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{{Short description|American singer-songwriter and country folk musician (1970–2020)}}
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{{refimprove|date=September 2020}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2020}}
'''Bruce Williamson Jr.''' (September 28, 1970 – September 6, 2020<ref name="daily-news">{{Cite web |last=Sblendorio |first=Peter |title=The Temptations singer Bruce Williamson dead at 49 after coronavirus battle |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/coronavirus/ny-coronavirus-bruce-williamson-temptations-singer-dead-20200907-pfxu657xkrhtfobsost36dcbca-story.html |access-date=2020-09-07 |website=nydailynews.com}}</ref>) was an [[United States|American]] [[R&B]] and [[Soul music|soul]] singer and a onetime lead singer for [[The Temptations]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mississauga.com/what's%20on/article/159691--temptations-offer-a-rare-treat|title=Temptations offer a rare treat|date=31 October 2009|publisher=Mississauga.com|accessdate=21 May 2010}}</ref>
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{{more citations needed|date=September 2020}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Bruce Williamson
| image =
| caption = Bruce Williamson
| birth_name = Bruce Alan Williamson Jr.
| birth_date = {{Birth date|mf=yes|1970|09|29}}
| birth_place = [[Los Angeles]], [[California]], U.S.
| death_date = {{Death date and age|mf=yes|2020|09|06|1970|09|29}}
| death_place = {{nowrap|[[Las Vegas]], [[Nevada]], U.S.}}
| origin =
| instrument = {{hlist|Vocals}}
| genre =
| occupation = Singer
| years_active =
| label =
| associated_acts = [[Temptations]]
| website =
}}
'''Bruce Alan Williamson Jr.''' (September 29, 1970 – September 6, 2020) was an American [[R&B]] and [[Soul music|soul]] singer and a one-time lead singer for [[The Temptations]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mississauga.com/what's%20on/article/159691--temptations-offer-a-rare-treat|title=Temptations offer a rare treat|date=October 31, 2009|publisher=Mississauga.com|access-date=May 21, 2010|archive-date=March 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303231108/http://www.mississauga.com/what's%20on/article/159691--temptations-offer-a-rare-treat|url-status=dead}}</ref>


==Biography==
== Career ==
Williamson had shown interest in joining the legendary [[The Temptations|Temptations]] music group since 1994. In an effort to help sign a fellow Vegas group to a label, Williamson's manager Dave Wallace introduced Williamson to long-time Temptations vocalist [[Ron Tyson]]. After listening to Williamson sing, Tyson mentored him and tried to have Williamson become a member of the Temptations for over a decade. Williamson later explained, "[[Otis Williams]] was initially against me joining the group, because he thought I was too big and too young," but Williams eventually relented allowing him to enter the group.<ref name="LasVegasBlackImage">{{cite web |last=Bailey-Tureaud |first=Kimberly |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200907222403/http://lasvegasblackimage.com/2013/02/bruce-williamson-with-the-temptations-las-vegas-entertainer-finds-a-home-in-music-history/?_ga=2.167194683.403846620.1599515364-2129401971.1598585044 |url=http://lasvegasblackimage.com/2013/02/bruce-williamson-with-the-temptations-las-vegas-entertainer-finds-a-home-in-music-history/?_ga=2.167194683.403846620.1599515364-2129401971.1598585044 |title=Bruce Williamson: With the Temptations, Las Vegas entertainer finds a home in music history |work=Las Vegas Black Image |url-status=live |archive-date=September 7, 2020 |date=February 1, 2013 |access-date=September 7, 2020}}</ref>
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Born and raised in [[Los Angeles, California]], Bruce started singing in church at a young age. Williamson's love for music began after experiencing jealousy over his cousin's frequent choir leads. Having sung gospel music for most of his life, he also began singing R&B music in local clubs. Williamson later took his talent to the famous [[Las Vegas, Nevada|Las Vegas]] Strip, fronting the popular cover, funk band, BlackBerry Jam.


