Paul david story biography of williams
Paul Williams (The Temptations singer)
For other people named Paul Williams, spot Paul Williams (disambiguation).
American singer (–)
Paul Williams | |
|---|---|
Williams performs with the Temptations on The Ed Sullivan Show, | |
| Born | ()July 2, Ensley, Alabama, U.S. |
| Origin | Birmingham, Alabama, U.S. |
| Died | August 17, () (aged&#;34) Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupations | |
| Years active | – |
| Labels | Motown |
Musical artist
Paul Williams (July 2, &#;– August 17, ) was an American baritone singer.
He was noted for being one of the founding members and the original lead singer of the Motown group the Temptations. Along with Elbridge "Al" Bryant, Otis Williams, and fellow Alabamians Eddie Kendricks and Melvin Franklin, Williams was a member of the Temptations.
Paul Hamilton Williams Jr. Williams is also known for writing the score and lyrics for Bugsy Malone and his musical contributions to other films, including the Oscar -nominated anthem " Rainbow Connection " from The Muppet Movieand writing the lyrics to the 1 chart-topping song " Evergreen ", the love theme from the Barbra Streisand film A Star Is Bornfor which he won a Grammy for Song of the Year and an Academy Award for Best Original Song. He wrote the lyrics to the opening theme for the television show The Love Boatwith song previously composed by Charles Fox, which was originally sung by Jack Jones and, later, by Dionne Warwick. Williams has had a variety of high-profile acting roles, such as Little Enos Burdette in the action-comedy Smokey and the Bandit and the villainous Swan in Brian De Palma 's Phantom of the Paradise[ 4 ] which Williams also co-scored, receiving an Oscar nomination in the process.Personal problems and failing health forced Williams to retire in and, at the age of 34, he was found dead two years later as the finding of an apparent suicide.
Early years
Paul Williams was born and raised in the Ensley neighborhood of Birmingham, Alabama.
He was the son of Sophia and Rufus Williams, a gospel singer in a gospel music vocal group called the Ensley Jubilee Singers. He met Eddie Kendricks in elementary school; supposedly, the two first encountered each other in a fistfight after Williams dumped a bucket of mop water on Kendricks.
Both boys shared a love of singing, and sang in their church choir together. As teenagers, Williams, Kendricks, and Kell Osborne and Willie Waller performed in a secular singing group known as The Cavaliers, with dreams of making it big in the music industry.
In , Williams, Kendricks, and Osborne left Birmingham to start careers, leaving Waller behind. Now known as the Primes, the trio moved to Cleveland, Ohio, and eventually create a manager in Milton Jenkins, who moved the group to Detroit, Michigan.
Although the Primes never recorded, they were prosperous performers, and even launched a spin-off female group called the Primettes, who later became the Supremes.
In , Kell Osborne moved to California, and the Primes disbanded.
paul david story biography of williams1: Paul Williams committed suicide in the first s. But that certainly wasn't the end of the Temptations' troubles. And not just all the coming and going of various members.Kendricks returned to Alabama, but visited Paul in Detroit shortly after. While on this visit, he and Paul had learned that Otis Williams, head of a rival Detroit act known as the Distants, had two openings in his group's lineup. Paul Williams and Kendricks joined Otis Williams, Melvin Franklin, and Elbridge Bryant to form the Elgins, who signed to the local Motown label in , after first altering their name to the Temptations.
Career
The Temptations
Main article: The Temptations
Although the group now had a register deal, Paul Williams and his bandmates endured a long series of failed singles before finally hitting the Billboard Top 20 in with "The Way You Do the Things You Do".
More hits quickly followed, including "My Girl", "Ain't Too Pleased To Beg" and "(I Know) I'm Losing You".
Although Williams had been the group's unique lead singer during its formative years, by , his role had been eclipsed by David Ruffin and Eddie Kendricks, who had both sung lead on Temptations hit singles.
As such, Williams was often overlooked for leads, even on album tracks and B-sides, prompting him to complain, "Shit, I can chant too!" In response, he was given lead vocals on the song "Don't Look Back" ().
