MELVIN "BLUE" FRANKLIN - The UNTOLD HIDDEN STORY_What They Didn't Tell You! | FULL DOCUMENTARY
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 25 ต.ค. 2023
- David Melvin English (October 12, 1942 - February 23, 1995) better known by the stage name Melvin Franklin or his nickname "Blue", was an American bass singer. Franklin was best known for his role as a founding member of Motown singing group The Temptations from 1960 to 1995.
#thetemptations #melvinfranklin #motownmusic #berrygordy #davidruffin #dianaross #eddiekendricks #otiswilliams
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I’m blessed that I get to play Melvin Franklin in the Broadway national tour of “Ain’t Too Proud: The Life & Times of the Temptations.” Melvin lives forever. AND THE BAND PLAYED ON 💙💙
Wow! Congrats 🎉
That's definitely some big shoes to fill!
Continue making him proud!❤️
When we said he'll forever live within us, this is what we meant!
Thank you Harell.❤️
OMG THANK YOU. WE JUST SAW THAT . THE SINGING AND DANCING OUT OF THIS WORLD ❤
I just saw the musical and it was sooo good! Loved every minute. What wonderful tribute to THE best group of the century!
Wow! You are a STAR!❤
YOU CAN'T EXPLAIN GREATNESS!😢❤
BLUE was and still is " The Man ". The Christmas song Silent Night tells you everything you need to know about BLUE and the Temptations ❤ ❤
Silent Night AND O Holy Night
Yes 🎄 🎄🎄🎄🎄
Oh yesss. I listen to that song just to hear his voice.
Yaz!!
My favorite version of silent night
HE WAS A TEAM PLAYER NOT A SELFISH BANDMATE MELVIN BLUE FRANKLIN RIP LEGEND FOREVER
No matter what Melvin was going through in private he always smiled and that is why I always respected Blue
We could never forget Mr. Melvin Franklin, because we had never heard a bass singer like his. He was phenomenal.
Oh Yes! TRUTH INDEED AMEN ❤❤❤❤
Melvin's friendship with Otis was SO REAL. I'm sure Otis misses him dearly.
Amen
But because of Otis, you and I were able to see a group called The Temptations to this day. His book spawned the 2-night NBC movie that spawned the Broadway Show that spawned the sellout tour going on as we speak (type). Thanks Otis. We really did come to see you!
@@stevebeasleyandnoblesissle6142"AIN'T NOBODY COMING TO SEE YOU OTIS". When "blue" died Otis Williams just replaced him like he did everyone else
@mongoslade277 What was he supposed to do? Not sing and tour anymore?
They kinda look like family members
Beautiful tribute!!! And...Nah...I gotta disagree with the very beginning...There are some of us who NEVER think "Temptations" without thinking "Melvin Franklin". There are plenty of us who can't hear a person sing "Ol' Man River" without thinking about Mr. Franklin. To this day!!! And his mom was the SWEETHEART of Oakland Ave. Baptist Church in Detroit!!!
Well put. Blue stands out in my mind more than Paul.
Very true
absolutely, never forgotten. Who are these people. We lived with these guys. Thank you tortoise
I absolutely agree with you. 👊🏼
Melvin’s bass distinguished the temptation’s sound from everybody else’s
I always think of his smile. He seemed like a true genuine man
Melvin Franklin is Rick James' uncle.
Otis Williams always claimed that his father could sing lower than Melvin and the rest of the group would always tell Otis get outta here!! One time during a break, Otis took the classic lineup of The Temptations to meet his Dad. Once they got comfortable, Otis told his Dad that he thinks he could sing lower than Melvin and his Dad agreed!! So Melvin and Otis’ Dad had a sing-off AND to everyone’s astonishment, his Dad DID sing lower than Melvin!!!! I read all of this in Otis’ autobiography!! I would’ve loved to have been there!! Rest In Power Melvin Franklin. You’ll never be forgotten.
Wasn’t that Paul’s Dad ?
@@williamg2552 No. It was Otis’ Dad. He told the whole story in his autobiography
I heard it was Paul's father also@@williamg2552
@@lindenbyass6902it was Paul’s dad in Birmingham. Otis didn’t deal with his real father. But Otis did write about that in his book
@@life-ph7su I read it in his autobiography; perhaps he had help from a ghostwriter
Melvin is never overlooked. Never. *Merry Christmas from The Temptations."
