Dennis Edwards, the legendary lead singer of The Temptations, has passed away at age 74, according to CBS Chicago. Members of his family confirmed the news on Friday (February 2).
Edwards, who was born in Alabama and raised in Detroit, died in Chicago ahead of his 75th birthday, which he would have celebrated on Saturday (February 3). The cause of death wasn’t disclosed.
The Motown Records sensations — responsible for classic songs like “Papa Was A Rolling Stone” and “I Can’t Get Next to You” — were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989.
Edwards joined The Temptations in 1968, replacing the group’s second singer David Ruffin (the original singer was Elbridge “Al” Bryant). He was the lead singer from 1968 to 1976 and worked with the group in subsequent reunions during the ’80s.
The Temptations’ music has been sampled by numerous Hip Hop artists, including Eric B. & Rakim, 2Pac, Common, Jadakiss, Kanye West, Public Enemy, J Dilla, Eazy-E, Ice Cube, Lil Wayne, Cut Chemist and Kool G Rap.
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Tributes for Edwards have started pouring in on social media.
Check out some of the reactions below.
