Ain't Too Proud to Beg: The Troubled Lives and Enduring Soul of the Temptations - Hardcover

by Mark Ribowsky (Author)

The first and only definitive biography of legendary Motown group, the Temptations

The Temptations are an incomparable soul group, with dozens of chart-topping hits such as My Girl and Papa Was a Rollin Stone. From the sharp suits, stylish choreography, and distinctive vocals that epitomized their onstage triumphs to the personal failings and psycho-dramas that played out behind the scenes, Ain't Too Proud to Beg tells the complete story of this most popular-and tragic--of all Motown super groups.

Based on in-depth research and interviews with founding Temptations member Otis Williams and many others, the book reveals the highly individual, even mutually antagonistic, nature of the group's members. Venturing beyond the money and the fame, it shares the compelling tale of these sometime allies, sometime rivals and reveals the unique dynamic of push and pull and give and take that resulted in musical genius.

• The first book to tell the whole story of Motown's greatest group, with all-new interviews and previously undiscovered sources and photographs
• Gives the last word on enduring Motown mysteries, including the deaths of Paul Williams and David Ruffin and the truth behind Ruffin's tumultuous romance with Tammi Terrell
• Reveals the secret ""can't miss"" formula behind the Temptations' thirty-seven chart hits
• Draws on more than one hundred interviews with the group's associates, industry figures, family members, and most importantly, founding Temptation Otis Williams

Ain't Too Proud to Beg takes a cohesive and penetrating look at the life and enduring legacy of one of the greatest groups in popular music. It is essential reading for fans of the Temptations, music lovers, and anyone interested in the history of American popular culture over the last fifty years.

Front Jacket

They are pure Motown royalty and the most successful African-American recording goup in history. During their long and brilliant run, the Temptations have sold twenty-five million records and produced seventeen Top 40 pop hits (four No. 1 hits), seventy-one Top 40 R&B hits (fourteen No. 1 hits) and fifty-two albums. And, like all royalty, they have had more than their share of triumphs, tragedies and family feuds.

In "Ain't Too Proud to Beg, New York Times" Notable Book author Mark Ribowsky takes a cohesive and penetrating look at the enduring legacy of one of the greatest groups in popular music. He examines the lives of the Temptations' many members and takes you behind the scenes to discover the truth behind the major events of the group's Motown prime, from 1961 to 1974.

Ribowsky draws on in-depth research and probing new interviews with well-known Motown veterans, famly members, and friends to create accurate and compelling portraits of complex, sometimes troubled-yet always talented-personalities. He traces the group's history from its pre-Motown years, through the glory days of "My Girl" and "Just My Imagination," to their pioneering and immensely popular early funk recordings, including "Papa Was a Rolling Stone" and "Cloud Nine." Venturing beyond the money and the fame, he tells a powerful true story of sometime allies, sometime rivals and reveals the unique push-and-pull, give-and-take dynamic that resulted in musical genius.

From the sharp suits, stylish choreography and distinctive vocals that epitomized their onstage triumphs to the personal failings and psychodramas that have played out behind the scenes, Ribowsky tells the whole story of this most popular--and tragic--of all Motown supergroups. You'll discover the truth behind the deaths of David Ruffin and Paul Williams, Ruffin's tumultuous romance with Tammi Terrell and the secret "can't miss" formula that generated dozens of Temptations hits. You'll also hear plenty from the line that connects all of these dots: Temptations founder and only surviving member Otis Williams. Including photos of the Temptations then and now, "Ain't Too Proud to Beg" is the definitive biography of Motown's brightest stars. It is essential reading for Temptation's fans, Motown lovers and anyone interested in the history of American popular culture over the last fifty years.

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Praise for Mark Ribowsky

"A dishy, insider look at Berry Gordy's making of the Supremes...Ribowsky nicely intersperses some hindsight reflections by the main players...In this engaging, vivacious account, Ribowksy energetically and thoroughly underscores the Supremes' significance as one fo the first crossover successes."
--"Publishers Weekly" on "The Supremes: A Saga of Motown Dreams, Success and Betrayal"

"Perfect...The virtue of Ribowsky's book is that he brings the story down to earth without sacrificing its drama. Relying on frank and extensive interviews...Ribowsky spends time on details other writers have taken for granted."
--Greil Marcus on "He's a Rebel: Phil Spector--Rock and Roll's Legendary Producer"

"Ribowksy's exploration of Wonder's music is first-rate."
--"Publishers Weekly" on "Signed, Sealed, Delivered: The Soulful Journey of Stevie Wonder"

The Definitive Biography of Motown's Greatest Group-The Temptations

Based on in-depth research and interviews with fouding Temptations member Otis Williams, family members, industry figures and others, "Ain't Too Proud to Beg" takes a penetrating look at the lives and enduring legacy of Motown's all-time bestselling group. Whether you're a Temptations fan, a Motown aficionado or a pop-culture buff, you must read this book.

Author Biography

Mark Ribowsky is the "New York Times" Notable Book author of "The Supremes: A Saga of Motown Dreams, Success, and Betrayal, He's a Rebel: Phil Spector--Rock and Roll's Legendary Producer, Don't Look Back: Stachel Paige in the Shadows of Baseball, " and "Signed, Sealed, Delivered: The Soulful Journey of Stevie Wonder." He has written for "SPORT" magazine and "Inside Sports, " was a staff writer for "TV Guide, " and has been a semi-regular contributor to "Playboy" and "Penthouse." Mr. Ribowsky has been a guest on "Dateline NBC, Primetime Live" (ABC), "Connie Chung, Geraldo Rivera, The Tavis Smiley Show, " and many other network and cable TV shows. He lives in New York.