Ain't Too Proud To Beg: The Troubled Lives and Enduring Soul of The Temptations

by Mark Ribowsky

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.

Genres: Music, Biography, History, Nonfiction

336 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Mark Ribowsky is the author of seven books, including the New York Times Notable Book Don't Look Back: Satchel Paige in the Shadows of Baseball. He lives in Plainview, New York.

Reviews

[Carol Storm · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book so much! So many people know the SOUND of the Temptations, but few know the stories behind the music. Mark Ribowsky does an amazing job describing who the Temptations were, where they came from, and how the music they made was enriched by the hard times these talented, tragic, volatile, visionary black men experienced in their lives.

Otis Williams, the sole surviving original Temptation, is the focus of this book. He furnished most of the inside information. But it's amazing how the doomed lead singers, David Ruffin and Eddie Kendricks, come to life in these pages. The way the Temptations sang -- three, four, five, clashing voices battling out over a growling, funky, beat and wailing horns -- really becomes easier to understand once you read about how violently these men clashed off stage. Fights over women, fights over drugs, fights with hands, feet, broken bottles -- all that sweat and blood just poured into the music, making the Temptations the greatest soul group of all time!

I would recommend this book to anyone who has ever listened to Motown music, the Temptations, or rock music of the Sixties. You can't understand the Beatles or the Rolling Stones without listening to the Temptations!

[Dave Schwensen · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Temptations never fail to bring back great memories of Motown in its prime. The Supremes are always billed as the top group in Berry Gordy’s stable of acts from the mid 1960′s, but The Temptations were the soul of the label. David Ruffin and Eddie Kendricks were the voices that put the act at the top of the R&B and pop charts, while Otis Williams was the glue that held them together. Melvin Franklin and Paul Williams were just as valuable in forming the classic line-up and Dennis Edwards was the voice that kept them going into the 1970′s.

If this book had only concentrated on those personalities, their relationships with each other and career with Motown, it would be a must read for all music fans. Instead it’s the music that made it more of a confusing read – and who would’ve ever thought that would be a problem for any project dealing with The Temptations?

There are insights about almost every song recorded by the group. And with a history nearing a half century, it’s too much. Sticking with the greatest hits – or even putting their career in perspective by also mentioning not so greatest hits would have been enough. As a reader, I would have liked this book to concentrate mostly on the men who made up The Temptations.

It’s there – don’t get me wrong. But readers must go through too many song details to find it. Each member of the classic line-up is worthy of a biography. The highs and lows, triumphs and tragedies, massive egos and personal despair are all here. And it’s not sugar coated. It also sets the record straight when compared to the 1990′s movie that relied on too much creative license.

The most interesting, of course, is David Ruffin. Blessed with massive talent and showmanship, he runs through this book like a drug-crazed madman bent on self destruction. Kendricks and Paul Williams also ride a roller coaster of success and failure, while Otis and Melvin hang on for dear life. The villain in this is Berry Gordy. The group simmers with anger over money and career direction, but could never find the same success without their close ties to Motown.

That in itself should be the story. Much of their music is classic and no story about The Temptations would be complete without mentioning it. It’s just that this book shouldn’t have mentioned ALL of it.

[Valarie S Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ain't Too Proud to Beg definitely stirs up the soul, as the great times transcend rather quickly into devastation. Ribowsky impeccably weaves together accounts, interviews, and records, and creates a seamless tale of success and pain. While reading this book you grow up with the Temptations, you fall in love with each one, and on the flip side a part of you dies when their journeys on this earth ends all in tragedy (even though you may know how it will end). You'll learn things you never knew about the original five as myths from the movie "Temptations" are dispelled. Ain't Too Proud to Beg will have you laughing and crying. Ribowsky knows his music, beats, and instruments and explains them so well that you will find yourself singing along to those Temptation classics. I do not believe that the story of the Temptations could have been recorded any better. Ribowsky exhausted all avenues possible in telling the tale of a group with only one surviving original member. I recommend this book to Temptation and/or Motown fans, music industry buffs, and history lovers. And to those who read avidly about Motown I felt Ribowsky laid his own opinions about Berry Gordy aside and put both sides of the argument on the table. He leaves it for you to decide if Gordy financially, mentally, or emotionally drained the Motown acts or did he help them.
The way this drama was compiled and the leg work that Ribowsky did made me more than happy. As a fan who has read and interviews by Otis, and even Kendrick and Ruffin, I am so please with what I was given. My heart took a beating and I was depressed at times but I loved this book.

[Antony Fitzpatrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

If there are any lovers of old R&B out there then you have to read this book.

Despite listening to the likes of The Tempts for most of the years since I first took an interest in this music, I don't think you can really appreciate music until you understand where it comes from and what the people who made it went through to get where they did. And having read this book everytime I listen to one of their songs now it's with a completely new level of appreciation.

