Melvin Franklin: Quick Facts

Blue was the nickname given to Melvin Franklin by his followers. Franklin was an American bass singer and a founding member of the Motown singing group The Temptations, for those who don’t know. Furthermore, even though he is no longer among us, his memories and music live on. As a result, take advantage of this opportunity to learn more about this incredible musician and his life, including his childhood, personal development, and more. Melvin Franklin, popularly known as “Blue,” was an American singer who was a founding member of The Temptations, a Motown singing group. He was also recognized for his low-range singing, which earned him the moniker “bass singer.”

What is the net worth of Melvin Franklin?

Melvin Franklin has net worth around $3 million as of 2022.

Age, childhood, and family

In terms of his youth, David Melvin Franklin was born in Montgomery, Alabama, in the United States of America. Rose English, his mother, was born on October 12, 1942, in Mobile County, Alabama.Franklin was also created through a non-consensual relationship, and his real father was a pastor in the English family’s church. Melvin’s mother married Willard Franklin and moved to Detroit shortly after his birth.

Melvin, on the other hand, stayed with his grandmother until he was ten years old and then moved in with his mother. Melvin adopted his stepfather’s surname after that Franklin attended Northwestern High School, but before graduating, he joined The Elgins, a singing group led by Otis Williams, a classmate.

Elbridge Bryant, Paul Williams, and Eddie Kendricks were all members of the group, which was created in late 1960.

Franklin, meanwhile, had an early interest in music and was a member of various singing groups, including The Voice Masters, back in Detroit. He also collaborated with artists such as Lamont Dozier, David Ruffin, and Richard Street.

The Temptations’ Music Career

Melvin has come a long way and achieved his goals, from having a passion for singing to becoming a well-known vocalist. The band, The Elgins, signed with Motown Records under a different name in March 1961, according to the bass vocalist.

Melvin was dubbed “Blue” by his bandmates because of his affinity for this color. The youthful singer was not only a vocalist, but also a founding member.

Songs like The Temptations Sing Smokey(1965), Getting Ready(1966), The Temptations with a Lot o’Soul(1967), The Temptations Wish It Would Rain(1968), and others can be found on the group’s early albums. Many of their singles were a smash, and several of them even reached the top of the charts. Franklin’s song “I Truly Believe” from “The Temptations Wish It Would Rain” was also a great hit.

But ‘The Way You Do Things You Do,’ from 1964, has to be one of their most popular tunes. The song also charted in France, the United Kingdom, and Canada, peaking at number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Beauty is Only Skin Deep, their second track, was a hit as well. The group, on the other hand, has a lot more popular tunes under their belt. I Wish It Would Rain (1967), Run Away Child, Running Wild (1969), Just My Imagination (1971), and Masterpiece (1971) are some of their other single hits (1973).

His deep vocals quickly became one of the band’s hallmark features, and he remains one of the most well-known bass singers in the industry.

Other Works by Melvin Franklin

Franklin performed as a voice actor in addition to singing and being a member of the successful singing group. His deep voice was perfect for voicing characters like ‘Wheels,’ a prominent character in the animated series Pole Position.

Franklin also participated in Sky Bandits, a British adventure film released in 1986.The plot featured two bandits who enlist in the Royal Air Force and later fly gunbuses, which are a type of warplane.

Unfortunately, the film was a box office disappointment, grossing only $3 million on a $18 million budget. Similarly, NBC aired a mini-series based on the group called “The Temptations” in 1998. Melvin was also portrayed by actor DB Woodside.

Achievements and Awards

Melvin and his band, The Temptations, were elected into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1989, making them one of the most well-known groups of the time.

In addition, in 2013, the group was inducted into the official R&B Hall of Fame. In addition, his widow got the Lifetime Achievement Award for the late artist in the same year.

Relationship status

Melvin Franklin was a married guy who was a singing legend and a well-respected one at that. He was also married to Kimberly and had six lovely children with her. When it comes to his family, though, little information has been revealed. Their names and whereabouts remain unknown at this time.

The singer’s married life, on the other hand, is a complete mystery. Similarly, we have no idea when or how they met or tied the knot.

What caused Melvin Franklin’s death?

Despite his fame as a vocalist, Franklin’s life was marked by ups and downs, particularly in terms of his health. It all began when he was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, a long-term inflammatory disease that affects joints, in late 1960.

During the early stages of the illness, the singer used cortisone to keep performing with his band. However, his immune system became weakened as a result of his regular usage of cortisone, making him susceptible to various ailments.

Melvin developed diabetes in the early 1980s and eventually developed necrotizing fasciitis as a result. To make matters worse, a thief shot him in the hand and leg as he attempted to steal his car. Franklin was unable to participate in other group activities due to the deadly tragedy that occurred in Los Angeles.

Melvin then went into a coma on February 15, 1995, after suffering many seizures, and remained in it until his death on February 23, 1995. The beloved singer is currently buried in Los Angeles’ Forest Lawn Memorial Park.

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