Otis Williams of the Temptations Proud of Group's Legacy, Longevity

The history of the Temptations is as much about the group as it is about their impact on pop and soul music. There was an Emmy-winning miniseries -- 1998’s The Temptations -- and more recently, a Broadway hit musical, Ain’t too Proud to Beg: The Life and Times of The Temptations. But the group’s real story has been lived in full by the group’s only surviving original member -- Otis Williams.

“It’s been amazing,” the 82-year-old Williams said recently by phone. “Sometimes I can’t believe it all happened to me. Sixty-two years later, and I’m still a Temp. And I’m so grateful to have made my life doing what I love best.”

A full 60 years after the Temptations released their first album in 1964, Williams says he still feels “like a little kid” when he thinks about the group’s success and ongoing influence.

“Motown was no happenstance,” the Texas native said in a phone interview in support of the Temps’ upcoming two-night gig at the Scottish Rite in Collingswood, NJ. “Motown was put here for a reason. And to be part of it, part of something so celebrated and known for all these wonderful songs – well, I thank God every day.” The Temptations, along with fellow Motown icons, The Four Tops, will play at the Scottish Rite on May 11 and 12 at 7:30 p.m.

Seeing the pages of his acclaimed autobiography turn into the award-winning 2019 jukebox musical Ain’t Too Proud to Beg – which played to packed houses in Philly earlier this year – has been a humbling and deeply moving experience for Williams.

“I remember seeing the show in New York before it opened, during its embryotic stage, and I felt like a little kid on Christmas morning,” he recalled. “Like I’m looking at the tree and saw all these wonderful gifts. I never imagined my life story would ever be on Broadway. So many amazing memories.”

The Temptations are currently on the road with fellow Motown icons, The Four Tops, who also have one original member remaining -- Duke Fakir. (The two groups perform their own sets).

“We do about 35-40 shows a year, so at my age, it can be a little tiring, but I love it, and it’s always great to see people in the audience having so much fun and singing along,” Williams said. “When the music starts, the magic starts.”

Today, he says, the city of Detroit is so synonymous with the music of Motown, that its original headquarters –– 2648 W. Grand Boulevard – is a shrine for R&B lovers around the world.

“To be part of that, it’s hard to say what that means to me today,” Williams said. “I feel very blessed.”

The Temptations biggest hits -- “My Girl,” “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg,” “I Wish It Would Rain” and “Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)” among them – were the soundtrack to the 1960s and ‘70s. With their synchronized dance moves, note-perfect harmonies and the alternating lead vocals of David Ruffin and Eddie Kendricks, the Temps were golden, scoring four #1 hit singles (14 #1’s on the R&B charts) and selling more than 25 million albums worldwide.

And when radio-friendly music in the U.S. started veering into more edgy sounds in the late 1960s, the group showed its flexibility and innate talent with catchy, yet provocative songs, like “Cloud Nine” and 1970’s “Ball of Confusion (That’s What the World Is Today”). One by one, the original members left (sometimes not by choice). but Williams has kept the group together, despite ongoing personnel changes (there have been 27 different members of the Temptations over the years).

“They say I’m the glue; and if I’m going to keep it glued together, it better be worth something,” he says.

While many fans are still enamored of songs as sung by the original “Classic 5” Temps – Williams, Ruffin, Kendricks, Melvin Franklin, and Paul Williams – Otis Williams says the current lineup is “absolutely great.”

After six decades of performing, Williams says he doesn’t take anything for granted. And, he says, the current lineup will guarantee the type of stellar performance their fans expect.

“I’m so proud of the guys we have today; some of the best brothers in the business,” Williams said. “That’s why we still sound good – the singing. We can all sing anything.”

As for the future? “Who can say? We’re still here and that’s what matters.”

Tickets for the Scottish Rite shows start at $39.50. Visit: www.brepresents.com for more information.