Without breaking any spoilers, the story of the Temptations more successful members is on the whole a rather sad one for a variety of reasons. In a world where so many more bands had their dreams crushed than recognised, its astounding to think how many times there nearly wasnt a Temptations at all.

This book thoroughly details the lives of the bands members, the long road of struggle and pain it took to finally make it, the rise of Gordy's Motown label and the stir it caused in the band, and much more. A very worthwhile read.

[Alaase Mahalah · Rating 5 out of 5]

When one of my library friend's, JP, gave me the first choice at the new books they'd gotten for black history month, this book was among the ones that screamed: "MUST READ". Having watched the 1998 miniseries repeatedly I thought I knew the Temptations, but as James Baldwin famously stated, "the more you learn, the more you find out how little you know"! In "Ain't to Proud to Beg", Mark Ribowsky takes fans on an unprecedented look into the tragic histories that shape the lives of Otis Williams, Eddie Kendricks, Paul Williams, Melvin Franklin and, of course, David Ruffin! Ribowsky sets each page to music with tidbits about not only the faces of the Temptation but all the little knobs that came together to make that classic Motown sound. Although the individuals felt so familiar to me, there was surprising information about their struggles and triumphs on each page. "Ain't Too Proud to Beg" is a must-read for Temptation lovers across generations.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

While reading this I realized that my problem is that I've never read a bio about a musical GROUP. I've read Lennon, Michael Jackson, Ozzy, Sinatra, Hendrix, Joplin etc. and took this book up only because there is no biography written about The David Ruffin. That is an obscene omission if you ask me.

Anyway, this book was fairly interesting but I did find it astonishing when the author threw in the comment that Ruffin was unable to keep his pants zipped. C'mon already. None of them were abstaining and idk if ANY popular music stars walk the line. Again, this was not a bio on just one Temptation, but very slanted when only one Tempt is around to assist the author writing it.

I'd have loved it if Ruffin's idea of an autobio of his life would've became a reality. This is not that.

What this book does excel at is reviewing the songs of this larger than life musical group that dominated radio in my youth.

[Sandy · Rating 2 out of 5]

After seeing the Broadway show, I was very interested in this story. Unfortunately, the book was a disappointment. The author was more interested in trying to impress his readers with his inside knowledge and his own “coolness” than in trying to tell a straightforward story. I did learn a lot about the recording industry and the early days of Motown. All fascinating. I just wish there had been less hyperbole and fewer breathlessly long gossipy sentences.

[Donna F Cerullo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this more than once

This book tells it all. These men,absolutely singing giants with their personal human errors of judgement, are to be honored with the highest praise of jobs well done. I remember my teen years when black performers were taken advantage of and being at the wrong place at the wrong time could mean an end to their life as they knew it. Kudos to the Tempts and Otis for following their desire to sing. What we would have missed!

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

I still like Ribowsky's biographies, and this one, too. It had kind of a weird structure to it, due to the nature of The Temptations' careers. Also, I haven't seen him work with a primary source as much as he does Otis Williams here. Still worth a read, though, if you're interested in Motown.

[Colin · Rating 5 out of 5]

so much sadness behind one of the best groups ever .

[Steve Herreid · Rating 2 out of 5]

A few interesting tidbits of information about this amazingly talented group. The book was OK.

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent bio, but just absolutely brutal treatment of David Ruffin and his substance abuse and mental wellness issues.

[I Be Reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Temptations are my favorite group of all time so I was really needing the author to not mess this up. But he did an excellent job overall. The only thing I could do without was his personal input and opinion on events that happened with the group members and Motown; it was unwarranted and in some instances, inappropriate (he made a reference to Paul Williams' death that I thought was supremely tacky and insulting. In the great words of Leon as David Ruffin in the "Temptations" movie, "Ain't nobody coming to see you, Mark!"). I was reading that book for facts about the Temptations, not what Mark Ribowsky thought about what happened.


Overall, though, this was five stars.

[Steven · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sad and troubled story on the lives of one of my favorite soul groups the Temptations. For the most part I enjoyed reading the author's rendition of each of the original member's lives, their tragic fates and how they each played a role in making the group the success that they were. I thought I knew most of their hits but evidently not, which was the part that I found kind of boring. But overall I did enjoy the book.

[Bob · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although members of the band and others had input into this book, they did not having editing power, so we get a hard hitting bio of The Temptations, with little glossed over. That which is factual is presented as such, and speculation is presented that way. A nice selection of pictures is included, and my appetite has been whetted for other works by this author.

[Sheena]

Interesting Read. After seeing the movie on tv so often it was interesting to read what really happened within the group.

[CHARLOTTE HALL · Rating 1 out of 5]

I will never order another book from you. This book is garbage. And in error.