Melvin Franklin was the greatest bass singer of all time. "Ol Man River" was his greatest performance of all time.
I don't consider it the holidays until I hear silent night by the Temptations! Melvins part was probably my favorite, no way he's forgotten...never!
Melvin Franklin was phenomenal.❤️
When you heard his voice on songs it made you stop and embrace the beauty of his unique voice
You hit the nail on the head when you described Melvin Franklin's voice as a force of nature. Thank you for doing this.
He was a handsome man with a beautiful voice
Yes he was special and a icon rest in heaven king 💐💐💐💐
I so appreciated this video on Melvin. Thank you.
My dad was a pharmacist at a Downtown Detroit drugstore back in the day called, Paul’s Cut Rate Drugs. He left & later went to work at Hudson’s pharmacy.
One day on his off day while my mom was in class at Wayne State, he took me for a little trip downtown & to lunch. We ran into Melvin, Otis & Paul on Woodward & they stopped & laughed & joked with my dad.
I remember they were so animated, very much the gentlemen & very warm & engaging. I was standing there with my mouth wide open & in shock. Of all of the Motown artists I met & saw frequently because they knew my dad, my uncles & aunts, I was in awe of the Temps. Melvin reached down to me, took my hand & said in his deep voice, “Hello little girl.” I literally screamed, Daddy, that’s Melvin Franklin! I kept screaming, until dad told me to calm down because they’re just regular people. We know each other. They laughed & Melvin hugged me. I will never ever forget that day or him. Otis & Paul were just as nice & it wasn’t a show, they were genuine & down to earth.
Melvin was a man who you just instantly took to & to whom you instantly gravitated. To me, he was the hero of the group. The most well known Temp.
I hate that he suffered so much & passed at an early age. He deserved to be recognized & honored. I hope that he knew how loved & respected he was before he transitioned.
Melvin possessed one of stellar bass voices of all time. He was also a excellent dancer.
My father, an amateur guitarist, had a voice a little deeper than Melvin's and singing clearly and concisely with a voice that deep is no easy task. They sometimes sound inaudible but Melvin sounded beautiful. It was amazing.
Yeah Yeah Yeah an I had a crocodile name MIKE
@@garymayfield5995Melvin had a deep voice. It would be very narrow-minded to think he was the deepest in the world.
@@jmcc-lt3lkthank you
@garymayfield5995 So Melvin was the only person in history that could sing low?lol
This tribute is so needed for music history
Glad you enjoyed it!
More coming!
I got to shake his hand in 1994. My dad raised me up near the stage and he shook my hand.
It's about time!! Beautiful voice!! Makes way for a WHOLE lot of their songs!! Love him!!!!!!!!
Loved his voice ❤❤
Beautiful Documentary!!❤❤❤
Glad you enjoyed it!❤️
Don't forget to subscribe for more!
Mel knew his lane and everyone thinks of Melvin, definately not forgotten by far
Underappreciated but not by me he was always my favorite Temption because of that beautiful baritone Rest In Peace Melvin.
And that infectious smile ❤
He sang bass
Melvin Franklin & Paul Williams always will be my favorite TEMPS....That's an amazing coincident about how Melvin & Otis was raised by their grandmothers & moving to Detroit , MI .
What an amazing story for one of the most powerful BASS vocalist ever 😊 Melvin's harmonies stood out so strongly when the Temptations vocals came together on so many of their Greatest Hits 🎉 my all time FAVORITE "Since I Lost My Baby", Melvin's heavy Bass in harmony with the other members on this CLASSIC HIT is mind boggling, melts the heart to it's CORE🥰🌟💯💥 Melvin's time was much too short 😢 he was an true LEGEND in so many ways, when he spoke on T.V. during the Temptations performances, that deep beautiful voice of his was so unbelievable, since it's very rare to meet a MAN with such a DEEP beautiful voice like his, VERY RARE indeed 🌟!!!!
Thank You for this Tribute. MELVIN Franklin in many Fans opinions feel that he not Otis Williams was the Wings below the Temptations melodious smooth harmony. As David Ruffin stated “AINT nobody coming to hear you Otis” but you can believe that everyone was coming to hear the gorgeous smooth deep sexy velvet voice of MELVIN Franklin. The BEST BASS SINGER IN THE WORLD❤️
Ya know that part in the movie "Ain't Novody coming to hear you Otis" wasn't supposed to be in the script and when Leon said that it sorta hurt Otis Williams for real for real. I love that part even single time 😅😂😂
@@WashinRobi would’ve whooped his ass😂
@@WashinRobTruth Hurts
Otis is the least talented member of group. Not dancing and singing well.
