More About Paul Williams

More about Paul Williams

Sometimes with the attention given to David and Eddie, people forget about Paul.
Paul was a real force in shaping the fantastic group that would become the Temptations.
Paul was a great dancer and was the one who put together the original dance routines
the group used!

As I said before, I think the Temptations Movie has given Paul an unfair rep:

Alcoholic? Suicide?? yes, that is likely...however, there is also some evidence that he might have been murdered?
Plus while Paul did turn to alcohol, the movie failed to show that he suffered from Sickle Cell Anemia....he was in terrible pain and my own thought is that he "self medicated" with booze.
I have firsthand knowledge of people inflicted with the curse of alcoholism and I know that many people use it to drown both physical and pschological pain

Paul was terribly short of breath and tired and in pain from Sickle Cell. The movie made it seem as if he only picked up booze for no reason. As the years went by they had to have oxygen backstage for Paul after each set/show. From all I have read the info about using Richard Street to sing Paul's parts behind the stage is true however. Any way you look at it a real tragedy

Paul had a great voice too...more true R&B, a little rougher, he did sing lead on some of their early records. You can also hear him distinctly in some of the work they did with Dennis Edwards "

Paul sang lead on one of my favorites..."Don't Look Back"

Trivia Fact : The Temptations have NEVER sung "Don't Look Back" in concert since Paul's tragic death....except for when they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and then they sang it in tribute to him. Paul also was honored with the award posthumously at the ceremony for them in 1989

Trivia Fact : Paul Williams Jr, Paul's son, sings and tours with "The Temptations Review with Dennis Edwards" !!