Dennis Edwards (February 3, 1943 - February 2, 2018) was an American soul and R&B singer, most famous for being the lead singer of The Temptations from 1968 to 1976 and again from 1980 to 1984.
Born in Birmingham, Alabama, Edwards was raised by his grandparents after his father abandoned the family. He sang in church as a child, and his first professional gig was with The Mighty Clouds of Joy in 1961. He joined The Contours shortly afterwards, and then moved on to The Temptations in 1968, at the invitation of Otis Williams.
Edwards was the lead singer of The Temptations for the majority of their hits from 1968-1976, including “Cloud Nine”, “Papa Was a Rollin' Stone” and “Ball of Confusion (That's What the World is Today)”. He was also a major contributor to the group's psychedelic soul sound, which was characterized by hard-hitting horn arrangements and a powerful combination of lead vocals and background harmonies.
In 1976, Edwards left The Temptations and embarked on a solo career. He released several albums, had minor hits with “Don't Look Any Further” and “Coolin' Out”, and collaborated with artists including Chaka Khan and Aretha Franklin.
In 1980, Edwards rejoined The Temptations for their 20th anniversary tour and subsequently rejoined the group full-time. During his second stint with the group, they released the hit “Power” and had a brief resurgence in popularity.
In the late 1980s, Edwards left The Temptations and once again pursued a solo career. He released two more albums, and continued to tour as a solo artist until his death in 2018.
Dennis Edwards was an iconic figure in soul and R&B music, a powerful vocalist who left an indelible mark on the sound of The Temptations and the soul music genre. His legacy will live on in the music he left behind.
