The Temptations and The Four Tops to Play Benedum Center, 5/13

R&B superstar groups The Temptations and The Four Tops will appear on stage together at the Benedum Center, on Sunday, May 13, 2012, at 7:00 p.m.  This concert is part of the Cohen and Grigsby Trust Presents series and is a presentation of The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust.  Both of these ever-popular groups have been entertaining generations of fans for more than half a century.  These multi-platinum artists will deliver an unforgetable night of entertainment- performing their greatest hits and more in a show that will feature their vocal harmonies, artistic style, and classic dance moves.  “It’s very hard to ignore the energy and delight they delivered to the crowd (Joel Francis, The Daily Record).” 
 
The Temptations began their career in the early 60s as members of the now-legendary Motown label, and have always featured at least five male vocalists/dancers. With the 1964 Top 20 hit “The Way You Do the Things You Do,” the group became a sensation.  Follow-up hits were equally as important to the group’s career such as “My Girl,” the group’s first number-one hit, and “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg.”  Later hits include “I’m Gonna Make you Love Me,” a duet with Diana Ross & The Supremes, “I Can’t Get Next to You,” a number-one pop hit, and “Papa was a Rollin’ Stone,” won the group one of their three Grammy Awards. 
 
Over the course of five decades, The Temptations have charted four Billboard number-one singles, as well as 14 R&B number-one singles. In 2008, Rolling Stone magazine named the group “one of the top 50 bands of all time.”  Otis Williams, the last original member still performing with the group, is now joined by Bruce Williamson, Joe Herndon, Terry Weeks, and Ron Tyson as the group continues the tradition of great Motown performances.  For more information about The Temptations, visit:www.thetemptations.com. 
 
Recording their first single for Chess Records in 1956, The Four Tops (Levi Stubbs, Abdul “Duke” Fakir, Renaldo “Obie” Benson, and Lawrence Payton) joined the roster of Motown in 1963, and two years later the group scored their first Billboard number-one hit with “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch).”  Following this first success was a stream of hit singles, including the group’s signature song “Reach Out and I’ll Be There” in 1966, which became their second Billboard number-one hit.
 
Since the mid-80s, The Four Tops have focused primarily on touring.  Unlike similar groups, the same four singers consistently performed as The Four Tops, until Lawrence Payton passed away in 1997.  In 2004, Rolling Stone Magazine ranked them #79 on their list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time, and they received the Lifetime Achievement Award as part of the 51st Annual Grammy® Awards. Today,Abul “Duke” Fakir, the surviving member of the original quartet, performs and records the music of The Four Tops alongside Payton’s son Roquel, Ronnie McNeir andSpike Valone.  For more information about The Four Tops, visit www.theforutopsoriginal.com.
 
 
Tickets ($40-$100) for the May 13, 2012 performance of The Temptations and The Four Tops at the Benedum Center may be purchased at the Box Office at Theater Square, 655 Penn Avenue, online atwww.TrustArts.org   or by calling (412) 456-6666. To purchase 10 or more tickets at special discounted rates, please call (412) 471-6930.