The Temptations weren't just a group. They were a machine. A soulful, dancing, sharp-suited machine that defined the Motown era and changed how we think about vocal arrangements. But if you look at the history of the "Classic Five" and the dozens of men who followed them, there’s a shadow. It’s a heavy one. People often search for which member of the Temptations died because, frankly, the list is tragically long.
It’s a story of incredible highs—"My Girl," "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone"—and devastating lows. You’ve got Otis Williams, the last man standing, who has spent decades watching his brothers fall one by one. It’s not just a list of names; it’s a chronicle of the brutal reality of the music industry, health struggles, and the passage of time.
The Tragedy of the Classic Five
Most people start here. The Classic Five lineup—Otis Williams, Melvin Franklin, Eddie Kendricks, Paul Williams, and David Ruffin—is the one that most folks picture when they hear those iconic harmonies. Only one is still alive.
Paul Williams was the first to go, and it’s arguably the most heartbreaking story in the group's history. He was the soul of their choreography. But by 1971, health issues and personal demons caught up. He was suffering from sickle cell anemia and struggling with alcoholism. On August 17, 1973, Paul was found dead in a car near the Motown offices. He was only 34. The official ruling was suicide, though his family and fans have spent years questioning the circumstances. It was a massive blow that signaled the end of the group's innocence.
Then there’s David Ruffin. The voice of "My Girl." The man had a presence that could suck the air out of a room. But David was complicated. He was fired from the group in 1968 because his ego—and his drug use—became too much for the others to handle. He spent years trying to recapture that lightning in a bottle. In June 1991, David collapsed in a crack house in Philadelphia. He died of a drug overdose at 50 years old. It was a lonely end for a man who once had the world at his feet.
The Gentle Giants: Eddie and Melvin
Eddie Kendricks was the falsetto. He was the "cool" one. He left the group shortly after Paul Williams' departure, frustrated with the direction Motown was taking. He actually had a pretty successful solo career for a bit—remember "Keep on Truckin'?"—but he eventually reunited with Ruffin for a stint. Eddie was a heavy smoker. He was diagnosed with lung cancer and had a lung removed in 1991, but he kept performing until he couldn't anymore. He died in October 1992 at the age of 52.
Melvin Franklin, the "Blue" of the group, was the heartbeat. That deep bass voice was unmistakable. Melvin was the guy everyone loved. He stayed with Otis through everything. But his health was a constant battle. He had rheumatoid arthritis and was using cortisone to manage the pain, which weakened his immune system and led to diabetes. After a series of seizures and a coma, Melvin died in 1995. He was 52.
It’s wild to think that by the mid-90s, the core of the greatest vocal group in history was almost entirely gone.
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The Later Generations and the Losses That Followed
The revolving door of the Temptations didn't stop in the 70s. Because the brand was so strong, Otis Williams kept the group going with new members, many of whom became legends in their own right. But death didn't spare the newcomers either.
Dennis Edwards is the name most people think of after the original five. He replaced Ruffin and brought a grittier, soulful growl to hits like "Cloud Nine" and "I Can't Get Next to You." Dennis had a complicated relationship with the group—getting fired and rehired multiple times—but he was undeniably a Temptation. He died in 2018, just one day before his 75th birthday, from complications of meningitis.
And then there was Richard Street. He sang with the group for 22 years, a longer tenure than many of the originals. He was there during the "Masterpiece" era. Richard died in 2013, just a few days after another former member, Damon Harris. Harris had replaced Eddie Kendricks and sang lead on "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone." Losing two members in the same month was a gut punch to the fanbase.
A Quick Look at the Timeline of Loss
To understand the sheer scale of the turnover and the losses, you have to look at the years.
- 1973: Paul Williams (Suicide/Health complications)
- 1991: David Ruffin (Drug overdose)
- 1992: Eddie Kendricks (Lung cancer)
- 1995: Melvin Franklin (Heart failure/Seizures)
- 2013: Damon Harris (Prostate cancer)
- 2013: Richard Street (Pulmonary embolism)
- 2018: Dennis Edwards (Meningitis)
- 2021: Sarah Dash (Technically a member of Labelle, but worked closely with the Motown circle, though often mistakenly linked to Temptations news cycles)
It’s a lot. Honestly, it’s a lot for any fan to track.
