Former Temptations lead singer Otis Williams is not as famous as some of the other stars minted by the legendary Motown supergroup, including David Ruffin and Eddie Kendricks, but he is the last living survivor. It is his 1988 book, "Temptations," that forms the basis of "Ain't Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations," the Broadway musical whose tour lands Tuesday at the Orpheum Theatre.
Actor Marcus Paul James, who was an in-cast standby for seven principal roles in the Broadway production of "Ain't Too Proud," plays Williams on the road. We caught up with him by phone last week when the tour was playing Kansas City, and James shared why he looks up to Williams.
"We call him Uncle O, because he checks in with us about every two weeks," James said. "And he's full of wisdom and encouragement, like how to take care of yourself on tour. When he says that we have to focus on the work, that's the most important thing, we listen. That's 60 years of experience talking."
James also talked about why the Tempts are special, both then and now, and why the audience should not sit silent during the show. The interview has been edited for clarity.
Q: Have you met Mr. Williams?
A: Living legend, that's what we call him. And, yes, he's been a part of the process from the beginning.
Q: I read that he once was engaged to Patti LaBelle and that that was called off because he wanted her to stay home and be a housewife?
A: I actually don't know about that. I only know things that pertain to the show. We ask him so many questions and he's such an open book. I find it kind of shocking that someone with such a career and experience will sit down, listen to your questions and answer them wholeheartedly.
Q: The nation was going through tremendous turmoil and yet the Tempts were bringing people together with music of such beauty.
A: I think Dominique Morisseau, the book writer, said something that always resonates with me. Just our presence as Black people at all was an act of activism. The fact that these Motown artists, especially the Tempts, were always looking good, always eloquent, made a statement. [Motown Records founder] Berry Gordy did a wonderful thing in making sure that the product was top-notch.
Q: When I saw the Broadway production, I found that the music drove the whole thing, without breathing. Talk to me about the pacing.
A: Look, we would be there for days if we told the story of what happened word for word. When you think about the experience of Motown, no one worked alone. There was always another group of people — like the Supremes and behind them, the Four Tops. There was so much happening that just one day would be a play in itself.
