## The Original Baritone of The Temptations
Paul Williams was a founding member of The Temptations and the group’s earliest lead singer on many tracks. He was the anchor of their stage choreography and a primary architect of their soulful sound. Paul with his deep, resonant baritone, provided the foundation for the group’s incredible harmonies. He was a man of immense talent and deep sensitivity.
## August 17, 1973
After years of battling sickle-cell anemia and personal struggles that forced him to leave the group, Paul Williams was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in Detroit. He was 34. The tragedy of his death was a crushing blow to his former bandmates and the entire Motown family. It was a heartbreaking end for a man who had played such a pivotal role in creating one of the greatest acts in music history.
## The Foundation of a Supreme Sound
Paul’s legacy is the very fabric of The Temptations’ success. While others often got the spotlight, he was the essential gear that kept the machine moving. His influence on vocal group dynamics is foundational. Paul Williams is gone, but the ‘Soul’ he infused into the early Temptations still vibrates in every classic recording. He was the foundation upon which a legend was built.