Over the last few years THE TEMPTATIONS’ personnel has undergone several changes … and it seems the membership revolving door policy continues as the Emperors of Soul announce another change as JAWAN JACKSON is brought in to replace bass singer Willie Green who’d been in the group since 2016. No reasons were given for the change.
The new boy hails from Detroit and his recent history is in musical theatre. Indeed, he’s played the Tempts’ original bass man Melvin Franklin in two Broadway shows – ‘Ain’t Too Proud To Beg’ and ‘Motown, The Musical’.
Jackson says he is a lifelong Tempts fan: “It’s a childhood dream—I’ve been a fan of The Temptations for so long. During the Ain’t Too Proud days, a couple of us guys were always joking with [original Temptations member] Otis [Williams]: ‘If a spot ever opens up, call us.’ This time around, I got the phone call, and it wasn’t a joke. I got a lot of love for being Melvin. Now I get to be my actual self, bringing my own artistry to the Temptations. I’ll be carrying Melvin’s essence with me, of course, but I get to be Jawan.”
New boy Jackson made his live debut with the group in Seattle, yesterday 7th June, singing alongside Otis Williams, Ron Tyson, Terry Weeks and Anthony Grant. The group also announced a series of US dates in the Autumn and, of course, there’s their regular visit to the UK with old sparring partners, the Four Tops.