Blue was the most recogniable Temptations member to me as a kid. I still remember their TV appearances and his part on 227, with his jowls, his smile and that deep, deep voice.
That is all so true he was always one of my favorites that deep voice they wouldn't be the temptations without his sexy deep voice and that beautiful smile of his
He was sososo sexy
My grandma went to school with them... northwestern high school
We know Blue......every damn black person in the U.S. has heard The Temptation's rendition of Silent Night where Blue steals the show....
Yep.... Merry Christmas from the temptations lol
I miss a man i never even knew. He always caught me with his smile and the little bit extra he put into his moves during performances. I bet he was a sweetheart of a human. Long live Blue💙🩵💙
That was music back than there will never be another music like this, they had meaning to them. It was a blessing to everyone, am a senior citizen now and I miss all of those year. Make everyone happy!
Man this had me crying thank you so much for the tribute to Melvin this is the first story I heard about him I miss all of them and I watch the movie they did on all of them all the time
Me too. I’m crying. He was my favorite. Some how I always saw goodness flowing from him. There was just something about him that drew me to him. And his voice was like no other. RIP, Melvin. ❤
@@tonisumblin2719 me to and for me it was the smile, the voice and the chocolate
@@winnieford4063 ABSOLUTELY!!! 😁
His wonderful... Especially when he did Silent Night.
Growing up I chose to sing ‘bass’ in church choirs because of Melvin.
A fitting tribute to one of the world's greatest bass singers: MELVIN "BLUE" FRANKLIN. To have overcome so much and gone through so much, he proved resilient and strong, even though times got bad, he never went against his best friend Otis Williams and he had a relationship with until the day he died. His birthday just recently passed too. Happy heavenly birthday to you, Melvin Franklin. You are never forgotten and always remembered for your singing, performing, but you will always be remembered for being in the world's best group:" THE TEMPTING TEMPTATIONS". Rest in eternal peace 🕊️🕊️✝️✝️💜💜🙏🙏. To Otis Williams, I know that it has been a long time without your best friend by your side, but he is beside you always there never forgetting you or any of the other guys in the group. God speed to his friends, family and other members keeping Melvin's legacy alive to this day.
I love Melvin Franklin ❤ forever thank you for speaking on his story i loved his voice! Forever rest in peace Melvin ❤️🙏🏽👑🕊🌹🌟
“Blue”and I were great friends. He was like a Big Brother. I miss him very much❤.
I did not know that Melvin Franklin was my home boy from Montgomery Alabama. I was born in montgomery, alabama, i'm a singer myself
Otis was the only Original Temptation that didn't have Alabama ties. David Ruffin's grandparents was from Alabama although he was born in Mississippi. Bryant is someone I need to do research on.
No one had a voice like Melvin then or now. He was a very nice guy and he was important to his family, friends, and the city of Detroit.
Marvelous 🎉Thank you for his story. RIP Mr. Franklin
Such a beautiful tribute for such a seemingly humble and talented man💕👏👏👏👏Melvin was definitely one of my favorites of the Temptations. Im always moved when I hear his voice in Silent night. The best bass voice I’ve ever heard 💕💕🎼Thanks for sharing this beautiful tribute👏👏👏
After Vietnam 70-71 I resumed my career as a professional drummer . In 73 I had the honor of backing up the temptations .blue,Otis, and Dennis Edward's were the only only original members left. Richard Street replaced.paul and a young man named Damon replaced Eddie. Their regular drummer Mel Brown had an emergency come up with escapes now.I was the high point of my drumming career. Thet brought the house at the Cincinnati jazz festival. They were God givin sweet hearts
Awesome
@@lebronshairline4768 Melvin ( blue ) Franklin's real last name was english.
@@BillFEILHAUER-bu7goBlue did say thati. One of their Cloud Nine performances. They introduced themselves, he was the last to do so. Its a little hard to hear him when he says it due to all the screaming when he spoke 😊, but he does say English.
