I always wondered at point I was trying to look up the group The Five Heartbeats.
shareThe Five heartbeats is based off the group The Dells, which sings House for love on the soundtrack.
shareThe old VHS I have said the group was based on multiple groups. The Temptations, the a Dells and another group I can't name off the top of my head.
Eddie Kane is unmistakably David Ruffin.
The plot of the film is loosely based on the lives of several artists: The Dells, The Temptations, Four Tops, Wilson Pickett, James Brown, Frankie Lymon, Sam Cooke and others. The Film made me think about The Temptations, my favorite vocal group. There were five Tempts. Eddie KING Jr. was a great singer with a drug problem much like the late David Ruffin from The Tempts. There was a scene when Eddie showed up at a Heartbeats gig after he was kicked out of the group. Ruffin showed up at Tempts gigs for about a month after he was kicked out of the group. Leon Robinson played J.T. in "The Five Heartbeats". In 1998 Leon Robinson would go on to play Ruffin in "The Temptations" TV miniseries and was terrific. Dresser did the choreography for the Heartbeats early in their career just like the late Paul Williams with the Tempts.
A lot of people say "The Five Heartbeats" was about The Dells. I must admit I don't know their music very well. But they were together many years. I am more knowledgeable about the Four Tops. Lead singer Levi Stubbs and groupmates Abdul "Duke" Fakir, Renaldo "Obie" Benson and Lawrence Payton remained together for over four decades, having gone from 1953 until 1997 without a change in personnel. Fakir is the only surviving founding member of the original group and Lawrence Payton's son is a second generation member. The Temptations continue to perform and record with one living original member, Otis Williams, still in the lineup. The Temptations and Four Tops have a co-headlining tour coming up. My bro said it should be called The TEMPS and The One Top. He is entitled to his opinion. I like that the beautiful music of two historic groups is being kept alive. The Tempts and Tops are T'n'T - dyn-o-mite!
Interestingly, there are SIX Temptations inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame & Museum (1989).
David Ruffin brought a raspy, gospel-style tenor and fervent showmanship to the Temptations, serving as a perfect complement to the group’s vocal blend, which included Kendricks’ high tenor, Otis Williams’ middle tenor, Paul Williams’ baritone and Melvin Franklin’s deep bass voice. They liked to refer to themselves as “five lead vocalists.” This was the Temptations’ classic lineup, lasting from 1964 to 1968. Dennis Edwards is also included as an Inductee.
Yes, the Five Heartbeats had the happy ending that the Temptations didn't have.
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