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'''Bruce Williamson Jr.''' (September 28, 1970 – September 6, 2020) was an [[United States|American]] [[R&B]] and [[Soul music|soul]] singer and a |
'''Bruce Williamson Jr.''' (September 28, 1970 – September 6, 2020) was an [[United States|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|accessdate=May 21, 2010|url-status=dead}}{{dead link|date=September 2020}}</ref> |
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== Career == |
== Career == |
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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 |
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 |accessdate=September 7, 2020}}</ref> |
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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 has participated in many public events with The Temptations including countless concerts, TV appearances, and a cameo in ''[[Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story]]''. |
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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.<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|archive-date=January 29, 2016|accessdate=September 7, 2020}}</ref> |
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Williamson left the Temptations in 2015. He was replaced by former [[Tower of Power]] vocalist Larry Braggs. |
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== Personal life and death == |
== Personal life and death == |
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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. |
Born and raised in [[Los Angeles, California]] on September 20, 1970,<ref>{{cite news |last=Pedersen |first=Erik |url=https://deadline.com/2020/09/bruce-williamson-dead-temptations-lead-singer-obituary-1234572210/ |title=Bruce Williamson Dies: Temptations Lead Singer In 2000s Was 49 |url-status=live |work=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |date=September 7, 2020 |accessdate=September 7, 2020}}</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. |
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In August 2020, Williamson was diagnosed with [[Coronavirus disease 2019|COVID-19]] after having recovered from [[gall bladder]] surgery. He died on September 6, 2020, in [[Las Vegas]] from complications of COVID-19. 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 |accessdate=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> |
In August 2020, Williamson was diagnosed with [[Coronavirus disease 2019|COVID-19]] after having recovered from [[gall bladder]] surgery. He died on September 6, 2020, in [[Las Vegas]] from complications of COVID-19. 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 |accessdate=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> |
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Revision as of 22:43, 7 September 2020
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (September 2020) |
Bruce Williamson Jr. (September 28, 1970 – September 6, 2020) was an American R&B and soul singer and a one-time lead singer for The Temptations.[1]
Career
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 has 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
Born and raised in Los Angeles, California on September 20, 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 after having recovered from gall bladder surgery. He died on September 6, 2020, in Las Vegas from complications of COVID-19. 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
- ^ "Temptations offer a rare treat". Mississauga.com. October 31, 2009. Retrieved May 21, 2010.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)[dead link] - ^ 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.
- ^ Haffenden, George. "New Line-Up Of The Temptations Revealed". The Funk and Soul Revue. Archived from the original on January 29, 2016. Retrieved September 7, 2020.
- ^ Pedersen, Erik (September 7, 2020). "Bruce Williamson Dies: Temptations Lead Singer In 2000s Was 49". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 7, 2020.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ 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.
- ^ Sblendorio, Peter (September 7, 2020). "The Temptations singer Bruce Williamson dead at 49 after coronavirus battle". New York Daily News. Retrieved September 7, 2020.
External links
- Bruce Williamson's official MySpace page
- Bruce Williamson discography at Discogs
