UK tours are best forMotown superstars

Motown magic will be the order of the day when three legendary bands will be
Temptations play at Manchester Arena on October 22.Temptations play at Manchester Arena on October 22.
Temptations play at Manchester Arena on October 22.

performing the very best of their songs on a UK tour.

The Temptations and The Four Tops, who have dominated soul music history for decades, will be joined by Cape Verdean brother Tavares for an evening of great entertainment this autumn.

Tavares won a Grammy Award for their work on the ‘Saturday Night Fever’ album on which they performed ‘More Than a Woman’.

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They were massively popular during the disco years and their other hits include ‘It Only Takes a Minute’ (covered by Take That), ‘Heaven Must Be Missing An Angel’, ‘It Only Takes a Minute’ and ‘Don’t Take Away The Music’.

The Four Tops were formed back in 1950 and ‘Duke’ Fakir is the only remaining founder-member.

With their various influences, they helped define the ‘Motown Sound’ with hits such as ‘Reach Out (I’ll Be There)’, ‘Don’t Walk Away Renee’ and ‘Standing in the Shadows of Love’.

“Our UK tour is always our most exciting tour of the year,” says Duke. “I and the other Tops are looking forward to our visit in our favourite country.”

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The popularity of these bands is something that stands out in the mind of Otis Williams of The Temptations.

Otis is the sole remaining founder-member of this iconic band, who had such hits as ‘My Girl’ and ‘Papa Was a Rolling Stone’.

They were the first Motown band to win a Grammy Award back in 1969 for ‘Cloud Nine’ and they have won numerous others, including a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2013.

“I love coming to the UK,” Otis said from his US home.

“We come over every eighteen months or so and it’s always our best tour of the year.”

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Otis, who will celebrate his 75th birthday on the last day of the tour, also has a special place in his heart for the fans. “One of the reasons we come so often is that we have a great fan-base. They really love the music and it’s great to see.”

The band’s debut visit to the UK was over 50 years ago. Otis said: “We first came in 1964 and it was a real milestone for us, because if you were accepted in England, you were accepted anywhere as England was the centre of the music world in those days.”

“Another thing about the British fans is that if you don’t do it right, they let you know; so we go all out to make sure we give a good show.

“Motown music has brought much happiness to the world and I thank God to have been able to play a part in that,” said Otis.

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He is promising a great evening at this year’s show. a “We’ll be playing all the great hits and we hope to have a few surprises.”

The Temptations and The Four Tops, with special guests Tavares will appear at Manchester Arena on October 22. Tickets are priced at £40 and £45.

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