David Melvin English (October 12, 1942 â€" February 23, 1995) better
known by the stage name Melvin Franklin, or his nickname "Blue", was
an American bass singer. Franklin was best known for his role as a
founding member of Motown singing group The Temptations from 1960 to
1994.David English was born in Montgomery, Alabama to Rose English, a
teenage mother from nearby Mobile. His biological father was the
preacher of the English family's church in Mobile; he impregnated her
through rape. Following David's birth, Rose English married Willard
Franklin and moved to Detroit, her grandmother insisting young David
be left behind in her care. David English finally moved to Detroit
with his mother and stepfather in 1952 at age ten.Taking on his
stepfather's surname for his stage name as a teenager, David
Englishâ€"now Melvin Franklinâ€"was a member of a number of local
singing groups in Detroit, including The Voice Masters with Lamont
Dozier and David Ruffin, and frequently performed with Richard Street.
Franklin often referred to Street and Ruffin as his "cousins".In 1958,
a classmate of Franklin's at Northwestern High School (Michigan), Otis
Williams, invited Franklin to join his singing group, Otis Williams
and the Siberians. Franklin joined the group as its bass singer, and
remained with Williams and Elbridge Bryant when they, Paul Williams,
and Eddie Kendricks formed The Elgins in late 1960. In March 1961, the
Elgins signed with Motown Records under a new name; The Temptations.
He had a fondness for the color blue, and so he was nicknamed "Blue"
by fellow singers. According to Otis Williams, Franklin romantically
pursued Supremes singer Mary Wilson at one point.
known by the stage name Melvin Franklin, or his nickname "Blue", was
an American bass singer. Franklin was best known for his role as a
founding member of Motown singing group The Temptations from 1960 to
1994.David English was born in Montgomery, Alabama to Rose English, a
teenage mother from nearby Mobile. His biological father was the
preacher of the English family's church in Mobile; he impregnated her
through rape. Following David's birth, Rose English married Willard
Franklin and moved to Detroit, her grandmother insisting young David
be left behind in her care. David English finally moved to Detroit
with his mother and stepfather in 1952 at age ten.Taking on his
stepfather's surname for his stage name as a teenager, David
Englishâ€"now Melvin Franklinâ€"was a member of a number of local
singing groups in Detroit, including The Voice Masters with Lamont
Dozier and David Ruffin, and frequently performed with Richard Street.
Franklin often referred to Street and Ruffin as his "cousins".In 1958,
a classmate of Franklin's at Northwestern High School (Michigan), Otis
Williams, invited Franklin to join his singing group, Otis Williams
and the Siberians. Franklin joined the group as its bass singer, and
remained with Williams and Elbridge Bryant when they, Paul Williams,
and Eddie Kendricks formed The Elgins in late 1960. In March 1961, the
Elgins signed with Motown Records under a new name; The Temptations.
He had a fondness for the color blue, and so he was nicknamed "Blue"
by fellow singers. According to Otis Williams, Franklin romantically
pursued Supremes singer Mary Wilson at one point.
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