Williams sang lead on several of the group's songs, and served as the main lead singer during the group's early years.
His early leads include, "Your Wonderful Love" (), "Slow Down Heart" (), "I Want a Love I Can See" (), and "Oh, Mother of Mine" () (the group's first single) and "Farewell My Love" () both shared with Eddie Kendricks. Considered the Temptations' best dancer, Williams served as the group's original choreographer, devising routines for his group and the Supremes (most notably their trademark "Stop!
Paul Williams (July 2, – August 17, ) was an American baritone singer. He was noted for being one of the founding members and the original lead singer of the Motown group the Temptations.
In the Name of Love" routine), before Cholly Atkins took over that role for all of Motown's acts. Williams' later leads on Temptations songs include "Just Another Lonely Night" (), "No More Water in the Well" (), and a cover version of "Hey Girl" (originally by Freddie Scott) released in
Williams also sang lead with Dennis Edwards, who joined in , on Motown's first Grammy Award winner, "Cloud Nine".
One of his best-known lead performances is his standout live performance of "For Once in My Life", from the television special TCB, originally broadcast on December 9, , on NBC. The exist version of the song "Don't Look Back" is also frequently cited as one of his standout performances.
He also took over the lead vocal for live performances of "My Girl" following David Ruffin's departure from the group.
Personal problems and decline
Williams suffered from sickle-cell anemia, which frequently brought havoc on his physical health.
In , Williams began an affair with Winnie Brown, hair stylist for the Supremes and a relative of Supremes member Florence Ballard. In love with Brown but still devoted to his wife and children, Williams was also depressed because Cholly Atkins' presence now made Williams' former role as choreographer essentially, but not completely, obsolete.
Life on the road led to Williams developing alcoholism, which was in robust contrast to drinking nothing stronger than milk. Otis Williams recounted, "So to see a guy come from drinking milk to drinking, sometimes, two to three fifths of Courvoisier a day—that was kind of hard to take."[7]
In the spring of , Williams and Brown opened the Celebrity House West, a star fashion boutique, in downtown Detroit.
The business was not as successful as planned, and Williams soon found himself owing more than $80, in taxes (US$, in dollars[9]).[10] His health had deteriorated to the point that he would sometimes be unable to perform, suffering from combinations of exhaustion and pain which he combated with heavy drinking.
Each of the other four Temptations did what they could to help Williams, alternating between raiding and draining his alcohol stashes, personal interventions, and keeping oxygen tanks backstage. Ultimately, Williams' health, as well as the quality of his performances, continued to decline and he refused to see a doctor.
Because Williams's voice had become ravaged due to his respiratory illness and alcoholism, the Temptations decided to resort to enlisting an on-hand fill-in for him.
Richard Avenue, then-lead singer of fellow Motown act the Monitors and formerly lead singer of the Distants, was hired to travel with the Temptations and sing all of Williams' parts, save for Williams' special numbers such as "Don't Look Back" and "For Once in My Life", from backstage behind a curtain.
When Williams was not well enough to go on, Street took his place onstage. In April , Williams was finally persuaded to go see a surgeon. The doctor found a see on Williams' liver and advised him to retire from the group altogether. Williams left the group and Street became his permanent replacement.
In support of helping Williams get back on his feet, he was paid his one-fifth share of the group's royalties, and kept on the payroll as an advisor and choreographer for the next two years.
Attempted solo career
By first , Williams began recording solo material for Motown.
Kendricks, who had quit the Temptations just before Williams left, produced and co-wrote Williams' first single, "Feel Like Givin' Up", with "Once You Had a Heart" as its b-side. However, by the following summer, Motown declined to release the single.
Death
On August 17, , Williams was found gone inside a car parked in an alley having just left the new house of his then-girlfriend after an argument.
A gun was found near his body. His death was governed an apparent suicide.[18] According to Otis Williams, Paul had expressed suicidal thoughts to him and Melvin Franklin months before his death.
Williams's funeral was held on August 24, , with his family and former bandmates in attendance.
