On December 21, 1964, The Temptations released what is now considered one of the greatest love songs of all time.
Smokey Robinson and Ronald White wrote and produced the classic Motown melody “My Girl.” This song became the group's first No. 1 single. It is now part of the National Recording Registry.
“I remember being in the studio and hearing 'My Girl' for the first time,” Otis Williams, the group's only surviving founding member, told FOX News Digital.
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The Temptations, from left: David Ruffin, Melvin Franklin, Paul Williams, Otis Williams, Eddie Kendricks. (Michael Ochs Archive/Getty Images)
“I was in the control room where Smokey was producing, and I said, 'Smoke, you don't know how big a record this is going to be.' Then we went to the Apollo. The Beatles, Berry Gordy, I received a telegram from Jules Podell, who ran The Supreme and then Copacabana. Those four telegrams are still on display in my house.”
“They are very precious to me,” he reflected. “I never imagined that The Temps would receive so many great accolades so early on. We formed in 1961, but didn't have a hit song until 1964…This song It made us famous.”
When asked who the mystery girl was behind the single, Williams laughed and replied, “You'll have to ask Smokey about that.”
Singer-songwriter Smokey Robinson rehearses a Temptations song backstage at the Apollo in 1964. (Don Paulsen/Michael Ochs Archive/Getty Images)
“Smokey and his then-wife Claudette saw us at a very popular nightclub in Detroit called The 20 Grand,” Williams recalled. “They came to see us and he was like, 'Hey, you guys are dynamite.' Then he stopped and said, 'I have a song for you.' was young and brash, so I was like, “Come on, I can sing anything.'' ”
“My Girl” was a sequel to Mary Wells' “My Guy”, another song written and produced by Robinson. billboard.com Reported. This song also celebrates its 60th anniversary.
Williams said the secret to the song's lasting impact is surprisingly simple.
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Otis Williams performs on stage in California. (Scott Dudelson/Getty Images)
“It has a very broad meaning,” he explained. “This is a song that resonates with all life events. When a father presents his daughter at his wedding, it is always his daughter in a sense.
“When a man falls in love with a young woman, he will say, 'That's my girlfriend.' It has many different meanings and expresses a wide range of emotions, not just limited to men and women. ”
Score sheets for “My Girl” and “Beauty is Only Skin Deep” on display in New York City. (Dom Emmert/AFP via Getty Images)
“It's simply a great song with easy lyrics. It's not offensive at all,” Williams continued. “This is a melody that anyone can remember. That's why it's so valuable…It's a great way for a man to express what he feels about his woman…and that's what Motown believed – for everyone. It's about having great songs with beautiful lyrics that aren't offensive.” ”
It was on March 6, 1965, that the Temptations' best-selling single “My Girl” reached No. 1 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart. (Universal Music Archives)
And there is much that today's artists can learn from his generation, Williams argued.
“You know, I always tell people that the one constant in life is change,” he explained. “I try not to hinder the efforts of anyone trying to make a career in show business. But I have to say this: I'm impressed by some of the stuff I hear on the radio today. No.”
“When you listen to the lyrics…you hear the swearing,” Williams said. “I've heard a lot of demeaning words. I believe in freedom of speech, but it's very reflective of the state of society today… You shouldn't hear bad language on the radio.”
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In 1989, The Temptations were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. (Universal Music Archives)
“I believe in great lyrics, lyrics that are not offensive and that resonate with everyone,” he said. “That's why Motown was so great. They emphasized great songs. They were called 'Songs for America.'”
“I know my time was different… but I'm not very impressed with what I'm hearing on the radio these days. Things have become so relaxed that you can hear the swearing and people talking. I don't know what happened when it happened.'' Don't let your kids hear you do something very naughty with a woman. ”
At 83, Williams has no plans to slow down as a performer.
“Look, I always tell people that the one constant in life is change. I try not to discourage anyone's efforts to make a career in show business. But I have to say this. Some people are not impressed by some of the things I heard on the radio today. ”
On September 14, 1994, The Temptations were awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles, and on June 7, 2019, they were awarded a star on the Apollo Theater Walk of Fame in New York City. Ta. (Universal Music Group)
“God has blessed me to be able to do this job for 64 years,” he said. “I feel like being in show business is special. You can reach out to a lot of people. You can give them hope. You can cheer them up in difficult times. So we always try to do something wholesome. We don't go on stage and sing about getting into our private parts and doing this and that.”
“We were taught that if you perform with the proper respect and dignity, people will always listen to you,” Williams said. “As long as we perform well and keep it healthy, we don't have to worry too much. We emphasized respect for the audience and for ourselves.”
“My Girl” has surpassed 1 billion streams on Spotify. Williams admitted he is in awe that young listeners are discovering the song on social media.
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The Temptations have been streamed over 1 billion times on Spotify. (Universal Music Archives)
“I truly believe that God and His infinite wisdom led us to that studio,” Williams said. “And this was a very special time in the ’60s. Now, the ’60s were as crazy as we are today…but this is a song that can still be loved 60 years later. This is proof of the truth.”
“…Our audience has grown with us,” he said. “We were young when we started, look at where we are now.”
