New Urban Passages- NUY 40+ Remembers Lead Singer of "Papa Was A Rolling Stone", The Temptations' Dennis Edwards

Consummate entertainer: Motown frontman Dennis Edwards
(top), with the Temptations (bottom, center)

We've been remiss in addressing all of the recent passages in the world of black arts and culture since the month began, but today NUY 40+ is taking a moment to look back at one of the great soul voices of all time in the late Temptations lead singer, Dennis Edwards. Edwards passed away on February 1st of this month in a Chicago hospital due to complications with meningitis, according to his wife Brenda.  Dennis Edwards was a member of the Temptations from 1968-1977 and later re-joined mid-eighties. His signature gravely voice as co-lead singer shaped the Motown group's sound through its 1970s psychedelic-funk period on classic songs such as“Ball of Confusion (That’s What the World is Today)”,  “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone”, “Cloud Nine,” and “I Can’t Get Next to You.”

Dennis Edwards, Jr. was born in Alabama just outside of Birmingham to a pastor father and homemaker mother. At age 10, the Edwards family moved to Detroit, with Dennis taking part in the music ministry of the church and eventually leading the choir.  Secular music was not allowed in the home, and as a teenager, young Dennis joined the gospel group The Mighty Clouds of Joy. Edwards then went on to study at the Detroit Conservatory of Music where he was introduced to jazz & r&b. After a stint in the US military, he auditioned for Motown records, where he performed in another group until being hired to join the Temptations.

In 1977, Edwards left The Temptations to pursue a solo career, which ignited in the 80s and produced the r&b hit, "Don't Look Any Further", featuring singer Siedah Garrett.  The single "Don't Look Any Further" is one of the most- sampled r&b singles to date, appearing over 80 times in various songs throughout urban contemporary and hip-hop music. In the 80s Edwards also re-joined the Temptations, performing with the beloved vocal group in various configurations well into the mid-2010 's.

In an unfortunate turn of events, recent court documents filed by an investigator in Illinois Adult Protective Services allege that, weeks before the singer’s death, Brenda Edwards committed elder abuse against her husband. Mrs. Edwards has vehemently denied the claims. Before the current Mrs. Edwards, Dennis Edwards was previously married to Ruth Pointer of The Pointer Sisters for a short time in the late 1970s. Their daughter Issa Edwards-Pointer currently performs with the group alongside her mother.

The Temptations have won 7 Grammy awards and were among the first inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989. A public viewing for the late Dennis Edwards will take place from 3 to 6 p.m. Sunday at Faith Miracle Temple in St. Louis,  Missouri.