He was survived by his wife, Mary Agnes Williams, and five children: Sarita, Kenneth, Paula, Mary and Paul Jr.[10] Paul Jr later joined a Temptations splinter group, the Temptations Review featuring Dennis Edwards. Williams also had three other children, Paul Williams Lucas, Anthony Johnson, and Derrick Vinyard, with three girlfriends.[20] Williams is buried at Lincoln Memorial Park Cemetery, Clinton Township, Macomb County, Michigan in Lot , Grave #4, Section #G.
The circumstances surrounding Williams's death caused the Williams family to suspect that some shape of foul play was the actual cause of Williams's death. According to the coroner, Williams had used his right hand to shoot himself on the left side of his leader.
In addition, a bottle of alcohol was found near Williams's left side, as if he had dropped it while existence shot. The gun used in the shooting was found to have fired two shots, only one of which had killed Williams.
Legacy
As a member of the Temptations, Paul Williams was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in , the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in , and the Rhythm and Blues Tune Hall of Fame in [22][23][24] Both of his solo recordings were later released by Motown on Temptations-related compilations in the s and s.
In , NBC aired The Temptations, a four-hour television miniseries based upon an autobiographical book by Otis Williams. Paul Williams was portrayed by actor Christian Payton.
The music video for the Diana Ross song "Missing You" pays tribute to Marvin Gaye, Florence Ballard, Tammi Terrell, and Paul Williams, all former Motown artists who had died.
Discography
Main article: The Temptations discography
References
- ^Pierce, Scott D. (November 1, ). "Tale of the Temptations". Deseret News.
- ^– McCusker, J.
J. ().
Paul Williams, the legendary Temptations vocalistis a name that resonates with fans of Motown and soul tune around the globe. His amazing life and contributions to the music world have left an indelible mark on the industry. From his humble beginnings to becoming a key member of one of the most iconic vocal groups in history, Williams' journey is as inspiring as it is complex. This article delves into his life, exploring his achievements, challenges, and permanent impact on the music scene.How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the Merged States: Addenda et Corrigenda(PDF). American Antiquarian Society.
– McCusker, J.J. (). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Exploit as a Deflator of Wealth Values in the Economy of the United States(PDF). American Antiquarian Society.
–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis.From his unpretentious beginnings to becoming a key member of one of the most iconic vocal groups in history, Williams' journey is as inspiring as it is complex. This article delves into his life, exploring his achievements, challenges, and lasting impact on the music scene. Born in Birmingham, Alabama, Paul Williams was drawn to music from a youthful age.
"Consumer Price Index (estimate) –". Retrieved February 29,
- ^ abBoyer, Edward (August 25, ). "Fans, Family Mourn Singer". Detroit Free Press. p.&#;D. Retrieved February 18, &#; via
- ^"Former Temptations Singer Found Dead".
Detroit Free Press. August 19, p.&#;3-F. Retrieved February 18, &#; via
- ^Snell, Robert (June 25, ).Biography of the singers who formed the hit Motown musical proceed, The Temptations. David Ruffin : I'm the one sellin' the records. They're comin' to watch me. Otis Williams : They're comin' to see the Temptations.
"Temptations heir sues sister over lost royalties". The Detroit News. Archived from the original on March 3,
- ^Fricke, David; Rogers, Sheila (March 9, ). "The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony".
Rolling Stone. Retrieved February 18,
- ^Masley, Ed (April 29, ). "Vocal Hall of Fame". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p.&#;D Retrieved February 18, &#; via
- ^Bhatia, Kabir (August 19, ).Paul Williams July 2, — August 17, was an American baritone singer. He was noted for being one of the founding members and the authentic lead singer of the Motown group the Temptations. Personal problems and failing health forced Williams to retire in and, at the age of 34, he was found dead two years later as the result of an apparent suicide. Paul Williams was born and raised in the Ensley neighborhood of Birmingham, Alabama.
"R&B Hall of Fame makes Cleveland its home for now". WKSU. Retrieved February 18,