Ain't Too Proud to Beg : The Troubled Lives and Enduring Soul of the Temptations

by Ribowsky, Mark

• ISBN13: 9780470261170
• ISBN10: 047026117X
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2010-09-22
• Publisher: Wiley

Summary

The first and only definitive biography of legendary Motown group, the TemptationsThe Temptations are the most incomparable soul group in history, with dozens of chart-topping hits such as My Girl and Papa Was a Rollin Stone. From the sharp suits, stylish choreography, and distinctive vocals that epitomized their onstage triumphs to the personal failings and psycho-dramas that played out behind-the-scenes, Ain't Too Proud to Beg tells the complete story of this most popular-and tragic-of all Motown super groups.Based on in-depth research and interviews with founding Temptations member Otis Williams and many others, the book reveals the highly individual, even mutually antagonistic, nature of the group's members. Venturing beyond the money and the fame, it shares the compelling tale of these sometime allies, sometime rivals and reveals the unique dynamic of push and pull and give and take that resulted in musical genius. The first book to tell the whole story of Motown's greatest group, with all-new interviews and previously undiscovered sources and photographs Gives the last word on enduring Motown mysteries, including the deaths of Paul Williams and David Ruffin and the truth behind Ruffin's tumultuous romance with Tammi Terrell Reveals the secret "can't miss" formula behind the Temptations's thirty-seven chart hits Draws on more than 100 interviews with the group's associates, industry figures, family members, and most importantly, founding Temptation Otis WilliamsAin't Too Proud to Beg takes a cohesive and penetrating look at the life and enduring legacy of one of the greatest groups in popular music. It is essential reading for fans of the Temptations, music lovers, and anyone interested in the history of American popular culture over the last fifty years.

Author Biography

Mark Ribowsky is the New York Times Notable Book author of The Supremes: A Saga of Motown Dreams, Success, and Betrayal, He's a Rebel: Phil Spector—Rock and Roll's Legendary Producer, Don't Look Back: Stachel Paige in the Shadows of Baseball, and Signed, Sealed, Delivered: The Soulful Journey of Stevie Wonder. He has written for SPORT magazine and Inside Sports, was a staff writer for TV Guide, and has been a semi-regular contributor to Playboy and Penthouse. Mr. Ribowsky has been a guest on Dateline NBC, Primetime Live (ABC), Connie Chung, Geraldo Rivera, The Tavis Smiley Show, and many other network and cable TV shows. He lives in New York.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	p. vii
Introduction	p. 1
Check Yourself	p. 7
You've Got to Earn It	p. 18
Mind Over Matter	p. 31
Get Ready	p. 49
The Further You Look, the Less You See	p. 63
It's Growing	p. 79
Dream Come True	p. 100
Don't Look Back	p. 114
All I Need	p. 144
Runaway Child, Running Wild	p. 158
I'll Be in Trouble	p. 172
Doin' Fine on Cloud Nine	p. 189
Ball of Confusion	p. 209
Each Day Is a Lifetime	p. 228
Shakey Ground	p. 250
And the Band Played On	p. 268
Discography: The Temptations' Chart Hits	p. 297
Index	p. 305
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