Edward James “Eddie” Kendricks

 October 5, 1992 Edward James “Eddie” Kendricks, singer and songwriter, died.

Kendricks was born December 17, 1939 in Union Springs, Alabama. In 1955, he and three friends formed a group called The Cavaliers who moved to Detroit in 1957 and changed their name to The Primes. In 1961, Kendricks joined The Elgins who signed with Motown as The Temptations. The Temptations quickly became the most successful male vocal group of the 1960s with Kendricks singing lead on “Dream Come True” (1962), their first single on the charts, “The Way You Do the Things You Do” (1964), which Kendricks co-wrote, and “Just My Imagination” (1971).

Kendricks quit The Temptations in May, 1971 and embarked on a solo career. He scored a number one hit in 1973 with “Keep on Truckin’.” Other hits include “Boogie Down” (1974) and “He’s a Friend” (1976). Kendricks and the original Temptations were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989.