Rites held for Melvin Franklin, original Temptations member

Jet, March 13, 1995

Services were recently held in Hollywood Hills, CA, for Melvin Franklin, one of the original members of the legendary Motown group the Temptations.

Franklin died of heart failure at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. He was 52.

Franklin stopped performing with the group last July because of his health. He was admitted to the hospital Feb. 17, after having suffered a series of brain seizures at his home.

"He had suffered the seizure before he was brought in by paramedics,' said Ron Wise, a spokesman for the hospital. "He was unconscious when he came in and never regained consciousness (after six days). He had a history of diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis. He appeared to have several medical complaints," Wise said.

Born Oct. 12,1942, in Montgomery, AL, Franklin was a member of the Elgins, renamed the Primes, and began recording for Motown in 1960. The group became the Temptations two years later.

Formed in Detroit, the original group members were Franklin, Otis Williams, Eddie Kendricks, Paul Williams, and Eldridge Bryant, who was with the group before they became recording stars. David Ruffin later joining the group replacing Bryant.

Their many bits included The Way You Do The Things You Do, My Girl, Just My Imagination, Get Ready, Since I Lost My Baby, and Papa Was A Rolling Stone.

By 1982, the Tempts had sold some 22 million records. The group also had 43 top 10 singles over 25 years.

Only Otis Williams remains as an original member. In a press release, Williams said of Franklin: "He win be missed by all the world he touched. He win be in my heart as long as I live. He will always be my partner and in his name the Temptations will continue on."

Franklin is survived by his wife, Kimberly; mother, Rose Franklin, five children, David English Jr., Davette English, Felicia Johnson, and Niquos and LaRissa Douglas; two brothers, Willard (Jiggs) and Michael Franklin; and two sisters, Beverly Miller and Audrey Franklin.