The Temptations Quiz Questions and Answers
Q1. In what year was The Temptations officially formed in Detroit, Michigan?
A. 1959
B. 1961
C. 1963
D. 1965
Answer: B. 1961
Q2. What was the original name of The Temptations before they signed with Motown?
A. The Primes
B. The Distants
C. The Elgins
D. The Supremes
Answer: C. The Elgins
Q3. Which two rival Detroit vocal groups merged to form the core of The Temptations?
A. The Miracles and The Contours
B. The Distants and The Primes
C. The Four Tops and The Vandellas
D. The Spinners and The Marvelettes
Answer: B. The Distants and The Primes
Q4. What vocal role did Melvin Franklin primarily handle in the group?
A. Tenor
B. Baritone
C. Bass
D. Falsetto lead
Answer: C. Bass
Q5. Which member provided the smooth falsetto leads on many early hits like “The Way You Do the Things You Do”?
A. David Ruffin
B. Dennis Edwards
C. Eddie Kendricks
D. Richard Street
Answer: C. Eddie Kendricks
Q6. Who replaced Elbridge “Al” Bryant as a tenor in the lineup in 1964?
A. Damon Harris
B. David Ruffin
C. Glenn Leonard
D. Ron Tyson
Answer: B. David Ruffin
Q7. Which Temptations member struggled with health issues related to sickle-cell disease and alcoholism, leading to his departure in 1971?
A. Paul Williams
B. Otis Williams
C. Theo Peoples
D. Ali-Ollie Woodson
Answer: A. Paul Williams
Q8. Who joined The Temptations in 1968 as lead singer, replacing David Ruffin?
A. Eddie Kendricks
B. Dennis Edwards
C. Richard Street
D. Louis Price
Answer: B. Dennis Edwards
Q9. Which later member sang lead on the 1984 hit “Treat Her Like a Lady”?
A. Damon Harris
B. Glenn Leonard
C. Ali-Ollie Woodson
D. G.C. Cameron
Answer: C. Ali-Ollie Woodson
Q10. What was The Temptations’ first Top 20 hit single, released in 1964?
A. My Girl
B. Ain’t Too Proud to Beg
C. I Can’t Get Next to You
D. The Way You Do the Things You Do
Answer: D. The Way You Do the Things You Do
Q11. Which 1965 single marked The Temptations’ first Billboard Hot 100 number-one hit?
A. Get Ready
B. My Girl
C. Just My Imagination
D. Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone
Answer: B. My Girl
Q12. Who wrote and produced the majority of The Temptations’ early hits, including “My Girl”?
A. Norman Whitfield
B. Berry Gordy
C. Smokey Robinson
D. Barrett Strong
Answer: C. Smokey Robinson
Q13. What 1966 hit featured the group’s first Grammy-nominated performance style with pleading lyrics?
A. Ain’t Too Proud to Beg
B. Beauty Is Only Skin Deep
C. I’m Losing You
D. You’re My Everything
Answer: A. Ain’t Too Proud to Beg
Q14. Which song, released in 1968, marked The Temptations’ shift to psychedelic soul and their first Grammy win?
A. I Wish It Would Rain
B. Cloud Nine
C. Runaway Child, Running Wild
D. Psychedelic Shack
Answer: B. Cloud Nine
Q15. What 1970 single became The Temptations’ second Billboard Hot 100 number-one hit?
A. Ball of Confusion
B. Just My Imagination
C. War
D. I Can’t Get Next to You
Answer: D. I Can’t Get Next to You
Q16. Which socially conscious 1970 track addressed issues like racism and poverty?
A. Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone
B. Ball of Confusion
C. Superstar
D. Masterpiece
Answer: B. Ball of Confusion (That’s What the World Is Today)
Q17. What 1971 ballad, led by Eddie Kendricks, reached number one on the pop charts?
A. The Way You Do the Things You Do
B. I Wish It Would Rain
C. Just My Imagination
D. All I Need
Answer: C. Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)
Q18. Which 1972 hit, known for its extended length, won two Grammys for The Temptations?
A. Masterpiece
B. Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone
C. Let Your Hair Down
D. Happy People
Answer: B. Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone
Q19. What was the title of The Temptations’ debut studio album released in 1964?
A. The Temptin’ Temptations
B. Gettin’ Ready
C. Meet the Temptations
D. Cloud Nine
Answer: C. Meet the Temptations
Q20. What 1973 album featured the title track as a hit single led by Dennis Edwards?
A. Solid Rock
B. Masterpiece
C. All Directions
D. 1990
Answer: B. Masterpiece
Q21. Which late-period album, released in 1998, went platinum and featured the hit “Stay”?
A. Phoenix Rising
B. Ear-Resistible
C. Legacy
D. Still Here
Answer: A. Phoenix Rising
Q22. What was the name of the 2022 album celebrating the group’s 60th anniversary?
A. All the Time
B. Temptations 60
C. Back to Front
D. Reflections
Answer: B. Temptations 60
Q23. In what year were The Temptations inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?
A. 1989
B. 1999
C. 2005
D. 2013
Answer: A. 1989
Q24. Which award did The Temptations receive in 2013 from the Recording Academy?
A. Best R&B Album
B. Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award
C. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
D. Vocal Group Hall of Fame
Answer: B. Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award
Q25. In what year did The Temptations perform at the Super Bowl halftime show?
A. 1994
B. 1996
C. 1998
D. 2022
Answer: C. 1998