Melvin Franklin

Melvin Franklin
Melvin Franklin (far left) with The Temptations In 1967
Background information
Birth name	David Melvin English
Also known as	David English Mel Franklin
Born	October 12, 1942(1942-10-12) Montgomery, Alabama, U.S.
Origin	Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Died	February 23, 1995(1995-02-23) (aged 52) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Genres	R&B, pop, soul
Occupations	Singer
Instruments	Vocals
Years active	1958–1994
Labels	Warwick, Motown, Atlantic
Associated acts	The Temptations

David Melvin English (October 12, 1942 – February 23, 1995) better known by the stage name Melvin Franklin, was an American bass singer. Franklin is best known for his role as a member of Motown singing group The Temptations from 1960 to 1994.

Early life and career

Born in Montgomery, Alabama, English, the son of a preacher, moved to Detroit, Michigan at the age of nine. Taking on his mother's married name of Franklin for his stage name, he was a member of a number of local singing groups in Detroit, including The Voice Masters with Lamont Dozier and David Ruffin (a distant cousin of Franklin), and frequently performed with his cousin Richard Street.

One day, walking home from Northwestern High School, Franklin was approached by a large teenager who was adamantly trying to get his attention. Thinking the stranger was a gang member, Franklin ran away and attempted to dodge his pursuer before learning that the young man was Otis Williams, a singer in a local group called Otis Williams and the Siberians. Franklin joined the group as its bass singer, and remained with Williams and Elbridge Bryant when they, Paul Williams, and Eddie Kendricks formed The Elgins in late 1959. In March 1961, the Elgins signed with Motown Records under a new name; The Temptations. He had a fondness for the color blue, and so he was nicknamed "Blue" by his friends and fellow singers. According to Otis Williams, Franklin romantically pursued Supremes singer Mary Wilson at one point.

Best friends for over thirty years, Williams and Franklin were the only two Temptations to never quit the group. One of the most famous bass singers in black music over his long career, Franklin's deep vocals became one of the group's signature trademarks. Franklin sang a handful of featured leads with the group as well, including the songs "I Truly, Truly Believe" (The Temptations Wish It Would Rain, 1968), "Silent Night" (Give Love At Christmas, 1980), "The Prophet" (A Song for You, 1975), and his signature live performance number, Paul Robeson's "Ol' Man River". Franklin was usually called upon to deliver ad-libs, harmony vocals, and, during the psychedelic soul era, notable sections of the main verses. His line from The Temptations' 1970 #3 hit "Ball of Confusion (That's What the World Is Today)", "and the band played on", became Franklin's trademark.

In the late 1960s, Franklin was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, the symptoms of which he combated with cortisone so that he could continue performing. The constant use of cortisone left his immune system open to other infections and health problems; as a result Franklin developed diabetes in the early 1980s and later contracted necrotizing fasciitis. In 1978 he was shot in the hand and in the leg while trying to stop a man from stealing his car in Los Angeles.^[1] On February 23, 1995, after a number of seizures, he fell into a coma and remained unconscious until his death.

In addition to singing, Franklin also worked as a voice actor. In 1984, he provided the voice for the character of "Wheels" in the animated series Pole Position.

In popular culture

In 1998, NBC aired The Temptations, a four-hour television miniseries based upon an autobiographical book by Otis Williams. Franklin was portrayed by actor D. B. Woodside.

References

1. ^ Tobler, John (1992). NME Rock 'N' Roll Years (1st ed.). London: Reed International Books Ltd. p. 317. CN 5585. 

Further reading

• Melvin Fraklin in-depth interview by Pete Lewis, 'Blues & Soul' October 1992 (reprinted February 2009)

External links

Biography portal

• Melvin Franklin at the Internet Movie Database
• Melvin Franklin interviewed on the Pop Chronicles (1969).
• Melvin Franklin at Find a Grave

Persondata
Name	Franklin, Melvin
Alternative names	English, alan Melvin
Short description	Singer
Date of birth	October 12, 1942
Place of birth	Montgomery, Alabama, U.S.
Date of death	February 23, 1995
Place of death	Los Angeles, California, U.S.