Rock Hall Partners with the Motown Museum to Host Virtual Interview with Inductee Otis Williams and The Temptations
The band, along with manager Shelly Berger, will discuss their iconic careers and celebrate their 60th anniversary with the release of their new album TEMPTATIONS 60
In partnership with the Motown Museum, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is proud to announce a virtual interview with 1989 Inductee and founder of The Temptations, Otis Williams.
This special event will be hosted by Rock Hall Vice President of Education and Visitor Engagement, Jason Hanley and includes long-time manager Shelly Berger and members of the Temptations as they celebrate their 60th anniversary and the release of their new album TEMPTATIONS 60 on UMe. The new album, nearly all-original songs, features some of the group’s award-winning producers, including Smokey Robinson and Narada Michael Walden.
“The Temptations set the bar for Motown groups,” said Hanley. “What better way to honor and celebrate the group’s 60th anniversary and new album release than by joining forces with the Motown Museum for this interview with Otis Williams. It is such a pleasure to talk to Otis, Shelly, and the group about their rich history, classic songs, and the legacy of the Temptations that continues today.”
“Motown Museum is delighted to partner with the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as we celebrate this milestone for Motown’s legendary Temptations,” said Robin Terry, Chairwoman and CEO of Motown Museum. “This unique opportunity to hear directly from iconic original Temptations member Otis Williams and the group’s longtime manager Shelly Berger – a beloved member of our Motown alumni family – simply cannot be missed by their legions of fans around the world.”
Otis Williams said, “When we started out as a part of that Motown movement that took the world by storm in the 60s, I never could have imagined we’d still be performing today. To mark our 60th anniversary with two of the most distinguished institutions in American music culture, recognized for preserving, inspiring and teaching music history between generations, is such a great honor for me and The Temptations. We feel blessed and have to give thanks to God.”
The Temptations, often referred to as American music royalty, are world-renowned superstars of entertainment, revered for their phenomenal catalog of music and prolific career. Their music transcends generations, and their story is a road map through American history. What began in Detroit, when a remarkable combination of soulful voices united, was the genesis of an epic journey that introduced multiple superstars to the world and produced some of the greatest music of our era.
Fans can tune in to the Rock Hall’s YouTube Channel or Motown Museum’s YouTube Channel at 7p.m. ET on Friday, February 4th. Following the broadcast, the interview will remain available on-demand for fans to view at their convenience.
The interview will premiere on SiriusXM Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Radio, channel 310, and on the SXM app on February 15th at 4p.m. ET.
Additionally, The Rock Hall has added A jacket worn onstage by Otis Williams in the 1990s to the Detroit case in the Museum’s Cities and Sounds exhibit.
This event is a part of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s Sounds of Black History Month lineup. For a complete schedule of programs visit rockhall.com/events.
About The Temptations
The Temptations’ story is an epic journey of courage, struggle, triumphs, setbacks, and ultimately, international superstardom. Trailblazers, The Temptations and Supremes headlined their own #1 nationally rated network television specials in 1968 and 1969, respectively. A first for two African American music groups, they helped change the face of primetime television. Billboard magazine ranked the Temptations #1 in their most recent list of the Greatest R&B/Hip-Hop Artists of All Time, and in November of 2019 named them one of The 125 Greatest of All Time Artists. Rolling Stone magazine named them among the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time, and in September of 2020, the editors of Rolling Stone commented that the Temptations are “Indisputably the greatest black vocal group of the Modern Era…,” and listed the group’s Anthology album among the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time.” The group has five GRAMMY® Awards, including a GRAMMY Lifetime Achievement Award and Motown’s first-ever statuette, awarded to the Tempts for “Cloud Nine.” The Group’s mega-hit, “My Girl,” was inducted in the Library of Congress’s National Recording Registry and into the GRAMMY Hall of Fame. The Temptations are celebrating their 60th Anniversary through 2022, and their presence across multi-media platforms has never been more vivid, and their popularity is ever-increasing. To mark this milestone, in addition to releasing the new album, The Temptations are touring in the U.S now and in the UK, fall of 2022. The national touring production of the Broadway musical, Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of The Temptations, based on William’s personal journey is currently touring the country. Otis Williams, the sole surviving member of the original, classic lineup of the Temptations, turned 80 on October 30th of 2021.
About Motown Museum
Founded in 1985 by Esther Gordy Edwards, Motown Museum is a 501(c)(3) not for profit, tax-exempt organization in Detroit. The museum is committed to preserving, protecting and presenting the Motown story through authentic, inspirational and educational experiences. Announced in late 2016, the Motown Museum expansion will grow the museum to a 50,000-square-foot world-class entertainment and education tourist destination featuring dynamic, interactive exhibits, a performance theater, recording studios, an expanded retail experience and meeting spaces designed by renowned architects and exhibit designers. When completed, the new museum campus will have a transformative impact on the surrounding Detroit neighborhoods, providing employment, sustainability and community pride by serving as an important catalyst for new investment and tourism in the historic area. For more information on Motown Museum, visit http://www.motownmuseum.org or visit the museum’s Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or YouTube channel.
About the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
Rock Connects Us. Our mission is clear: To engage, teach and inspire through the power of rock & roll. We share stories of the people, events and songs that shape our world through digital content, innovative exhibits, live music, and engaging programs. Join the millions who love it as much as you do. Experience us live or online – Visit rockhall.com or follow the Rock Hall on Facebook (@rockandrollhalloffame), Twitter (@rockhall), Instagram (@rockhall) and YouTube (youtube.com/rockhall). Long Live Rock!