too be let's do it.
Oh no! I thought, why did this have to happen tonight. Mr. Dennis Edwards turned to me and asked that I excuse them because they had to get dressed. What else could I do but leave graciously? I won't answer that question it was purely rhetorical. Oh Yes, I kid you not the door opens again, yes again and in walks Mr. David Sea. HONEY! There I stand looking at an absolute vision of "Black Gold." I don't mean wearing the color black gold. The man looks like BLACK GOLD. He glanced at me with a slight smile on his gorgeous face. Somebody told him who I was I don't remember who. I shook his hand and smiled. Their manager Ben Crosby reminded them again that they needed to hurry and get dressed. So I leave the room saying I would wait outside to get a picture of them.
As much as I love Bobby Womack's music I felt like strangling him. Gosh, this may be my once in a lifetime chance to talk to Dennis, David Sea and these other guys and to ask questions of Dennis about David Ruffin and Eddie Kendricks. Questions that I long to have answered by someone who was a close friend and fellow Tempt. Someone who was there and saw and experienced what really went down.
So, here I stand outside their dressing room door determined to wait and get a picture of them in those gorgeous red suits. As previously, Dennis Edwards is the first to come out. He comes over to me and begins to sing some of the old tunes and ask if I remember these songs. I stand there looking up at Mr. Edwards as he sings in that beautiful and powerful voice of his. I didn't faint ladies, no I just smiled and enjoyed every minute of it.
The other guys soon came out and I ask that they stand together so I can get a couple of pictures. They looked so good. And as usual Dennis throws his head back and gives the biggest smile. The lighting was bad in the hallway but I was hoping that the pictures would show up. They then walk towards the stage preparing to go on. At the entrance of the stage they stop, hold hands, and bow their heads and began to pray. I was standing at a distance and couldn't hear the words. But I was so moved by it. Oh gosh, I wanted to cry. This reminded me so much of "The Classic Five." I had seen pictures of David, Eddie, Paul, Melvin, Otis, and Dennis performing this same ritual in the 60's and here I stand so many years later watching it in reality. I thought to myself, Dennis hasn't forgotten them. He will always be a Temptation. He will always remember them with love. It brought me an overwhelming feeling of joy.
I decided I would wait until they went on stage and began their performance before going to my seat. But as I stood there a person passed by with a familiar face. I instantly recognized him. Speaking loud enough for him to hear me I asked aren't you Mr. Tunis Wilson from Street Gold? He stopped and looked over at me. He asked me how I knew who he was? I said I will always remember you from Street Gold. I told him how much I loved and appreciated his shared memories of David Ruffin on that video. I did get to talk to him about David Ruffin and Eddie Kendricks. I told him about the websites and message boards in their honor. I could tell that he cared deeply for them. He was upset about the way David was often portrayed and also some of the misinformation put out about both David and Eddie. But that is another story. A story that he plans too soon tell. Mr. Tunis Wilson was road manager for Ruffin, Kendricks, and Edwards and now serves in that capacity for "The Temptations Review".
So now the show is underway and I'm eager to get to my seat to enjoy it. I excuse myself and immediately go find my seat. I sit down and watch these guys I had just talked to move a room full of people by their great voices and wonderful music.
Dennis Edwards' voice is just as strong and powerful as ever. His body language still says I love performing. His boyish grin would often show itself as he energetically danced and sang. To the audience he spoke lovingly of his brother Tempts who had passed. David Ruffin, Eddie Kendricks, Paul Williams, and Melvin Franklin. The audience applauded as he spoke of each one. "The Temptations Review" also performed songs in dedication to all four of these men who had contributed so much to "The Classic Five Temptations." I knew Dennis meant it when he told me he would never forget them.
No one is immune to the beat when Dennis Edwards sings "Papa Was A Rolling Stone." The house roared when that lion of a man performed that song with the power that only Dennis could. When they sang "Lady Soul, Wish It Would Rain, and My Girl lead by David Sea, the place was pulsating. The hypnotic David Sea chose a lady close by the stage to serenade. While holding her hand he sang to her and the rest of the females screamed “come down here”. Some ran to the stage to try and get close to the hypnotic David Sea. As they finished up they invited all to join in on doing the Temptations' Walk. A mass of bodies headed for the front of the stage to dance close to these guys who brought back so many memories of a wonderful time in our lives. I couldn't resist and ended up at the front. We happily danced the familiar steps and as their last song came to a close we ran up to the stage and grasp their hands as they bent and extended their hands to us. Those guys definitely keep the spirit of the Classic Five alive and well. Dennis Edwards/David Sea and the Tempts Review "you go on guys." David and Eddie are probably saying you go on Dennis we trust you to do it right.
My special thanks to LTV for getting the okay for me to go backstage and meet the guys. I truly love you gurl. Also, my thanks and gratitude to Dennis Edwards, David Sea, Mike Patillo, Bernard Gibson, Chris Arnold, Tunis Wilson, and Ben Crosby their kind and gracious manager. They gave me an evening I will never forget.