Williamson had shown interest in joining the legendary [[The Temptations|Temptations]] music group since 1994. In an effort to help sign a fellow Vegas group to a label, Williamson made a contact and friendship in Temptations vocalist [[Ron Tyson]]. In 2006, Williamson first learned from Tyson that he was a member of the group but said he was in denial of it until founding member [[Otis Williams]] called to tell him the news himself. Many of the Temptations' fans learned of Williamson's entry after former member [[G.C. Cameron]] told a [[New York City]] radio station that he was leaving the group to continue his solo career. Williamson has been quoted as saying that he had done "more in six months of being a Temptation than many artists have done in a lifetime." Williamson appeared on the group's recent albums, ''[[Back to Front (The Temptations album)|Back to Front]]'' and ''[[The Temptations discography|Still Here]]'', and has participated in many public events with The Temptations including countless concerts, TV appearances, and a cameo in [[Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story]].
Many of the Temptations' fans learned of Williamson's entry after former member [[G.C. Cameron]] told a [[New York City]] radio station that he was leaving the group to continue his solo career. Williamson has been quoted as saying that he had done "more in six months of being a Temptation than many artists have done in a lifetime." Williamson appeared on the group's recent albums, ''[[Back to Front (The Temptations album)|Back to Front]]'' and ''[[The Temptations discography|Still Here]]'', and participated in many public events with the Temptations, including countless concerts, TV appearances, and a cameo in ''[[Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story]]''.


Williamson left the Temptations in 2015, citing weight problems and wanting to record a [[gospel music|gospel]] album. He was replaced by former [[Tower of Power]] vocalist Larry Braggs.<ref>{{cite web|last=Haffenden|first=George|title=New Line-Up Of The Temptations Revealed|url=http://thefunkandsoulrevue.com/new-line-up-of-the-temptations-revealed/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160129164225/http://thefunkandsoulrevue.com/new-line-up-of-the-temptations-revealed/|url-status=live|website=The Funk and Soul Revue|date=January 11, 2016 |archive-date=January 29, 2016|access-date=September 7, 2020}}</ref>
Williamson left the Temptations in 2015.


== Personal life and death ==
He was replaced by former [[Tower of Power]] vocalist Larry Braggs.
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Born and raised in [[Los Angeles|Los Angeles, California]], on September 29, 1970,<ref name="NYT">{{cite web|url = https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/15/obituaries/bruce-williamson-dead-coronavirus.html|title = Bruce Williamson Jr., a Latter-Day Temptation, Dies at 49|last = Steven|first = Kurutz|date = September 15, 2020|access-date = September 16, 2020|work = [[The New York Times]]|archive-url = https://archive.today/20200916065507/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/15/obituaries/bruce-williamson-dead-coronavirus.html|archive-date = September 16, 2020|url-status = live}}</ref> Bruce started singing in church at a young age.<ref name="LasVegasBlackImage" /> Williamson's love for music began after experiencing jealousy over his cousin's frequent choir leads. Having sung gospel music for most of his life, he also began singing R&B music in local clubs. Williamson later took his talent to the famous [[Las Vegas, Nevada|Las Vegas]] Strip, fronting the popular cover, funk band, BlackBerry Jam.


In August 2020, Williamson was diagnosed with [[COVID-19]] during the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Nevada]] after having recovered from [[gall bladder]] surgery. He died from complications of COVID-19 in [[Las Vegas]] on September 6, 2020, at age 49. At the time of his death, Williamson was working on R&B and gospel albums, one of which was with a reloaded BlackBerry Jam band entitled ''Send the Rain''.<ref>{{cite news |last=Wallis |first=Kim |title=Bruce Williamson, former lead singer of The Temptations, dies at 49 from COVID-19 |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2020/09/07/bruce-williamson-temptations-former-lead-singer-dies-covid/5740039002/ |work=[[USA Today]] |date=September 7, 2020 |access-date=September 7, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Sblendorio |first=Peter |title=The Temptations singer Bruce Williamson dead at 49 after coronavirus battle |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/coronavirus/ny-coronavirus-bruce-williamson-temptations-singer-dead-20200907-pfxu657xkrhtfobsost36dcbca-story.html |work=[[New York Daily News]] |date=September 7, 2020 |access-date=September 7, 2020}}</ref>
Williamson died on September 6, 2020 in [[Las Vegas]] after battling [[Coronavirus disease 2019|COVID-19]]. At the time of his death, Williamson was working on a gospel project with a reloaded BlackBerry Jam band entitled Send the Rain.


