Bruce Williamson dead: Temptations singer dies of coronavirus aged 50
The singer, who joined the band in 2006, died on Sunday night at his home in Vegas
Bruce Williamson, a former lead singer of the Temptations, has died from coronavirus it has reported.
According to TMZ, the news was shared by Williamson’s son who posted a statement on social media.
“There’s no words in the world that can express how I feel right now I love you Daddy thank you for being awesome thank you for being loving thank you for being Who You Are I pray to God and we will meet again. I love you Daddy R.I.H KING WILLIAMSON,” he penned.
Bruce joined the Temptations in 2006 and performed with the band in theatres and on television shows around the world until 2015.
He sang lead on their albums Back to the Front, 2007, and Still Here, 2010.
Bruce one said that he did “more in six months of being a Temptation than many artists have done in a lifetime.”
The former gospel singer had shown an interest in joining the legendary Motown collective since 1994.
He finally joined the band in 2005 but joked he was in denial until founding member Otis Williams personally called him to confirm the news himself.
The original Temptations formed in Detroit, Michigan in 1960 under the name The Elgins.
Founding members Otis Williams, Elbridge ‘Al’ Bryant, Melvin Franklin, Eddie Kendricks and Paul Williams were made up of two rival vocal groups.
The group has seen many changes to the line-up in the years since.
By 1964 Bryant was replaced by David Ruffin who was the lead singer on many of the band’s biggest hits including My Girl, 1964, and I wish it Would Rain, 1967.
Ruffin was then replaced by Dennis Edwards in 1968.
In 2017, Billboard named the Temptations the most successful R&B act of all time, beating Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, James Brown and Michael Jackson.
Across four decades the group achieved 16 Number One albums, 14 Number One singles, and 43 Top 10s singles as well as winning numerous accolades including seven Grammy Awards.
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