Musician. He was an American soul and R&B singer, notably a lead singer in The Temptations, on Motown Records. He was born in Fairfield, Alabama, about eight miles from Birmingham, to Reverend Dennis Edwards Sr. He began singing as a toddler, just two years old, in his father's church. The Edwards family moved to Detroit, Michigan when he was about ten years old, and he would continue to sing in the church pastored by his father, eventually becoming choir director. As a teenager, he joined a gospel vocal group called The Mighty Clouds of Joy, and studied music at the Detroit Conservatory of Music. He was not allowed to sing or listen to secular music at home, and his mother disapproved when he began pursuit of a career singing rhythm and blues. In 1961, he organized his own soul/jazz group, Dennis Edwards and the Fireballs. In 1961, he recorded a single for the obscure Detroit label, International Soulville Records, "I Didn't Have to (But I Did)" b/w "Johnnie on the Spot". Following time served in the U.S. Army as a field artilleryman stationed in Europe, he auditioned for Detroit's Motown Records, where he was signed but placed on retainer. Later that year, he was assigned to join The Contours after their lead singer, Billy Gordon, fell ill. He joined the Temptations in 1968, replacing David Ruffin and sang with the group from 1968-1976, 1980-1984, and 1987-1989. In the mid-1980s, he attempted a solo career, scoring a hit in 1984 with "Don't Look Any Further" (featuring Siedah Garrett). In 1989, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of The Temptations. Until his death, he was the lead singer of The Temptations Review featuring Dennis Edwards, a Temptations splinter group. He was briefly married to Ruth Pointer, whom he wed in Las Vegas, Nevada in 1977. The couple had one daughter, Issa Pointer, who became a member of her mother's vocal group, The Pointer Sisters.
Musician. He was an American soul and R&B singer, notably a lead singer in The Temptations, on Motown Records. He was born in Fairfield, Alabama, about eight miles from Birmingham, to Reverend Dennis Edwards Sr. He began singing as a toddler, just two years old, in his father's church. The Edwards family moved to Detroit, Michigan when he was about ten years old, and he would continue to sing in the church pastored by his father, eventually becoming choir director. As a teenager, he joined a gospel vocal group called The Mighty Clouds of Joy, and studied music at the Detroit Conservatory of Music. He was not allowed to sing or listen to secular music at home, and his mother disapproved when he began pursuit of a career singing rhythm and blues. In 1961, he organized his own soul/jazz group, Dennis Edwards and the Fireballs. In 1961, he recorded a single for the obscure Detroit label, International Soulville Records, "I Didn't Have to (But I Did)" b/w "Johnnie on the Spot". Following time served in the U.S. Army as a field artilleryman stationed in Europe, he auditioned for Detroit's Motown Records, where he was signed but placed on retainer. Later that year, he was assigned to join The Contours after their lead singer, Billy Gordon, fell ill. He joined the Temptations in 1968, replacing David Ruffin and sang with the group from 1968-1976, 1980-1984, and 1987-1989. In the mid-1980s, he attempted a solo career, scoring a hit in 1984 with "Don't Look Any Further" (featuring Siedah Garrett). In 1989, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of The Temptations. Until his death, he was the lead singer of The Temptations Review featuring Dennis Edwards, a Temptations splinter group. He was briefly married to Ruth Pointer, whom he wed in Las Vegas, Nevada in 1977. The couple had one daughter, Issa Pointer, who became a member of her mother's vocal group, The Pointer Sisters.
Bio by: BamaLife
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