Former Temptation member Damon Harris (born Otis Robert Harris, Jr. died today at 7:17.pm at the age of 61. Harris was born on July 17, 1950 in Baltimore, Maryland. He took the place of Eddie Kendrick, one of the original lead singers of the Temptations group. Damon was so good in his replacement of Kendrick that people did not know Harris was the voice in the Grammy award-winning hit “Cloud Nine”, “Psychedelic Shack”, and other 70’s Temptations hits for a few months. His tenure was from 1971 to 1975. He was only Twenty years old when he joined the group, and was the youngest member of The Temptations during his occupation. Harris formed a Temptations tribute band named The Young Tempts (aka The Young Vandals).The group had a release that charted on the Isley Brothers label T-Neck. He also had a few minor regional hits in the group ‘Impact’.
Harris put out an album titled “Damon Harris: Silk” in the 70’s under Fantasy records after leaving the Temptations; he re-released the album under his own accord in 1995. He was diagnosed for cancer while making a comeback into the music industry. In 1997 the Motown Alumni Association started working with Harris on the creation of the Damon Harris Prostate Cancer Foundation in Canton, Michigan. Though the project did not fully materialize, Harris continued to nurture and built awareness on the devastating disease. Harris toured around the world with fellow future Temptations member Glenn Leonard.

REST HIS SOUL!

Damon had been sick for a while. May his soul be at rest.

Yes. Just received an e-mail from a friend who happened to be a close associate of his for many years and it was so sad to get the news. He has transcended. He had been sick for a long time. Here's a video of him speaking at a banquet for cancer survivors in 2011:

I know it sounds funny saying there's a Temptations curse but the number of deaths in that group are quite staggering:

Paul Williams (died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in 1973 at only 34)

Elbridge "Al" Bryant (original Temptations member; died of cirrhosis of the liver in 1975 at only 36)

David Ruffin (died of an "adverse reaction to drugs" in 1991 at only 50)

Eddie Kendrick(s) (died of lung cancer in 1992 at only 52)

Melvin Franklin (died from complications of a seizure in 1995 at only 52)

Ricky Owens (who was only in the group for a brief time before Damon Harris replaced him; died in 1996 at 57)

Ray Davis (also of Funkadelic and Zapp; died of respiratory problems in 2005 at 65; so far the oldest Temptations member to die)

Harry McGilberry (died of a drug overdose at only 56 in 2006)

Ali-Ollie Woodson (died of leukemia at 58 in 2010)

(Now) Damon Harris (died of prostate cancer at 62 in 2013)

[Edited 2/18/13 20:20pm]

I'm still surprised that they went through all those line-up changes over a course of six decades now. It's what...35 members (past and current) of the Tempts? Crazy.

silverchild said:

I'm still surprised that they went through all those line-up changes over a course of six decades now. It's what...35 members (past and current) of the Tempts? Crazy.

I believe so but I gotta count...

I counted about 23...

Timmy84 said:

I counted about 23...

Oh ok. That's still a big number. Wow.

Now blasting Damon's finest hour with The Tempts. Remarkable album, by the way.

silverchild said:

Timmy84 said:

I counted about 23...

Oh ok. That's still a big number. Wow.

Between 1960 and 2007.

The originals were:

Otis Williams

Melvin Franklin

Al Bryant

Eddie Kendrick

Paul Williams

Al leaves, David Ruffin joins in '64.

Four years later, in '68, David is forced out and Dennis Edwards replaces him.

Eddie leaves in '71 after years of tension with Otis and Melvin mainly over their handling of Paul Williams' situation. Paul leaves shortly after that but is kept on the Tempts' payroll until his death. Ricky Owens and Richard Street (who had been subbing for Paul vocally) replaces them.

Ricky Owens is dismissed and Damon Harris joins in the same year.

Four years later, in 1975, Damon is replaced by Glenn Leonard.

The Temptations leave Motown in 1977 but not before replacing Dennis Edwards (who was at that point on drugs and is constantly arguing with Otis) with Louis Price.

The Atlantic period doesn't work out and Louis Price is replaced...by a returning Dennis Edwards and the group re-signs with Motown.

Eddie and David briefly return to the group for the 1982 "Reunion" effort and then leave. Years later they form Ruffin-Kendrick.

Glenn Leonard leaves the Tempts in 1983 and is replaced by Ron Tyson.

Dennis is fired a second time in 1984 and is replaced by Ali-Ollie Woodson...

...until 1987 when DENNIS comes back for a third and final time.

Dennis leaves for the final time in 1989 and Ali-Ollie Woodson again replaces him.

Richard Street is suddenly fired from the group in 1992 (both Richard and Otis have differing thoughts on why) and Theo Peoples is his replacement.

Melvin Franklin, Otis' best friend, is gravely ill and is forced to retire to deal with concurrent health issues (including numerous seizures, that would eventually claim him) in 1994. Ray Davis, who had just left Roger & Zapp, replaces him.

Ray Davis gets ill and is told to lay low and he's replaced by Harry McGilberry in 1995.

In 1997, Ali-Ollie is replaced by Terry Weeks.

A year later, before finishing their new Motown album, Phoenix Rising (including the hit "Stay", which Theo sung lead on), Theo suddenly either quits or leaves the Temptations. Barrington Henderson (who sings on the album's only track to include him, "How Could He Hurt You") replaces him, in 1998.