Why Does This Keep Happening to the Group?
Is there a "Temptations curse"? People love to talk about that. But if you look at the facts, it’s less about a curse and more about the era. These guys were working 300 days a year. They were traveling in buses across a segregated America, eating poorly, and dealing with immense pressure to stay on top of the charts.
Add to that the lifestyle of the 60s and 70s—where smoking was ubiquitous and drug use was rampant in the industry—and you have a recipe for long-term health problems.
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The stress of the "Motown System" was also real. Berry Gordy ran a tight ship. The competition between the groups—The Tops, The Temps, The Supremes—was fierce. That kind of environment breeds excellence, sure, but it also burns people out. When you see a member of the Temptations died headline, you're often seeing the late-stage results of a life lived at 100 miles per hour under intense scrutiny.
The Legacy of Otis Williams
You can't talk about the deaths without talking about the survivor. Otis Williams is 84 now. He’s the only living member of the original group. He’s the one who holds the trademark. He’s the one who decides who wears the suit next.
Otis has been criticized by some for "replacing" members too quickly, but from his perspective, he’s keeping the flame alive. He promised Melvin Franklin he’d never let the name die. So, even as his friends passed away, Otis kept holding auditions. He kept the choreography tight. He kept the harmonies perfect.
It’s a strange position to be in—being the sole curator of a legacy that involves so many ghosts. If you go see The Temptations today, you’re seeing a group of incredibly talented men, but only one of them was there when "The Way You Do the Things You Do" first hit the airwaves.
Dealing With Misinformation and the "Fake" Temptations
Because so many members have passed and so many have cycled through, there’s a lot of confusion. You’ll see "Temptations" tribute acts all over Vegas and on cruise ships. Sometimes these groups have one guy who sang with the group for six months in 1984, and they bill themselves as the real deal.
This is why the official death announcements are so important to the estate. When a real member of the Temptations died, it’s a moment of history passing.
The most recent major loss was Dennis Edwards, and his passing actually sparked some legal drama regarding his estate and health care, highlighting that even in death, the drama that surrounded the group in the 60s hasn't quite faded.
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Health Advocacy and the Temptations
One thing that doesn't get talked about enough is how these deaths sparked awareness. After Damon Harris died of prostate cancer, his foundations and his story were used to urge African American men to get screened early. The deaths of Eddie Kendricks and Paul Williams highlighted the dangers of smoking and the need for better support systems for musicians dealing with chronic illness.
It’s a bittersweet legacy. Their deaths served as a wake-up call for many in the industry about the lack of health insurance and retirement support for aging artists.
What You Should Do to Honor Their Memory
If you're looking into which member of the Temptations died because you're a fan, the best thing you can do is go beyond the "Classic Five."
- Listen to the "Psychedelic Soul" era. Everyone knows "My Girl," but listen to "Masterpiece" or "Run Away Child, Running Wild." This is where guys like Dennis Edwards and Richard Street really shined.
- Watch the 1998 Miniseries. While it has some Hollywood flair, it was produced by Otis Williams and gives a very visceral look at the deaths of Paul, David, and Melvin. It's probably the most accurate "vibe" check you'll get of that era.
- Support the Rhythm and Blues Foundation. Many legacy artists from the Motown era struggled with medical bills later in life. Supporting organizations that provide grants to veteran R&B artists is a practical way to honor the men who gave us this music.
- Check the Official Lineup. If you're going to a show, check the official Temptations website managed by Otis Williams. Make sure you're supporting the lineage that actually carries the torch.
The story of the Temptations is one of the greatest success stories in American music, but it is deeply scarred by loss. Each time a member passed, a specific texture of harmony was lost forever. But as long as the records play and Otis keeps the group on the road, they aren't truly gone.
To really understand the impact, you have to look at the "Temptations Review" groups and the solo careers that followed. Even in their solo ventures, these men couldn't escape the shadow of the group. David Ruffin’s "My Whole World Ended" is a haunting reminder of what he lost when he left. Eddie Kendricks’ "Eddie's Love" shows a man trying to find a new identity. The tragedy isn't just that they died; it's that many of them died while still trying to reconcile their legendary past with a difficult present.
Stay informed about the current lineup and keep the history straight. The music deserves that much.