Today we celebrate the life and legacy of Melvin “Blue” Franklin, born on this day in Montgomery, Alabama. His unmistakable bass anchored the Motown sound and helped define The Temptations’ timeless harmony. Forever missed. Forever heard. 🎶 #HappyBirthdayMelvinFranklin #TemptationsForever #MotownLegend #TheTemptations | Temptations

“Remembering the incomparable Melvin Franklin today on what would have been his 81st birthday. Melvin and I grew up together in Detroit and attended the same high school. As one of the founding members of the group, Melvin and I were very close up until the time we lost him. I still really miss him. As I said in my book, and it still holds true today, I will always carry on The Temptations in Melvin’s memory. He fought the good fights beside me, and shared in the triumphs, too. Everyone loved Me

This month in 1966, the Temptations released their single “Beauty Is Only Skin Deep” featuring the voices of Otis Williams, Melvin Franklin, Paul Williams, Eddie Kendricks, and David Ruffin. Written by the brilliant minds of Norman Whitfield and Edward Holland, Jr., and produced by Whitfield himself, the song spent 12 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No. 3 and was also a No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart. #ThrowbackThursday | Temptations