Dennis Edwards, the lead singer of the Motown group The Temptations, has died at the age of seventy four.
The Fairfield, Alabama native joined the band in 1968 and went onto to record hits including “Papa Was a Rolling Stone,” “I Can’t Get Next to You,” and “Cloud Nine.” Edwards’ family confirmed to CBS News that the singer died yesterday in Chicago. A cause of death was not revealed. Edwards would have turned seventy five years old today.
Edwards was the son of a pastor and sang in the gospel choir at his father’s church. Edwards would eventually study at the Detroit Conservatory of Music and start a jazz group. After his military service, Edwards auditioned for Motown Records and became the lead singer for the Contours. That group was often the opening act for the Temptations. Edwards became the Temptation’s lead vocalist in 1968. Edwards was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame with the Temptations in 1989 by Daryl Hall and John Oates.