Otis Williams, the last of The Temptations founding members, talks to Mick Burgess about UK visits since 1964

In October you're heading back over to the UK for a run of shows with the Four Tops. Are you looking forward to coming back?

I always, always love coming to the UK. I always think of it as my second home. The people here make us feel so at home. They love and appreciate the music and they have always strongly supported us. They are so loyal and dedicated. What's not to love about coming to the UK.

You must have played in the UK many times now. Can you remember the first time you came over here?

The first time was 1964. We came over to do some promotional work for Motown as it was starting to become really popular. From that point on we came over to the UK just about every year or 18 months or so. It's incredible that we are talking about 1964 and we are now in 2016. We have been so fortunate to be able to do what we love for so long.

You've been in the business a long time now. How many shows do you do a year these days?

I'd say that our work load now is about 30 weeks out of the year so it's still heavy going ,but we love what we do. It's hard work too. We do a lot of choreography in our shows. We aren't the type of group just to go out there and sing. People look for us doing all of those moves that we are known for.

The Temptations features yourself as the original member along with Ron Tyson, Terry Weeks, Larry Braggs (former Tower of Power) and Willie Greene Jr. Ron has been with you now for a mere 33 years. He had the daunting task of replacing Eddie Kendricks. What made Ron the right choice for The Temptations?

It's a combination of things and not just because Ron is a tenor like Eddie Kendricks, but a lot of it has to do with the makeup of the person. Ron is such a dedicated and loyal person to have in The Temptations and he is a good friend to us so it's a combination of things that makes him fit so well with us. He's just a wonderful person all the way around.

Your music has stood the test of time and has appealed to so many generations of music lovers. What do you think it is that has made your music so enduring?

It's a true testament that Motown songs are great songs. There's no gimmickry or tomfoolery, just great songs, great lyrics, great melodies which have been produced well and performed well and people have loved those songs for years for those reasons. That’s why Motown songs are still so popular after 50 years and will continue to be popular deep on into the 21st Century.

David and Eddie took the bulk of lead vocals in the early days then Dennis Edwards later on. You sang lead on songs like Don't Send Me Away (B-side to Loneliness Made Me Realize) and I Ain't Got Nothin’ (from All Directions) and Darling, Stand By Me (B-side to Up The Creek). Would you liked to have performed more lead vocals or were you satisfied with the others doing most of the leads?

I just wanted to work for the group. If the song called for it and the producer wanted me to do it then naturally I'd do it but I saw my role as the glue to hold everything together. I just wanted us to win rather than my ego take over. There was none of this, well he's had a lead so I got to have a lead. There was nothing like that. I just wanted to hold the group together and I guess that was my role. Everybody has a role to play and that was my role and I'm still trying to hold it together 56 years later.

You've been in the band right from the start and been the many line-up changes. Looking back which change had the biggest impact on the group at the time?

I don't think that I could pick any one line up change as everyone who has been in The Temptations has been really influential. Whether it's Eddie, David, Paul, Melvin Dennis, Theo, Ollie Woodson or any of the guys, I've always been surrounded by some great, talented performers. I have to give them all credit for The Temptations being able to be recognised as the greatest vocal group of all time. I've been surrounded by greatness all along and they have all contributed to what we have achieved over the years.

You've won Grammy's (one for Cloud 9) including a Lifetime Achievement Award, had Number One singles, have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and played for millions of people. Looking back over your career what is the highlight for you?

The most recent highlight was The Temptations last December singing Silent Night in the Oval Office in the White House with Barack Obama. That was a true highlight for me for us to be there with the first Black president of America and singing together. I might add that President Obama has a nice tenor voice. He's a nice looking fella and he's tall and I can imagine that he can dance too. That was one of the highlights but there's so many to be able to list them all.

You released your last studio album, Phoenix Rising, in 1998. Do you have plans to record a new one?

We are waiting to hear about certain material being put together for us and hopefully in the next month or so we'll be going in to the studio to do a new album and we hope to have that out sometime soon.

The Temptations and The Four Tops perform along with The Tavares at The Sage on the 20th October