Dennis Edwards was an American Soul and R&B singer. Read more to learn more about his overall net worth, his death and other interesting facts about ‘The Temptations’ star.
Who was Dennis Edwards?
Dennis Edwards was born in 1943 in Detroit, Michigan. He was famous for being the lead singer of the group, ‘The Temptations’. Edwards initially joined the group in 1968 after replacing David Ruffin and he sang with the group until 1976 when he struck out on his own. Edwards tried his luck at a solo career in the mid 1980’s when he released the hit ‘Don’t Look Any Further,’ in 1984. The song ‘Don’t Look Any Further’ features Siedah Garrett. In the initial years of his career with ‘The Temptations’, his performances were often interrupted by ex-Temptation singer, David Ruffin. Whenever ‘The Temptations” were performing on stage, Ruffin would jump onto the stage, grab the microphone away from Edwards and start singing. While Edward’s was embarrassed by the behavior of Ruffin, fans were delighted. At first Edwards would give in and sing along with Ruffin but after a while, Ruffin’s behavior became too much for the group to handle. ‘The Temptations’ hired a guard to keep Ruffin off the stage while they performed. When producer Norman Whitfield assigned Edwards to sing the first verse of the song ‘Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone’, Edwards refused because in real life Edwards’ own father died on the third of September, just like the father in the song. Edwards believed that Whitfield had purposely assigned him to sing that song and it made him angry just thinking about performing it on stage. Whitfield denied such allegations and forced Dennis Edwards to sing the song, ‘Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone’ even though it made him angry. It was once said that it was the anger in Edwards’ that set the tone for the song while it was being sung on stage. In the end, Whitfield was fired as the group’s producer and Edwards was elected to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989. Dennis Edwards was portrayed as Charles Ley in a biographical miniseries released in 1998 that was based on the history of ‘The Temptations’. The group was later awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 7060 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California. One year at Christmas, ‘The Temptations’ recorded the song ‘Silent Night’ and this version was so beautiful that many fans went crazy after the song was released. Dennis Edwards died on February, 1 2018 at the age of 74, just 2 days before his 75th birthday after a battle with Meningitis. Singer Aretha Franklin admired Edwards and stated that he was the inspiration behind her 1972 R&B/Soul song, ‘Day Dreaming’. Edwards was married to Ruth Pointer for some time. They married in Las Vegas in 1977 and the couple had a daughter, Issa Pointer who later became a member of her mother’s vocal group, The Pointer Sisters. Edwards relocated in the 1980s to Florissant, Missouri to be closer to his mother.
The Net Worth of Dennis Edwards
At the time of his death, Dennis Edwards had a net worth of $5 million.
More Insights into his Career
Dennis Edwards gave the world some beautiful numbers to hum during his career with ‘The Temptations.’ Here is his entire career history in short: * 1967 – 1984 – The Temptations Years: After Edwards quit the Contours, he was asked in 1968 to join ‘The Temptations’ after Ruffin was fired from the group. He was officially introduced by the group on stage in 1968. Ruffin would often crash the stage during Edward’s lead vocal on the song, ‘Ain’t Too Proud to Beg’ which the audience thoroughly enjoyed. After too many issues with Ruffin, Edwards was permanently hired by the group and was the first singer to join the Temptations after their ‘Classic 5’ period. Songs like ‘Psychedelic Shack,’ ‘Cloud Nine’, ‘I Can’t Get Next to You,’ Ball of Confusion, “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone and ‘Shakey Ground’ followed. Two of these songs, “Cloud Nine” and “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone”, won Grammy Awards. During this time, Edwards was engaged to Yvonne “Frankie” Gearing, the lead singer of Quiet Elegance, and The Temptations toured with them as their back up group. ‘Psychedelic Shack’ was released in 1970 and was the 12th studio album of the group. Edwards remained with the group until he was fired by Otis Williams in 1977. He then tried his luck at his solo career, but failed and later rejoined the group in 1980. Due to some differences again, Edwards was replaced by Ali-Ollie Woodson. * 1984 – 1980 – Solo Career Edwards’ solo career began a second time when he signed with Motown Records in 1984 when he released the hit single, ‘Don’t Look Any Further’. He sang this duet with Siedah Garrett and the album reached Number 2 on the R&B charts. The album also included the radio singles ‘Aphrodisiac,’ ‘Just Like You’ and many more songs. Eventually, after some problems between Woodson and ‘The Temptations’ Edwards was brought back into the group but then was he replaced again in 1989 after he fired for the third and final time. * The Temptations Review In 1990’s Edwards began touring under the name of ‘Dennis Edwards and the Temptations’ which prompted a legal battle between he and Ottis Williams. He had to later change the name to ‘The Temptations Review featuring Dennis Edwards’. Edwards was given the Living Legend Award in 2015.
