On December 21, 1964, The Temptations released what is considered one of the greatest love songs ever recorded.
Smokey Robinson and Ronald White wrote and produced the classic Motown melody “My Girl”. It became the group’s first number 1 single. It is now part of the National Recording Registry.
“I remember being in the studio, and we heard ‘My Girl’ for the first time,” Otis Williams, the group’s only surviving founding member, told Fox News Digital.
“I was in the control room where Smokey was producing, and I said, ‘Smoke, I don’t know how big a record this is going to be.’ Then we were at the Apollo. We got a telegram from The BeatlesBarry Gordy, the Supreme and Jules Podel, the guy who ran Copacabana. Those four telegrams are still hanging in my house.”
“They are very precious to me,” she reflected. “I never imagined that The Temps would receive so much critical acclaim at such an early stage. We formed in 1961, but didn’t hit it big until 1964… the song put us on the map.”
When asked who the mystery girl behind the single was, Williams laughed and replied, “You’d have to ask Smokey.”
Singer-songwriter Smokey Robinson rehearses a song with the Temptations in his dressing room at the Apollo in 1964. (Don Paulson/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
“At the time, Smokey and his wife, Claudette, saw us at a very popular nightclub in Detroit called The 20 Grand,” Williams recalled. “They came to see us, and he was like, ‘Man, you guys are dynamite.’ He then stopped and said, ‘I have a song for you.’ We were young and bold, so we were like, ‘Bring it on – we can sing anything.’
“My Girl” was the follow-up to another song Robinson wrote and produced, “My Guy” by Mary Wells. Billboard.com Reportedly, that track is also celebrating its 60th anniversary.
Williams said the secret behind the song’s lasting impact is surprisingly simple.
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Otis Williams performing on stage in California. (Scott Dodelson/Getty Images)
“It has such a broad meaning,” he explained. “This is a song that resonates with any event in life. When fathers give their daughters away in their marriages, she will always be his daughter in a sense.
“When a boy loves With a young woman, he would say, ‘That’s my girl.’ It has many different meanings, and it conveys many feelings. It’s not just for a boy and a girl. It’s a way of expressing love.”
Score sheets for “My Girl” and “Beauty Only Skin Deep” on display in New York City. (Dom Emmert/AFP via Getty Images)
“It’s a great song with simple lyrics — it’s not offensive at all,” Williams continued. “It’s a tune that anyone can remember. That’s why it’s so precious… It’s just a wonderful way to express how a man would feel about his woman… and Motown did that. Believe it or not – great songs with beautiful lyrics that are not offensive to anyone.”
It was on March 6, 1965 that The Temptations’ biggest-selling single, “My Girl,” hit No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart. (Universal Music Archives)
Williams insisted that today’s artists could learn a lot from his generation.
“Look, I always tell people that the one thing that’s constant in life is change,” he explained. “I try not to knock anyone trying to make their bones in show business. But I have to say, I’m not impressed with some of the stuff I hear on the radio today.”
“When I hear the lyrics… I hear the slurs,” Williams said. “I’m hearing a lot of profanity. Now, I believe in free speech, but it’s very reflective of where we are as a society today… You shouldn’t be listening to profanity on the radio.”
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In 1989, The Temptations were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. (Universal Music Archives)
“I believe in great lyrics, lyrics that aren’t offensive and resonate with someone,” he shared. “That’s why Motown was so good. He emphasized on great songs. They were called, ‘Songs for America.’
“I know my time was different… but I’m not impressed with what I’m hearing on the radio these days. I don’t know what happened when things got quiet enough that you could hear swearing or people talking. “Children should not hear about doing very naughty things with women.”
At 83, Williams has no plans to slow down as an actor.
“Look, I always tell people that the one thing that’s constant in life is change. I try not to knock anyone trying to make their bones in show business. But I have to say this. , I’m not impressed with some of the things I hear on the radio today.”
On September 14, 1994, The Temptations were awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles, and on June 7, 2019, a star on the Walk of Fame at The Apollo Theater in New York City. (Universal Music Group)
“God has blessed me to be doing this for 64 years,” he shared. “I think it’s special to be in show business. You can reach so many people. You can give them hope. You can encourage them in difficult times. So we always try to do a wholesome act. will try. We won’t come on stage. Grab our privates and sing about doing this or that.”
“We were taught that if you perform with the right kind of respect and dignity, you’ll always have people around you,” Williams said. will listen to.” “As long as you perform well and keep him healthy, you don’t have to worry too much about it. Respect for the audience and for oneself was emphasized.”
“My Girl” has now surpassed 1 billion streams on Spotify. Williams admits she’s in awe of young audiences discovering the song on social media.
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The Temptations have surpassed 1 billion streams on Spotify. (Universal Music Archives)
“God and His infinite wisdom brought us to this studio — I really believe that,” Williams said. “And it was a very special time during the ’60s. Now, the ’60s were crazy, like we are today… but it’s a true testament that a song can still be loved 60 years later.”
“… our audience has grown with us,” he shared. “We were young when we started, but look where we are now.”