Tempting the Airwaves with Motion
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The Temptations story begins with two struggling music groups. The first group, called The Primes (a trio with members Eddie Kendricks, Paul Williams, and Kell Osbourne) who came from Alabama, then to Detroit. The Second group, The Distants (Otis Williams, Melvin Franklin, Elbridge Bryant, Albert Harrell, and Richard Street) had recorded "Come On" in 1959 for Northern Records. It was not long after the recording of "Come On" that Street and Harrell left the The Distants. At the same time, the Primes trio had called it quits. With the split of the The Primes, Kendricks and Williams join the remaining Distants to form the The Elgins in 1960.
By 1961, Berry Gordy Jr. signed the Elgins. The group then renamed themselves the Temptations on the front lawn of Motown Records offices. That year, the Temptations recorded two singles ("Oh Mother of Mine" and "Check Yourself") for Miracle Records...