The Temptations and The Four Tops to Play Stamford's Palace Theatre, 2/6

Stamford Center for the Arts continues its stellar season with R&B legends The Temptations and The Four Tops on Wednesday, February 6, 2013 at 8:00 PM at the Palace Theatre in Stamford. Tickets are on sale now at www.SCAlive.org.

An integral part of the Motown Machine in the 60's, The Temptations and The Four Tops brought that smooth R&B sound into pop music and created some of the most recognizable songs in music history, including "The Way You Do the Things You Do," "My Girl," "Baby I Need Your Lovin'," "I Can't Help Myself" and many more. The 2012-2013 season is made possible through the generosity of SCA's Season Sponsors Seaboard Properties, Inc. and The Whittingham Family.

The Temps began their musical life in Detroit in the early sixties. It wasn't until 1964 that the Smokey Robinson written-and-produced "The Way You Do the things You Do" turned the guys into stars. An avalanche of hits followed - "My Girl," "It's Growing," "Since I Lost My Baby," "Get Ready," "Ain't Too Proud to Beg," "Beauty Is Only Skin Deep," and "I Wish It Would Rain."

The classic lineup was Otis Williams, Melvin Franklin, Paul Williams, Eddie Kendricks and David Ruffin. Beyond the fabulous singing, The Temps became known for smooth stepping and flawless presentations. "The Temptations Walk" became a staple of American style. Millions of fans saw The Temptations as cultural heroes.

During the sixties and seventies, The Temps changed their sound to reflect the political turmoil of the era. Producer Norman Whitfield led the way. His Temptations hits, many featuring Dennis Edwards who had replaced David Ruffin, burned with intensity, such as "Runaway Child," "Cloud Nine," "I Can't Get Next to You," "Papa Was a Rolling Stone", and "Psychedelic Shack."

The current lineup consists of Otis Williams, Ron Tyson, Terry Weeks, Joe Herndon and Bruce Williamson. "The more we change," says veteran Ron Tyson, "the more we stay true to ourselves. We're about singing straight-up soul. It's a style that will live on forever."

The Four Tops' first Motown hit "Baby I Need Your Loving" in 1964 made them stars. Their songs, soulful and bittersweet, were across-the-board successes: "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)," a no. 1 R&B and Pop smash in 1965, is one of Motown's longest-running chart toppers; it was quickly followed by a longtime favorite, "It's The Same Old Song". Their commercial peak was highlighted by a romantic trilogy: "Reach Out I'll Be There," "Standing In The Shadows Of Love" and "Bernadette."

The Four Tops kept up a string of hits with ABC-Dunhill in the 70s: "Ain't No Woman (Like the One I've Got)," "Keeper of the Castle," "Are You Man Enough (from the movie Shaft In Africa)," "Sweet Understanding Love," "One Chain Don't Make No Prison" (later covered by Santana), "Midnight Flower" and the disco perennial "Catfish."

The Tops were at #1 again in 1980 with "When She Was My Girl," making them one of the few groups to have hits in three consecutive decades. They also scored R&B Top 40s with the ballads "Tonight I'm Gonna Love You All Over" and "I Believe In You and Me," the original version of the 1996 Whitney Houston smash hit.

In 1990, with 24 Top 40 pop hits to their credit, The Four Tops were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Though they would no longer have hits on record, the group continued to be a hit in concert, touring incessantly, a towering Testament to the enduring legacy of the Motown sound they helped shape and define.

For Rolling Stone's 2004 article "The Immortals - The Greatest Artists of All Time," Smokey Robinson remembered: "They were the best in my neighborhood in Detroit when I was growing up (and) The Four Tops will always be one of the biggest and the best groups ever. Their music is forever."

Tickets for The Temptations and The Four Tops on Wednesday, February 6, 2013 at 8:00 PM are $75, $65, & $50 (plus SCA handling charges) and are on sale now at www.SCAlive.org, charge by phone with major credit cards by calling the SCA Box Office at 203-325-4466 or in person at the Palace Theatre Box Office in downtown Stamford, CT. The Box Office is open Monday-Friday from 10am to 6pm.

For additional information visit the SCA website at www.SCAlive.org or call 203-325-4466.

The vision of the Stamford Center for the Arts is to be the regional arts center for exciting entertainment that enhances and enriches the cultural, educational, economic, and Social life of the community. The SCA strives to achieve this vision by demonstrating Integrity in all work and relationships, providing service and quality in all activities, fostering and promoting diversity of thought, ideas and culture, providing stewardship for the Stamford Arts community, emphasizing outreach in our community, and offering creativity in all endeavors. Major funding is provided by the Department of Economic & Community Development.