Dennis Edwards was not in the original lineup of The Temptations, but joined after David Ruffin left the group and started a solo career. (This was after their major Motown years and before they began to retool in the 70’s. Otis Williams was the only original member that continued with the group through the 80’s and until the present day.) Dennis Edwards, like Ruffin, was the lead singer and decided to go on with a solo career of his own. I include him in my study because of his song “Don’t Look Any Further,” an R&B hit from 1984 with Siedah Garrett, who has worked with the King of Pop and Madonna.
The bassline from this song, along with the drums and horns from “Ashley’s Roachclip,” by Chuck Brown and The Soul Searchers, have been a wellspring of hip-hop samples over the last two decades. It stands on its own as a sexy R&B classic, but, along with the Shadows’ “Apache,” it has to be respected for its history as a sampling source. It’s important to know where it all comes from.
