Edward James Kendrick[3] (December 17, 1939[2] – October 5, 1992),[4] better known as Eddie Kendricks, was an American tenor singer and songwriter. Noted for his distinctive falsetto singing style, Kendricks co-founded the Motown singing group the Temptations, and was one of their lead singers from 1960 until 1971. He was the lead voice on such famous songs as “The Way You Do the Things You Do“, “Get Ready“, and “Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)“. As a solo artist, Kendricks recorded several hits of his own during the 1970s including the number-one singles “Keep On Truckin’” and “Boogie Down.”
Life and career
Early years: 1939–1960
Kendricks was born to Johnny and Lee Bell Kendrick[5] in Union Springs, Alabama on December 17, 1939.[6] He had one sister, Patricia, and three brothers, Charles, Robert, and Clarence.[citation needed] His family moved to the Ensley neighborhood of Birmingham, where he met and began singing with his best friend Paul Williams in their church choir in the late 1940s. In 1955, Kendricks, Williams as well as their friends Kell Osborne and Jerome Averette formed a doo-wop group called the Cavaliers; they began performing around Birmingham. The group decided to move for better opportunities in their musical careers, and in 1957, the group moved to Cleveland, Ohio living on E. 123rd Street and Kinsman Road. In Cleveland, they met manager Milton Jenkins, and soon moved with Jenkins to Detroit where the Cavaliers renamed themselves the Primes.[6] Under Jenkins’ management, the Primes were successful in the Detroit area, eventually creating a female spin-off group called the Primettes (later becoming the Supremes). In 1961, Osbourne moved to California, and the Primes disbanded. Kendricks and Paul Williams joined forces with members Elbridge “Al” Bryant in addition to Otis Williams and Melvin “Blue” Franklin from Otis Williams and the Distants after two members quit. They became the Elgins; on the same day the group changed their name to the Temptations and signed to Motown.[citation needed]
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