Eddie Kendricks
Kendricks in 1972
Background information
Born	Edward James Kendrick[1] (1939-12-17)December 17, 1939 Union Springs, Alabama, U.S.
Origin	Ensley, Alabama, U.S.
Died	October 5, 1992(1992-10-05) (aged 52) Birmingham, Alabama, U.S.[2]
Genres	R&B soul disco psychedelic soul
Occupations	Singer songwriter
Instrument	Vocals
Years active	1955–1992
Labels	Motown Tamla Arista Atlantic RCA
Formerly of	The Temptations

Edward James Kendrick^[3] (December 17, 1939^[2] – October 5, 1992),^[4] better known asEddie Kendricks, was an American tenor singer andsongwriter. Noted for his distinctivefalsetto singing style, Kendricks co-founded theMotown singing groupthe Temptations, and was one of their lead singers from 1961 until 1971. He was the lead voice on such famous songs as "The Way You Do the Things You Do", "Get Ready", and "Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)". As a solo artist, Kendricks recorded several hits of his own during the 1970s including the number-one singles "Keep On Truckin'" and "Boogie Down."

Kendricks was born to Johnny and Lee Bell Kendrick^[5] inUnion Springs, Alabama on December 17, 1939.^[6] He had one sister, Patricia, and three brothers, Charles, Robert, and Clarence.^{[citation needed]} Kendricks and his family moved to theEnsley neighborhood ofBirmingham, where he met and began singing with his best friendPaul Williams in their church choir in the late 1940s. In 1955, Kendricks, Williams, as well as their friendsKell Osborne and Willy Waller, formed a doo-wop group called the Cavaliers and they began performing around Birmingham. The group decided to move for better opportunities in their musical careers, and in 1957, the group moved toCleveland, Ohio living on E. 123rd Street and Kinsman Road. In Cleveland, they met manager Milton Jenkins, and soon moved with Jenkins toDetroit where the Cavaliers renamed themselves the Primes.^[6] Under Jenkins' management, the Primes were successful in the Detroit area, eventually creating a female spin-off group called the Primettes (later becomingthe Supremes). In 1961, Osbourne moved toCalifornia, and the Primes disbanded. Kendricks and Paul Williams joined forces with members Elbridge “Al” Bryant in addition toOtis Williams andMelvin "Blue" Franklin from Otis Williams and the Distants after two members quit. They became the Elgins; on the same day the group changed their name to the Temptations and signed toMotown.^{[citation needed]}

The Temptations began singing background forMary Wells. After an initial dry period, the Temptations quickly became the most successful male vocal group of the 1960s. Although technically Kendricks wasfirst tenor in the group's harmony, he often sang in the falsetto register.^[6] Among the Temptations songs, Kendricks sang lead on were "Dream Come True" (1962), the group's first charting single; "The Way You Do the Things You Do" (1964),^[6] the group's first US Top 20 hit; "I'll Be in Trouble" (1964); "The Girl's Alright With Me" (1964), a popularB-side that Kendricks co-wrote; "Girl (Why You Wanna Make Me Blue)" (1964); "Get Ready" (1966);^[6] "Please Return Your Love to Me" (1968); and "Just My Imagination" (1971).^[6] He was also allowed to sing a few leads in his lower registers such as "May I Have This Dance" (1962). He shared lead vocal duty on other records, including "You're My Everything" (1967) (shared withDavid Ruffin), and a long string ofNorman Whitfieldproducedpsychedelic soul records where all five Temptations sang lead, such as the Grammy winner "Cloud Nine" (1968), "I Can't Get Next to You" (1969), and "Ball of Confusion" (1970). He also leads on "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me" (1968), a popular duet withDiana Ross and the Supremes, and on the Temptations' version of the Christmas classic "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" (1968).

In the Temptations, Kendricks was responsible for creating most of the group's vocal arrangements, and also served as wardrobe manager, including the now famous purple suits the group wore for one performance. Though Whitfield had chief responsibility for writing, Kendricks co-wrote and received credit for several Temptations songs apart from "The Girl's Alright With Me" including "Isn't She Pretty" (1961) and "Don't Send Me Away" (1967). His favorite food wascornbread, and as a result, Kendricks was nicknamed "Cornbread" (or"Corn" for short) by his band mates. According toOtis Williams, Kendricks romantically pursuedDiana Ross, lead singer of the Supremes, and he was said to have been close friends withMartha Reeves of the Vandellas. In her second book,Supreme Faith, Supremes singerMary Wilson writes that she and Kendricks were lovers "briefly," but remained close friends.

