Ain't Too Proud to Beg: The Troubled Lives and Enduring Soul of The Temptations by Mark Ribowsky
Ain't Too Proud to Beg: The Troubled Lives and Enduring Soul of The Temptations by Mark Ribowsky
They are pure Motown royalty and the most successful African-American recording group in history. During their long and brilliant run, the Temptations have sold twenty-five million records and produced seventeen Top 40 pop hits (four No. 1 hits), seventy-one Top 40 R& B hits (fourteen No. 1 hits), and fifty-two albums. And, like all royalty, they have had more than their share of triumphs, tragedies, and family feuds.
In Ain't Too Proud to Beg, New York Times Notable Book author Mark Ribowsky takes a cohesive and penetrating look at the enduring legacy of one of the greatest groups in popular music. He examines the lives of the Temptations' many members and takes you behind the scenes to discover the truth behind the major events of the group's Motown prime, from 1961 to 1974.
Ribowsky draws on in-depth research and probing new interviews with well-known Motown veterans, family members, and friends to create accurate and compelling portraits of complex, sometimes troubled -- yet always talented -- personalities. He traces the group's history from its pre-Motown years, through the glory days of "My Girl" and "Just My Imagination," to their pioneering and immensely popular early funk recordings, including "Papa Was a Rolling Stone" and "Cloud Nine." Venturing beyond the money and the fame, he tells a powerful true story of sometime allies, sometime rivals and reveals the unique push-and-pull, give-and-take dynamic that resulted in musical genius.
From the sharp suits, stylish choreography, and distinctive vocals that epitomized their onstage triumphs to the personal failings and psychodramas that have played out behind the scenes. Ribowsky tells the whole story of this most popular -- and tragic -- of all Motown supergroups. You'll discover the truth behind the deaths of David Ruffin and Paul Williams, Ruffin's tumultuous romance with Tammi Terrell, and the secret "can't miss" formula that generated dozens of Temptation hits. You'll also hear plenty from the line that connects all of these dots: Temptations founder and only surviving member, Otis Williams.
Including photos of the Temptations, then and now, Ain't Too Proud to Beg is the definitive biography of Motown's brightest stars. It is essential reading for Temptations fans, Motown lovers, and anyone interested in the history of American popular culture over the last fifty years.
John Wiley and Sons, Hardcover, 2010
THIS IS A BRAND NEW BOOK.