Richard Street

Richard Street (born October 5 1942 in Detroit, Michigan) is an African-American soul and R&B singer, most notable as a member of The Temptations from 1971 to 1992 (Most websites have his tenure end in 1992, although he no longer performed with the group after 1992, he permanently left the group in 1995 after the death of bass singer Melvin Franklin.) Street was the first member of the Temptations to actually be a native of Detroit; all of the previous members were born and at least partially raised in the southern United States.

Related Topics:
October 5 - 1942 - Detroit, Michigan - African-American - Soul - R&B - Singer - The Temptations - 1971 - 1992 - Melvin Franklin - Southern United States

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Street was the lead singer of an early Temptations predecessor, Otis Williams & the Distants, and takes the spotlight on their local hit "Come On". The Distants also included future Tempts Otis Williams, Melvin Franklin, and Elbridge "Al" Bryant, who left The Distants and their record deal with Johnnie Mae Matthews' Northern Records to form The Elgins (later The Temptations) with Eddie Kendricks and Paul Williams. After their departure, Matthews had Street briefly lead a new Distants group in the early 1960s.

Related Topics:
Otis Williams - Melvin Franklin - Elbridge "Al" Bryant - Eddie Kendricks - Paul Williams - 1960s

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

By the late-1960s, Street was a member of the Temptations' touring entourage, and was sometimes called upon to sing Paul Williams' parts from off-stage as Williams, who suffered from both alcoholism and sickle-cell disease, danced and lip-synched onstage. Street officially replaced Williams in mid-1971, after both he and Eddie Kendricks left the group.

Related Topics:
1960s - Alcoholism - Sickle-cell disease - Lip-synched - 1971

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

A number of the Temptations' best-selling hits feature Street's lead vocals, including "Superstar (Remember How You Got Where You Are)" (1971), "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" (1972), "Masterpiece" (1973), and his featured solo, "Hey Girl (I Like Your Style)" (1973). He and old Distants bandmates Otis Williams and Melvin Franklin endured a number of lineup changes over the two decades Street was a Temptation, during which time Dennis Edwards, Ricky Owens, Damon Harris, Glenn Leonard, Louis Price, Ron Tyson, Ali-Ollie Woodson, and Theo Peoples all served as members of the group at various times.

Related Topics:
Superstar (Remember How You Got Where You Are) - 1971 - Papa Was a Rollin' Stone - 1972 - 1973 - Dennis Edwards - Ricky Owens - Damon Harris - Ron Tyson - Ali-Ollie Woodson - Theo Peoples

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

According to Street's own website, his departure from the group was a result of when he landed in the hospital with 17 kidney stones. Unable to perform, he left a message with the group's business manager Shelly Berger to inform the group of his condition.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Unfortunately, Street's message was not relayed to the group which led to an angry phone call from Otis Williams about Street's failure to appear for their performance. After Williams' seemed to show a lack of concern, Street felt it was best to move on and departed from the group.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In 2000, Street suffered from a blood clot in his lung that was nearly fatal.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Richard Street continues to tour and perform as a solo artist to this day. At times, he performs as a duo with former Temptations bandmate Damon Harris, who had joined the group at about the same time he did.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~