On December 21, 1964, The Temptations released what is now considered one of the greatest love songs ever recorded.
Smokey Robinson and Ronald White wrote and produced the classic Motown hit “My Girl.” It went on to become the group's first No.1. It is now part of the National Registry of Records.
“I remember being in the studio, and we heard 'My Girl' for the first time,” Otis Williams, a founding member of the remaining group, told Fox News Digital.
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The Temptations, from left, David Ruffin, Melvin Franklin, Paul Williams, Otis Williams and Eddie Kendricks. (Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
“I was in the control room where Smokey was doing the production, and I said, 'Smoke, I don't know how big this record is going to be.' Now we were at Apollo. We got telegrams from the BeatlesBerry Gordy, The Supreme and Jules Podell, the guy who ran Copacabana. I still have four telegrams hanging in my house today.”
He thought: “They are very important to me. “I didn't think The Temps would get so much praise at first. We formed in 1961, but we didn't have a hit until 1964… The song put us on the map.”
When asked who the mystery girl behind the single is, Williams laughed and replied, “You'd have to ask that Smokey.”
Singer and songwriter Smokey Robinson rehearsing a song with the Temptations in their dressing room at the Apollo in 1964. (Don Paulsen/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
Williams recalled: “Smokey and his wife at the time, Claudette, saw us in the Detroit area, a very famous entertainment center called The 20 Grand. “They came to see us, and he was like, 'Man, you guys are dynamite.' Then he stood up and said, 'I have a song for you.' We were young and cocky, so we were like, 'Bring it on – we can sing anything.'
“My Girl” was a follow-up to another song written and produced by Robinson, Mary Wells' “My Guy,” Billboard.com report. The song is also celebrating its 60th anniversary.
Williams said the secret to the song's lasting impact is surprisingly simple.
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Otis Williams plays on stage in California. (Scott Dudelson/Getty Images)
“It has such a broad meaning,” he explained. “It's a song that relates to any event in life. When fathers give their daughters away at their weddings, it will always be his girl in a way.
“When a young man falls in love and a virgin, he will say, 'She is my girl.' It has many different meanings and conveys different emotions. It is not only passed on to a boy and a girl. It's a way of expressing love.”
“My Girl” and “Beauty is Only Skin Deep” featurettes in New York City. (Dom Emmert/AFP via Getty Images)
“It's just a beautiful song with simple lyrics – it's not offensive at all,” Williams continued. “It's a hymn that anyone can remember. That's why it's so important… It's a wonderful way to express what a man can feel about his wife… And that's what Motown when he believed in it – to have good songs with good lyrics that don't offend anyone.”
It was on March 6, 1965, that The Temptations' biggest hit, “My Girl,” hit #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart. (Universal Music Records)
And there's a lot that today's artists can learn from his generation, Williams insisted.
“Look, I always tell people that the one constant in life is change,” he explained. “I'm trying not to knock anybody trying to get their bones into show business. But I have to say this, I'm not impressed with some of the stuff I hear on the radio today.”
“When I hear the lyrics … I hear people cursing,” Williams said. “I hear a lot of derogatory language. Now, I believe in freedom of speech, but it's very reflective of where we are as a society today… You shouldn't hear swearing on the radio.”
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In 1989, The Temptations were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. (Universal Music Records)
“I believe in good words, words that don't offend and will touch anyone,” he shared. “That's why Motown was so good. They recorded great songs. They were called, 'Songs of America.'
“I know my time was a different time… but I don't like what I hear on the radio these days. I don't know what happened when things got so relaxed that you could hear people cursing or people talking about doing very bad things to these women they should not hear that.
At 83, Williams has no plans to slow down as a player.
“Look, I always tell people that the one constant in life is change. I'm trying not to knock anybody on their quest to make their bones in show business. But I have to say this, I'm not impressed with the things I hear on the radio today.”
On September 14, 1994, The Temptations were awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles, and on June 7, 2019, they were awarded a star on The Apollo Theatre's Walk of Fame in New York City. (Universal Music Group)
He said: “God has blessed me to do this for 64 years.” “I feel that being in show business is unique. You can reach a lot of people. You can give them hope. You can lift them up in times of trouble. So we will always try to be a good deed. treat our members secret and sing about doing this or that.”
Williams said: “We were taught that if you play with respect and dignity, you will always have people listening to you. “As long as you give a good performance and keep it healthy, you don't have to worry about it too much. We were pressured to respect our audience and ourselves.”
“My Girl” has already crossed the 1 billion streams mark on Spotify. Williams admitted to being surprised that a younger audience is discovering the song on social media.
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Temptations has surpassed 1 billion streams on Spotify. (Universal Music Records)
“God and his infinite wisdom brought us to that center — I truly believe that,” Williams said. “And this was a very special time in the '60s. Now, the '60s were crazy, just like us today… but it's a testament to the fact that a song can still be loved 60 years later.”
“… Our audience has grown up with us,” he shared. “We were young when we started, but look where we are now.”