Kendricks remained in the group through the rest of the decade, but a number of issues began to push him away from it in the late 1960s and early 1970s. He was uncomfortable with singing thepsychedelic style that Whitfield was now crafting for the group as opposed to the romantic ballads they had sung under the direction of Smokey Robinson,^[6] his friend Paul Williams was often too ill to perform with the group, and Kendricks often found himself at odds with bandmatesOtis Williams andMelvin Franklin. As he grew away from the group, Kendricks began to rekindle his friendship with ex-TemptationDavid Ruffin, who convinced him to leave.^{[citation needed]}

In a 1991 interview with aChicago television series calledUrban Street, Kendricks said he had actually considered leaving the group as early as 1965, even though that was when the band was finally starting to take off, because of things that "weren't quite proper." Kendricks explained that they were working with people that "didn't have their best interests at heart." However, he initially decided to stay in the group because Kendricks worried that he would not get the support he needed if he left. Kendricks also said that his relationship withBerry Gordy was less than cordial. He stated: "Berry Gordy is a man I don't know, I only met him about three times," and added, "I know he didn't particularly care for me." Kendricks stated that he did not agree with many decisions that were made.

After one final altercation with Williams and Franklin during a run at theCopacabana nightclub in November 1970, Kendricks walked off after the first night and did not return, and it was mutually decided he would leave the group.^[7] While working on his first solo album, Kendricks recorded one last hit single with the Temptations, 1971's "Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)". By the time the record reached number one on the USBillboard Hot 100 in April 1971, Kendricks had signed a solo deal with Motown'sTamla division and was preparing the release of his first solo album,All By Myself.^[4] However, many of his problems with Motown would reoccur.

Kendricks' solo career began slowly; he endured two years of singles that missed the Top 40, while the Temptations continued with their string of Norman Whitfield-helmed hits (one of which, "Superstar (Remember How You Got Where You Are)", was written as a jab towards Kendricks and Ruffin). Despite enjoying only a modicum of commercial success and radio airplay, Kendricks' 1972 albumPeople... Hold On (recorded with his touring group,the Young Senators, composed of Jimi Dougans, Frank Hooker, LeRoy Fleming, Wornell Jones, David Lecraft, James Drummer Johnson, and John Engram) was a cornerstone of DJ playlists in downtownNew York's nascentdisco scene. The expansive, eight-minute take on "Girl You Need a Change of Mind", which peaked at number 13 on the soul chart,^[8] was a particular favorite atDavid Mancuso's Loft. The single was later remade by R&B singerD'Angelo for theGet on the Bus soundtrack.

As the dance craze seeped through into other cities, Kendricks scored a number one pop hit in 1973 with theFrank Wilson-produced "Keep on Truckin'",^[6] becoming the only member of the Temptations to register a number one hit in the U.S. as a solo artist. As well as reaching number 18 in the UK, it sold over one million copies, and was awarded agold disc.^[9]

Further hits included 1974's "Boogie Down" (US number 2, UK number 39) and another million selling release,^[9] "Son of Sagittarius" (US number 28) from the same year, 1975's "Shoeshine Boy" (US number 18), and 1976's "He's a Friend" (US number 36). Another notable song is "Intimate Friends" (1977), which wassampled for theAlicia Keys song "Unbreakable", "A Penny for My Thoughts" byCommon,Sparkle's "Time to Move on" on herself-titled first studio album, and forSweet Sable's "Old Time's Sake" from thesoundtrack for the 19942pac film,Above the Rim.Erykah Badu also sampled "Intimate Friends" for her song "Fall in Love (Your Funeral)", as well as his song "My People... Hold on" for her song "My People" on her albumNew Amerykah Part One (4th World War).

Exasperated by a lack of creative and financial control, Kendricks left Motown in 1978.^[6] He moved first toArista Records and later toAtlantic Records.^[6] By this time, his popularity had waned. Kendricks was also gradually losing his upper range as a result ofchain smoking.

Kendricks and Ruffin rejoined the Temptations for a well-received 1982 reunion tour.^[10] The group, then a seven-piece act, also recorded areunion album, and enjoyed a hit with theRick James-written-and-produced "Standing on the Top". Kendricks sang a few lead lines on the song, but had no leads on any other tracks. In an interview with Tom Meros,Dennis Edwards, Kendricks' former Temptations bandmate, claimed Kendricks had problems hitting the higher notes during recording sessions. Because of his singing difficulty, Edwards said Kendricks went to a physician to examine his vocal ability. The physician discovered a "pin drop" ofcancer on one of his lungs. However, Kendricks reportedly refused to undergochemotherapy at the time because he feared losing his hair.^[11]

