This page is a chronology of the Motown singing group the Temptations. It lists the members of the group during all phases of the group's history. While the Temptations have frequently changed their lineup, the group has always employed a person for each of the following roles:

main lead singer (e.g., David Ruffin) secondary lead and baritone singer (e.g., Paul Williams) first tenor lead singer (e.g., Eddie Kendricks) bass lead singer (e.g., Melvin Franklin) background second tenor and baritone w/ occasional lead (since 1961 Otis Williams has always held and continues to hold this role)

During their live performances, the 1st tenor who almost exclusively performs in falsetto and secondary leads have always been as predominant on stage as the group's official main lead/front man. Also, the 1st tenor position is always considered equal to the main lead position on studio recordings as well; the secondary lead was elevated to almost the same status in the studio from 1968 to 1972 and from 1993 onward.

The background/occasional lead role was originally that of another secondary lead singer before 1961.

The group has performed as a quintet throughout its history, with six exceptions:

The Cavaliers' lineup (1955–57, four members) The Primes' lineup (1958–60, first four then three members) April–May 1971 (four members) The 1982 reunion lineup (seven members) The later half of 1995, following the departure of Ray Davis (four members, no bass) October 2019 to June 2020 following the departure of Larry Braggs (four members)

Since 1976, the name "the Temptations" has been a registered trademark owned by Otis Williams and (the estate of) Melvin Franklin.Williams, Otis and Romanowski, Patricia (1988, updated 2002). Pg. 181.

The Cavaliers + The Cavaliers lineup 1955–1957Kell Osborne – tenor Eddie Kendricks – tenor Paul Williams – baritone Wiley Waller – bass

The Primes + The Primes lineups 1957–1958Kell Osborne – tenor Eddie Kendricks – tenor Paul Williams – baritone 1958–1960Kell Osborne – tenor Eddie Kendricks – tenor Paul Williams – baritone

Otis Williams & the Siberians, also the El Domingoes + The Siberians/The El Domingoes lineups 1955–1957Elbridge "Al" Bryant – tenor Otis Williams – baritone James "Pee-Wee" Crawford – tenor Vernard Plain – second tenor Arthur Walton – bass 1957–1960Elbridge "Al" Bryant – tenor Otis Williams – baritone James "Pee-Wee" Crawford – tenor Richard Street – second tenor Melvin Franklin – bass

The Distants + The Distants lineups 1959Elbridge "Al" Bryant – tenor Otis Williams – baritone James "Pee-Wee" Crawford – tenor Richard Street – second tenor Melvin Franklin – bass 1959–1960Elbridge "Al" Bryant – tenor Otis Williams – baritone Albert "Mooch" Harrell – tenor Richard Street – second tenor Melvin Franklin – bass

The Elgins + The Elgins lineup 1960–1961Elbridge "Al" Bryant – second tenor Otis Williams – baritone Eddie Kendricks – tenor Paul Williams – lead baritone Melvin Franklin – bass

The Temptations Members of the classic lineup are in bold. + The Temptations lineups 1960–1963Elbridge "Al" Bryant – second tenor Otis Williams – baritone Eddie Kendricks – tenor Paul Williams – lead baritone Melvin Franklin – bass 1964–1968David Ruffin – lead baritenor Otis Williams – second tenor Eddie Kendricks – tenor Paul Williams – baritone Melvin Franklin – bass 1968–1971Dennis Edwards – lead baritenor Otis Williams – second tenor Eddie Kendricks – tenor Paul Williams – baritone Melvin Franklin – bass 1971Dennis Edwards – lead baritenor Otis Williams – second tenor Paul Williams – baritone Melvin Franklin – bass 1971Dennis Edwards – lead baritenor Otis Williams – second tenor Ricky Owens – tenor Paul Williams – baritone Melvin Franklin – bass 1971Dennis Edwards – lead baritenor Otis Williams – second tenor Ricky Owens – tenor Richard Street – third tenor Melvin Franklin – bass 1971–1975Dennis Edwards – lead baritenor Otis Williams – baritone/second tenor Damon Harris – tenor Richard Street – second tenor/third tenor Melvin Franklin – bass 1975–19771980–19821982–1983Dennis Edwards – lead baritenor Otis Williams – baritone Glenn Leonard – tenor Richard Street – second tenor Melvin Franklin – bass 1977–1980Louis Price – lead baritone Otis Williams – baritone Glenn Leonard – tenor Richard Street – second tenor Melvin Franklin – bass 1982David Ruffin – lead baritenor Dennis Edwards – lead baritenor Otis Williams – baritone Eddie Kendricks – tenor Glenn Leonard – tenor Richard Street – second tenor Melvin Franklin – bass 1983–19841987–1989Dennis Edwards – lead baritenor Otis Williams – baritone Ron Tyson – tenor Richard Street – second tenor Melvin Franklin – bass 1984–19871989–1992Ali-Ollie Woodson – lead tenor Otis Williams – baritone Ron Tyson – tenor Richard Street – second tenor Melvin Franklin – bass 1992–1994Ali-Ollie Woodson – lead tenor Otis Williams – baritone Ron Tyson – tenor Theo Peoples – second tenor Melvin Franklin – bass 1995Ali-Ollie Woodson – lead tenor Otis Williams – baritone Ron Tyson – tenor Theo Peoples – second tenor Ray Davis – bass 1996–1997Ali-Ollie Woodson – lead tenor Otis Williams – baritone Ron Tyson – tenor Theo Peoples – second tenor Harry McGilberry – bass 1997–1998Terry Weeks – second tenor Otis Williams – baritone Ron Tyson – tenor Theo Peoples – lead baritone Harry McGilberry – bass 1998–2003Terry Weeks – second tenor Otis Williams – baritone Ron Tyson – tenor Barrington "Bo" Henderson – lead tenor Harry McGilberry – bass 2003Terry Weeks – second tenor Otis Williams – baritone Ron Tyson – tenor G. C. Cameron – lead baritenor Harry McGilberry – bass 2003–2007Terry Weeks – second tenor Otis Williams – baritone Ron Tyson – tenor G. C. Cameron – lead baritenor Joe Herndon – bass 2007–2015Terry Weeks – second tenor Otis Williams – baritone Ron Tyson – tenor Bruce Williamson – lead baritenor Joe Herndon – bass 2016–2019Terry Weeks – second tenor Otis Williams – baritone Ron Tyson – tenor Larry Braggs – lead tenor Willie Greene – bass 2019–2020Terry Weeks — second tenor Otis Williams – baritone Ron Tyson – tenor Willie Greene – bass 2020–2021Terry Weeks – second tenor Otis Williams – baritone Ron Tyson – tenor Mario Corbino – lead tenor Willie Greene – bass 2021–2022Terry Weeks – second tenor Otis Williams – baritone Ron Tyson – tenor Tony Grant – lead tenor Willie Greene – bass 2022–presentTerry Weeks – second tenor Otis Williams – baritone Ron Tyson – tenor Tony Grant – lead tenor Jawan M. Jackson – bass

Timeline

References