== References ==
== References ==
Line 17: Line 38:


==External links==
==External links==
* {{IMDb name|id=1772151}}
* {{AllMusic|class=artist|id=mn0001971987}}
* {{Discogs artist|Bruce Williamson Jr.}}
*[http://www.myspace.com/bigbrucemog Bruce Williamson's official MySpace page]
*[http://www.myspace.com/bigbrucemog Bruce Williamson's official MySpace page]


{{The Temptations}}
{{The Temptations}}
{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Williamson, Bruce}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Williamson, Bruce}}
[[Category:1970 births]]
[[Category:1970 births]]
[[Category:African-American singers]]
[[Category:2020 deaths]]
[[Category:American gospel singers]]
[[Category:American gospel singers]]
[[Category:American rhythm and blues singers]]
[[Category:American rhythm and blues singers]]
[[Category:The Temptations members]]
[[Category:The Temptations members]]
[[Category:Musicians from Los Angeles]]
[[Category:Singers from Los Angeles]]
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[[Category:21st-century American singers]]
[[Category:2020 deaths]]
[[Category:Deaths from the COVID-19 pandemic in Nevada]]
[[Category:Deaths from the COVID-19 pandemic in Nevada]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American male singers]]
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[[Category:21st-century American male singers]]

Latest revision as of 16:33, 1 July 2024

Bruce Williamson
Birth nameBruce Alan Williamson Jr.
Born(1970-09-29)September 29, 1970
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
DiedSeptember 6, 2020(2020-09-06) (aged 49)
Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
OccupationSinger
Instrument
  • Vocals

Bruce Alan Williamson Jr. (September 29, 1970 – September 6, 2020) was an American R&B and soul singer and a one-time lead singer for The Temptations.[1]

Career

[edit]

Williamson had shown interest in joining the legendary Temptations music group since 1994. In an effort to help sign a fellow Vegas group to a label, Williamson's manager Dave Wallace introduced Williamson to long-time Temptations vocalist Ron Tyson. After listening to Williamson sing, Tyson mentored him and tried to have Williamson become a member of the Temptations for over a decade. Williamson later explained, "Otis Williams was initially against me joining the group, because he thought I was too big and too young," but Williams eventually relented allowing him to enter the group.[2]

Many of the Temptations' fans learned of Williamson's entry after former member G.C. Cameron told a New York City radio station that he was leaving the group to continue his solo career. Williamson has been quoted as saying that he had done "more in six months of being a Temptation than many artists have done in a lifetime." Williamson appeared on the group's recent albums, Back to Front and Still Here, and participated in many public events with the Temptations, including countless concerts, TV appearances, and a cameo in Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story.

Williamson left the Temptations in 2015, citing weight problems and wanting to record a gospel album. He was replaced by former Tower of Power vocalist Larry Braggs.[3]

Personal life and death

[edit]

Born and raised in Los Angeles, California, on September 29, 1970,[4] Bruce started singing in church at a young age.[2] Williamson's love for music began after experiencing jealousy over his cousin's frequent choir leads. Having sung gospel music for most of his life, he also began singing R&B music in local clubs. Williamson later took his talent to the famous Las Vegas Strip, fronting the popular cover, funk band, BlackBerry Jam.

In August 2020, Williamson was diagnosed with COVID-19 during the COVID-19 pandemic in Nevada after having recovered from gall bladder surgery. He died from complications of COVID-19 in Las Vegas on September 6, 2020, at age 49. At the time of his death, Williamson was working on R&B and gospel albums, one of which was with a reloaded BlackBerry Jam band entitled Send the Rain.[5][6]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Temptations offer a rare treat". Mississauga.com. October 31, 2009. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved May 21, 2010.
  2. ^ a b Bailey-Tureaud, Kimberly (February 1, 2013). "Bruce Williamson: With the Temptations, Las Vegas entertainer finds a home in music history". Las Vegas Black Image. Archived from the original on September 7, 2020. Retrieved September 7, 2020.
  3. ^ Haffenden, George (January 11, 2016). "New Line-Up Of The Temptations Revealed". The Funk and Soul Revue. Archived from the original on January 29, 2016. Retrieved September 7, 2020.
  4. ^ Steven, Kurutz (September 15, 2020). "Bruce Williamson Jr., a Latter-Day Temptation, Dies at 49". The New York Times. Archived from the original on September 16, 2020. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
  5. ^ Wallis, Kim (September 7, 2020). "Bruce Williamson, former lead singer of The Temptations, dies at 49 from COVID-19". USA Today. Retrieved September 7, 2020.
  6. ^ Sblendorio, Peter (September 7, 2020). "The Temptations singer Bruce Williamson dead at 49 after coronavirus battle". New York Daily News. Retrieved September 7, 2020.
[edit]
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