This lineup stays that way until 2003 when both Barrington Henderson and Harry McGilberry are fired (for different issues; with Harry, it was drug use); G.C. Cameron (of the Spinners) and Joe Herndon (of the Spaniels) replaces them.

G.C. leaves in 2007 to rejoin the Spinners (he left without issues with Otis) and Bruce Williamson replaces him.

So far the lineup of the Temptations are Otis Williams, Ron Tyson, Terry Weeks, Joe Herndon and Bruce Williamson.

lol I miscounted, it's 22.

guys did the author of this article make a mistake? b/c I have the Ed Sullivian Dvd where it's eddie singing cloud nine and Psychedelic Shack

[Edited 2/18/13 21:46pm]

HAPPYPERSON said:

guys did the author of this article make a mistaske? b/c I have the Ed Sullivian Dvd where it's eddie singing could nine and Psychedelic Shack

I just caught that. Whomever wrote this needs to check sources and I should've read through it before posting. I know my Tempts stuff.

silverchild said:

Now blasting Damon's finest hour with The Tempts. Remarkable album, by the way.

'love woke me up this morning.' heck, yeah!

rip to one of my fav clients in the business. mr harris thank you for your warm hospitaly.

WOW They went through alot of members. The original line up for me still includes David Ruffin.

Very sad to hear about Damon's passing. R.i.p

R.I.P.

oh wow...

The favorite tunes from him

HuMpThAnG said:

oh wow...

The favorite tunes from him

I gotta swipe that 1990 LP very soon. I like that joint "I Need You" and "Ain't No Justice."

silverchild said:

HuMpThAnG said:

oh wow...

The favorite tunes from him

I gotta swipe that 1990 LP very soon. I like that joint "I Need You" and "Ain't No Justice."

I wouldn't mind having it too. So it's this cat with the falsetto on Ain't No Justice.

I have the short version which is the b side of Let Your Hair Down one of my mom's 45s.

Norman Whitfield was ahead of his time with that sick beat on Ain't No Justice.

phunkdaddy said:

silverchild said:

I gotta swipe that 1990 LP very soon. I like that joint "I Need You" and "Ain't No Justice."

I wouldn't mind having it too. So it's this cat with the falsetto on Ain't No Justice.

I have the short version which is the b side of Let Your Hair Down one of my mom's 45s.

Norman Whitfield was ahead of his time with that sick beat on Ain't No Justice.

It's on cd as well

RIP

[Edited 2/20/13 9:39am]

Timmy84 said:

silverchild said:

Oh ok. That's still a big number. Wow.

Between 1960 and 2007.

The originals were:

Otis Williams

Melvin Franklin

Al Bryant

Eddie Kendrick

Paul Williams

Al leaves, David Ruffin joins in '64.

Four years later, in '68, David is forced out and Dennis Edwards replaces him.

Eddie leaves in '71 after years of tension with Otis and Melvin mainly over their handling of Paul Williams' situation. Paul leaves shortly after that but is kept on the Tempts' payroll until his death. Ricky Owens and Richard Street (who had been subbing for Paul vocally) replaces them.

Ricky Owens is dismissed and Damon Harris joins in the same year.

Four years later, in 1975, Damon is replaced by Glenn Leonard.

The Temptations leave Motown in 1977 but not before replacing Dennis Edwards (who was at that point on drugs and is constantly arguing with Otis) with Louis Price.

The Atlantic period doesn't work out and Louis Price is replaced...by a returning Dennis Edwards and the group re-signs with Motown.

Eddie and David briefly return to the group for the 1982 "Reunion" effort and then leave. Years later they form Ruffin-Kendrick.

Glenn Leonard leaves the Tempts in 1983 and is replaced by Ron Tyson.

Dennis is fired a second time in 1984 and is replaced by Ali-Ollie Woodson...

...until 1987 when DENNIS comes back for a third and final time.

Dennis leaves for the final time in 1989 and Ali-Ollie Woodson again replaces him.

Richard Street is suddenly fired from the group in 1992 (both Richard and Otis have differing thoughts on why) and Theo Peoples is his replacement.

Melvin Franklin, Otis' best friend, is gravely ill and is forced to retire to deal with concurrent health issues (including numerous seizures, that would eventually claim him) in 1994. Ray Davis, who had just left Roger & Zapp, replaces him.

Ray Davis gets ill and is told to lay low and he's replaced by Harry McGilberry in 1995.

In 1997, Ali-Ollie is replaced by Terry Weeks.

A year later, before finishing their new Motown album, Phoenix Rising (including the hit "Stay", which Theo sung lead on), Theo suddenly either quits or leaves the Temptations. Barrington Henderson (who sings on the album's only track to include him, "How Could He Hurt You") replaces him, in 1998.

This lineup stays that way until 2003 when both Barrington Henderson and Harry McGilberry are fired (for different issues; with Harry, it was drug use); G.C. Cameron (of the Spinners) and Joe Herndon (of the Spaniels) replaces them.

G.C. leaves in 2007 to rejoin the Spinners (he left without issues with Otis) and Bruce Williamson replaces him.

So far the lineup of the Temptations are Otis Williams, Ron Tyson, Terry Weeks, Joe Herndon and Bruce Williamson.

Damn good analysis Timmy!

His soaring falsetto sounded angelic to the ear. Up until recently I didn't know he contributed vocals to "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone", "Cloud Nine" and several other Temptations classics.

Identity said:

His soaring falsetto sounded angelic to the ear. Up until recently I didn't know he contributed vocals to "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone", "Cloud Nine" and several other Temptations classics.

not that one