The Temptations: From My Girl to Papa Was a Rolling Stone!
Formed in 1960 from two rival Detroit vocal groups, Otis Williams, Elbridge “Al” Bryant, Melvin Franklin, Eddie Kendricks, and Paul Williams came together to create what would become The Temptations.
They quickly evolved into one of the most successful vocal groups of all time, selling millions of records—primarily on the Motown label throughout the ’60s and ’70s.
Since their formation, the group has had another 19 members, simply refusing to stop touring or recording. Their most recent album was released in 2018, giving them a remarkable legacy spanning almost six decades.
Being part of the Motown machine meant working closely with Smokey Robinson, the legendary songwriting team Holland–Dozier–Holland, as well as Barrett Strong and producer Norman Whitfield.
Together, they produced a string of iconic hits, including My Girl, Papa Was a Rolling Stone, Get Ready, and Ain’t Too Proud to Beg.
The secret to The Temptations’ success lies in their willingness to evolve with the times and their ever-changing line-up, which helped keep things fresh. Otis Williams—one of the original members—is still active today and retains the rights to the group’s name.
Two distinct eras define their sound. My Girl represents the early ’60s, with its classic Motown charm, courtesy of Berry Gordy and Smokey Robinson.
By the ’70s, The Temptations had embraced a more psychedelic soul style, best captured in Papa Was a Rolling Stone, written by Barrett Strong and produced by Norman Whitfield.
In 2013, The Temptations were honoured with the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award—an accolade they thoroughly deserved.
The Temptations Tunes | Related Pages
Get Ready | Chords + TAB
You can learn how to play Get Ready by The Temptations using chords, lyrics, a chord chart, a backing track, and Spytunes video guitar lessons.
| F5 | Bb | G5 | C |
And I’m bringing you a love that’s true so get ready, so get ready…
Start learning with the full lesson series: Get Ready – Guitar Lessons with TAB.
My Girl | Chords + TAB
You can learn how to play My Girl by The Temptations using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, and the original recording.
| C | F | C | F |
I’ve got sunshine on a cloudy day…
Check out the full TAB lesson here: My Girl (The Temptations) Guitar Lesson with TAB.
The Temptations on the web
