The original Temptations were a five-man vocal group from Detroit: Otis Williams , Elbridge “Al” Bryant, Melvin Franklin, Eddie Kendricks, and Paul Williams.

Core lineup

  • Otis Williams – baritone/tenor and de facto bandleader, the only founding member who stayed with the group for decades.
  • Elbridge “Al” Bryant – tenor, an early member who left before their mid‑60s superstardom and was later replaced by David Ruffin.
  • Melvin Franklin – deep bass voice, famous for anchoring the group’s harmonies.
  • Eddie Kendricks – tenor/falsetto, often led on early hits and helped shape their smooth Motown sound.
  • Paul Williams – baritone/tenor, an early lead singer and key choreographer for the group’s stage routines.

“Original” vs “Classic Five”

Some fans call the later lineup with David Ruffin instead of Al Bryant the “Classic Five,” because that version recorded many of their biggest hits like “My Girl.”

Historically, though, the original Temptations that first signed with Motown were the five men listed above under their early name, The Elgins, before they officially became The Temptations.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.