BlackRadioIsBack.com Flashback Video of the Day: Eddie Kendricks


1970s era picture of Mr. Eddie Kendricks

Eddie Kendricks was one of the original lead singers of the classic Soul Music group The Temptations, from the 1960s into the early 1970s. He did lead vocals on songs with the group on Motown Records such as "Get Ready", "Just My Imagination" and "The Way You Do The Things You Do" as well as composing most of their vocal arrangements.

Due to a change of musicial styles he did not agree with (from soul ballads to psycadelic R&B) and interconflict with fellow Temptations, Eddie Kendricks left The Temptations in 1971 and started a solo career under the Motown Records imprint of Tamla Records. From there, he released the major hit "Keep On Truckin'" (his only #1 solo hit) and other classic music tracks like "Date With The Rain", "Boogie Down", "Shoeshine Boy" and "He's a Friend."

Due to illness and waning popularity (after leaving Motown and having to give up all of his royalities to do so, he had albums on Arista and Atlantic Records), Eddie Kendricks career slowed down. He did record a duet album with fellow ex-Temptation David Ruffin in the 1980s as well as doing some temporary Temptations reunion tours (one in 1982 and one as "Ruffin/Kendrick/Edwards, Former Leads of The Temptations" with David Ruffin and Dennis Edwards). As a part of the original Temptations, he was placed in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989.

He passed away due to lung cancer at the age of 52 in 1992, but this music and influence in Black Music still lives on today.

Enjoy the video and the download!

Eddie Kendricks - Can I (live 1970s "Soul Train" television Performance)



Eddie Kendricks - Date With The Rain mp3 download (one of the BEST Disco Era Motown Records affiliated songs ever made, as far as I'm concerned)

Eddie Kendricks Wikipedia Listing

Disco Museum Eddie Kendricks Listing

Alabama Hall of Fame Eddie Kendricks Listing

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

This was great.
Thank you.

DJ Fusion/FuseBox Radio Broadcast said...

Hello Ms. Blankenship,

Thanks for checking out our site over here and the feedback - it's really appreciated. :)

Eddie Kendricks and David Ruffin were my personal favorite Temptations - especially with their solo releases - so when I had the chance to get things together, I was glad to be able to do a post of folks.