@@rocknroller77 thanks for clearing that up . The chick's they had their choice of was mind blowing .
Melvin aka Blue was my absolute favorite Temptation ❤
Thank you for the beautiful tribute
Melvin was up there with David and Eddie.
Almost all music has a bass from which other notes can be structured on and flourish its sound. Rich, hearty, sturdy and flavorful was his capacity that grounded the blend that sustained the other vocals of the Temptations. His compliment on all the songs was just right. Not an overshadowing, but the perfect accompaniment to the taste presented SOULFULLy and Unmistakably Melvin Franklin. Well done piece of work.
Rip Blue💪🏽💯
Thank you very much. Well done ❤❤❤
Wow! Never knew all that about him! What a wonderful, true friend!
Legend ❤❤❤
Melvin Franklin had a "stand out voice" in whatever he sang with his magical deep voice, he was a historic marker during the Civil Rights era, his voice complimented Eddie Kendrick's falsetto voice in THE TEMPTATIONS and he always honored and backed up the business leader of THE TEMPTATIONS, the person Mr Otis Williams".
I'm a Huge Temps fan,Great upload a Big thanks .
Glad you enjoyed it!
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The Temptations are one of the Greatest Groups of All Time ,Especially the Classic five Blue,Ruff,Corn,Paul,and Otis.
I watch The Temptations miniseries yearly. The Temptations Give Love on Christmas Day is a staple in our family.
This WAS Simply Beautiful ❤️. Thank You for inviting me to watch your video ‼️❤❤❤❤❤❤❤. I love the Temptations.(ALL OF THEM). ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
Glad you enjoyed it!❤️
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@@back_to_the_60s I WILL thank You.😃👍🏽
@BACK TO THE 60s I THANK YOU FOR PUTTING THIS VID TOGETHER, I LISTENED TO the FIRST 2:45 seconds and almost started to cry...I was 16 when I first started in radio ( broadcasting ) at KGFJ RADIO. The group came in to do a promotional, the first day the came in Melvin smiled at me, made it his point to be my friend, be was like a brother to me...kind, caring, genuinely loving and very much a gentleman...remarkable man. Thank YOU FOR SHOWING HIM LOVE... I never attended a show, then started working at Motown, after coming back from NYC in 1973... they left Motown in the late 70's, and Melvin was always an ever faithful friend...one of the good ones in the business...respected women and like I said he was MY BIG BROTHER... I miss him so but know I'll see him again, because we both knew Jesus! Melvin wasn't just religious, he knew Christ.
Glad you enjoyed it
Thank you I was waiting on this!
I loved the temptation.
As a young boy i heard of the temptations and heard my girl. Lol i never liked hearing the recording version of my girl, i at the time i didnt notice the temptations.
It wasn't until one day my pops going through his old tapes was when i noticed Melvin's voice. He had the tape a song for you, and i heard his voice on I'm a bachelor. I was blown away then to hear it even better on Firefly. For the longest i was like there's no one that can sing deeper than him until I heard Isaac Freeman. But still you can't hear the temptations without hearing or thinking of Melvin Franklin.
I remember that cartoon Pole Position. I didn't know he did voiceovers for that cartoon
Melvin Franklin, aka Blue, you're miss RIP
Great Tribute to a great man!❤️
Aww! We have the same bday! 🥰💜
he was a great dancer too
I think you’re thinking about Paul Williams
The greatest R&B bass singer ever by far
He Was In A Class All By Himself. Rest On Melvin Franklin.
Melvin Franklin is THE GOAT Bass Singer!!
This might be new to you, however, most people do know that Melvin was the founding member of the Temptations. He was not overlooked or underrated.
@HarrellHolmes - It's wonderful to see a young guy truly appreciating the Temptations torch and carrying it high. You get to sing one of the best lines from one of the best songs of all time: "And mama, bad talk goin' around town that papa had three outside children and another wife... and that ain't right!". Man, you better LOVE each time that moment comes along!
OMG, this is the first time my cousin Toni who was Melvin’s first wife was mentioned in a documentary about him❤ Toni’s name was Flora Bell (Crawford) English, they had two sons Melvin and David English. ❤❤❤
Do his children sing?
Love this But......One fact you got wrong Melvin was walking a lady to her car from a recording session in West Hollywood the studio was ABC recording Studio . I was an assistant Engineer there at the time so I know!!. The Movie got it wrong and so did the fact checkers on this doc..
