The Temptations

USA, 1960–now

Motown vocal group whose recordings moved from close-harmony soul to the psychedelic productions of Norman Whitfield, including 'Cloud Nine' and 'Papa Was a Rollin' Stone'.

MusicRoots documents 3 artists who influenced The Temptations and 9 artists The Temptations influenced in turn. Every connection cites a published source.

Who influenced The Temptations?

• Jackie Wilson — Jackie Wilson was the model for virtuoso vocal performance and impeccable stage choreography.
• The Impressions — The Impressions were the model for male vocal group harmony for The Temptations.
• James Brown — James Brown's funky psychedelic soul directly shaped The Temptations' later Norman Whitfield productions.

Which artists did The Temptations influence?

• Gamble and Huff — Gamble and Huff explicitly modelled Philadelphia International — its house band, staff writers and slick assembly-line productions — on Motown and its flagship groups like the Temptations.
• Tavares — Tavares carried the Motown harmony-group tradition — tight brotherly vocals in the mould of the Temptations — into the disco era.
• Parliament-Funkadelic — Before Funkadelic, Clinton wrote and produced for The Temptations at Motown — direct professional experience that shaped his approach to vocal harmony.
• George Clinton — Clinton's apprenticeship writing and producing for the Temptations at Motown preceded and shaped everything he built afterwards.
• The Jackson 5 — The Temptations' choreographed Motown showmanship was a direct model for the Jackson 5's group sound and staging.
• The O'Jays — The O'Jays cited the Temptations as a defining influence — the polished Motown vocal-group model behind their Philadelphia soul.
• Hall & Oates — Daryl Hall befriended the Temptations coming up in Philadelphia and called them 'an outrageous influence' — David Ruffin's grit and Eddie Kendricks's falsetto are in his voice.
• Boyz II Men — Boyz II Men update the Motown vocal-group harmony the Temptations perfected for the new jack swing era.
• En Vogue — The Temptations' Motown vocal-group polish is part of En Vogue's classic-soul foundation.