Ruffin and Kendrick (Kendricks dropped the "s" from his stage name during the 1980s) reportedly met up one night when Ruffin went to watch Kendrick perform in a nightclub; Kendrick spotted Ruffin in the crowd, pointed him out, and invited him to come up and perform with him. Afterward they talked about touring on their own and recorded an album as a duo forRCA in 1988.^[6]

Earlier, in 1985, they participated in theHall & Oates live album,Live at The Apollo, recorded at a benefit at New York City'sApollo Theater; and sang with the duo atLive Aid inPhiladelphia^[6] and theMTV Video Music Awards in New York. Hall & Oates have cited Kendrick and Ruffin specifically, and the Temptations in general, as a major influence. Ruffin started touring with Kendrick as a duo act in 1985. The live medley of "The Way You Do the Things You Do" and "My Girl" was released as a single, reaching number 20 on theBillboard Hot 100, number 12 on the Adult Contemporary chart, and number 40 on the R&B chart.^[12][13] The single earned them a Grammy nomination.^[14]

In 1989, Kendrick, Ruffin, and their Temptations bandmates were inducted into theRock and Roll Hall of Fame. There, Kendrick and Ruffin made plans with fellow former TemptationDennis Edwards to tour and record as "Ruffin/Kendrick/Edwards, Former Leads of the Temptations". The Ruffin/Kendrick/Edwards project was cut short in 1991, when Kendrick was diagnosed withlung cancer and David Ruffin died of adrug overdose.^[15] However, Kendrick and Edwards continued to tour for the remainder of 1991. After having surgery in late 1991, Kendricks resumed touring through the summer of 1992.

In late 1991, Kendricks, by now living in his native Birmingham, Alabama, underwent surgery to have one of his lungs removed in the hope of preventing thespread of cancer.^[10] Kendricks believed the disease was caused by his 30 years of smoking.^[16] Kendricks continued to tour through the summer of 1992, when he fell ill again and was hospitalized.

On October 5, 1992, Kendricks died oflung cancer at Baptist Medical Center-Princeton in Birmingham; he was 52 years old.^[17] Kendricks was survived by his three children: Parris, Aika, and Paul Kendricks (named after Paul Williams). A funeral service was held at the First Baptist Church inEnsley, Alabama and Kendricks was buried inElmwood Cemetery, Birmingham. Friends and fans paid tribute to him at four concerts, held at the Strand inLos Angeles, on October 16 and October 17, 1992. Performers includingBobby Womack,Chaka Khan,Mary Wilson, andVesta Willams sang Temptations songs, as well as some of their own.^[15]

Kendricks was nominated for four Grammy Awards, winning one for "Cloud Nine" with the Temptations in 1969.^[14] The Temptations received theGrammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2013.^[18] In 1998,NBC airedThe Temptations, a four-hour television miniseries based upon an autobiographical book by Otis Williams. Kendricks was portrayed by actorTerron Brooks.

On October 16, 1999, Eddie Kendrick Memorial Park, located on the corner of 18th Street and 4th Avenue North, was dedicated to Birmingham native Eddie Kendricks of the Temptations.^[19] The park uses Kendricks' family name without the "s", which was added early in his career. The memorial features a bronze sculpture of Kendricks by local artist Ron McDowell as well as sculptures of the other Temptations, set into a granite wall. Inscribed on the granite are the names of Temptations' hit songs. Recorded music can be heard throughout the park, featuring songs by Kendricks and the Temptations.

In 1989, Kendricks was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Temptations. RapperKendrick Lamar was named after Kendricks.^[20] In 2019, Kendricks was inducted as a solo artist into theNational Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame

• Eddie Kendricks, 52; Sang With the Temptations – October 7, 1992, NYTimes
• EDDIE KENDRICKS BEST INTERVIEW onYouTube Urban Street. 1991. Retrieved 1/30/09
• Eddie Kendrick Memorial Park
• Eddie Kendricks discography atDiscogs
• Eddie Kendricks atFind a Grave

• 1939 births
• 1992 deaths
• American disco musicians
• American funk singers
• African-American male singer-songwriters
• American male singer-songwriters
• Motown artists
• Singers from Birmingham, Alabama
• People from Union Springs, Alabama
• American soul musicians
• The Temptations members
• Deaths from lung cancer in Alabama
• American rhythm and blues singers
• American soul singers
• American tenors
• People from Ensley, Alabama
• Psychedelic soul musicians
• Burials at Elmwood Cemetery (Birmingham, Alabama)
• 20th-century African-American male singers
• 20th-century American male singers
• 20th-century American singers
• Singer-songwriters from Alabama

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