Blue have been my favorite since I was a child and watched the Temptations movie! I have been obsessed with their music ever since.
Am I the only one that was looking at these pictures of him and Ottis and thought they look a lot alike? Like they have the same exact eyes.. considering neither of them knew their real fathers - wouldn’t it be something if it turned out they were blood brothers all along! 💙
I always thought the same thing. I used to get them mixed up. I wouldn't doubt they were secretly related.
Loved his deep voice
A very KEY voice in the WHOLE music INDUSTRY,i just wait for him to go OFF
My parents went to school with blue and Otis and were good friends, i still have many pictures of them together
R.I.P KING THANKS FOR THE AWESOME MUSIC 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽👑👑👑👑✊🏽✊🏽✊🏽✊🏽🕊️🕊️🕊️🕊️
I have the Temptation Move which was so well done and so factual.My favorite was Leon who played David.The Temptations started when I was in grade school.I loved them then and now .I have an old Gordy 45 as well as cds.As many times as I watch the Temptations movie I cry.All in all I'm still a big fan.❤
Mr Melvin Franklin was a nice and friendly Man . I will always remember our conversation at Cheviot Hills Park 😊
He was chilling with his wife one Saturday when we were having an Huge Picnic. Long Story Short ☺️ Mr Franklin was picnicking and so were we. We were so excited and happy to talk and take pics. He shared so much about his years in the Temptations and he also helped us understand how grateful we should feel being that our generation missed the rough times and our great lives, we should be thankful for. I’ll always remember that day. ❤❤❤ I learned so much in regards to the Music And The History of.
One ☝🏽 Love
I well never forgot Melvin. There wouldn't have been a "Temptations Sound" without Melvin's beautiful bass vocals. RIHP Mr. Franklin ❤❤❤
He made me wanna sing bass I’ve been the bass in choir every since middle school and high broad my range in high school but he was the bass I wanted to sing like 🔥🔥
Middle school, though!?!
Wow!
When did your voice started changing? Was it gradual? Or immediate like Barry White's?
I ask guys this question. My hubby says it was gradual for him. But he doesn't sing.
To portray any of the Temptations is a big Blessings indeed . I'm sure it's a huge thrill as well as an honor. I haven't seen it in Massachusetts have you all toured this way as of yet? I must Google I didn't even know this history was a Broadway celebration not to much press I'm guessing? I'm sure you got to meet Mr. Smokey Robinson. Congratulations on all your endeavors. May the year of the dragon be kind. Happy New Year ❤
“ beautiful, very touching, informative and acknowledging his contribution to the Temptin Temptations. Thank you.
Glad you enjoyed it!❤️
Incredible voice. Man I wish we had music like his and temptations today. Rip legend.😢
When I think of the Temptations the first member I think of is Melvin. To me he was Mr. Temptation.
Melvin always stood out, naturally because of his voice, but also because he moved better, in my opinion, than the others. He was definitely my favorite member of the temptations. RIP Melvin.
My favorite song that showed off his voice was "Power." My son was blown away by him.
The man with the low pipes. Fit with the temp’s perfect.
Love Slient Night Rip Melvin Franklin
Melvin was a great human being. My mom dated Ali Woodson for a little while and while that didn't exactly work out, she became (and still is) really good friends with Otis's then wife Goldie. A good portion of my childhood was spent attending Temptations concerts and there were 2 people I was stoked to see every time... one was the head of security, Robb Dragon Hogan, the other person was Melvin. Melvin always made me feel like the coolest person on the planet even though I was a nerdy and awkward kid. He'd ask me about school and always gave me encouragement when I felt I was hitting a brick wall learning/playing the sax. I can't say enough to describe how amazing of a person he was.
Melvin is a REAL Ride or Die friend. Wish he was still with us today. RIP Melvin Franklin 🕊
Blue has always been my fave❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤ such a talent!!!!!!!!
Blue death always bothered me out of everyone
Blue was the Man, major cornerstone of the group 🔥🔥🔥
Sleep In Peace Sir.Melvin English
🤔 Wow Thanks well done😢😳💞💕🎸😎
Glad you enjoyed it!❤️
A Gem. Can't get any better than this.
The best of Blue's voice when he sung Old Man River!!!!!! Never be another group like the Temps.