Otis Williams is a well-known singer, songwriter, and record producer from the United States. Williams is the founder and only surviving original member of the Motown vocal group “the temptations,” with whom he still performs; he also owns the rights to the group. Among the group’s hit songs are “My Girl,” “Papa Was a Rolling Stone,” and “I’m Gonna Make You Love Me.” Otis Williams also co-wrote temptation with Patricia Rowmanoski.
Quick Facts
Celebrated Name: | Otis Williams |
Real Name/Full Name: | Otis Myles Jr |
Gender: | Male |
Age: | 82 years old |
Birth Date: | October 30, 1941 |
Birth Place: | Texarkana, Texas, U.S |
Nationality: | American |
Height: | 1.78m |
Weight: | 76 kg |
Sexual Orientation: | Straight |
Marital Status: | Married |
Wife/Spouse (Name): | Arleta Williams (m. 1983–1997), Ann Cain (m. 1967–1973), Josephine Rogers (m. 1961–1964) |
Children/Kids (Son and Daughter): | No |
Dating/Girlfriend (Name): | N/A/ |
Is Otis Williams Gay?: | No |
Profession: | Singer, Songwriter, Record Producer |
Salary: | N/A |
Net Worth in 2024: | $10 Million |
Otis Williams Biography
Otis Myles Jr was born on October 30, 1941, in Texarkana, Texas, to Otis Myles and Hazel Louise Williams. His parents divorced shortly after his birth, and when he was a toddler, his mother remarried. She relocated to Michigan, leaving Williams to be raised by both of his grandparents. When Williams was ten, his mother relocated him to Detroit to live with her and his stepfather.
Otis Williams’s Age, Height, Weight
Otis Williams was born on October 30, 1941, and is 82 years old as of 2024. His height is 1.78 meters and his weight is 76 kilograms.
Career
In his adolescence, Otis Williams became interested in music and adopted his mother’s name for his stage name, Williams Otis, which led to the formation of several singing groups, including Otis Williams and The Siberians, The El Domingoes, and The Distance. The Distance had a local hit called to come on, which was co-written by Williams and their manager Johnie Mae Matthews. However, the future recording with the Distance was a failure, prompting Williams and his crew to leave the group. Eddie Kendricks and Paul Williams from the Primes later joined Williams, Bryant, and Franklin to form “The Temptations.”
For more than five decades, The Temptations were one of the most successful acts in soul music. However, the group experienced so many changes and difficulties that Williams and Melvin franklin made a promise to each other that they would never leave the group. Franklin remained in the group until 1994 when he became physically unable to continue. He died on February 23, 1995, leaving Otis Williams as the group’s only surviving original member at the age of 53.
Aside from singing, Williams is also the co-author of the 1988 temptation book, which served as both his autobiography and the group’s history. In 1989, Otis Williams was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Temptations. In 2006, he was awarded an honorary doctorate by Stillman College.
Achievements and Awards
Otis Williams has never received an official award on a personal level; however, as a group, “The Temptations,” they were the first Motown recording act to win Grammy Awards for Cloud Nine in 1969. The group received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2013.
Otis Williams’s Net Worth in 2024
Otis Williams’ net worth is estimated to be $10 million as of February 2024. He made his fortune through singing. As a teenager, he began singing with groups such as Otis Williams and the Siberians, The El Domingoes, and the Distance. As part of the temptations, he was later signed to Motown. The Temptations have sold millions of albums and have 43 studio albums to their credit. Among their hit singles are I’m Gonna Make You Love Me, My Girl, and Just My Imagination. Williams is also a co-author of “The Temptations.”
Otis Williams is a well-known American baritone singer. He began his career as a teen and has made a name for himself through hard work and dedication. Throughout his career, he has been a humble man who has always shown his best side.
Otis Williams Wife, Marriage
Otis Williams is not married. He married Josephine Rogers in 1961, and the couple had a son, Otis Lamont, the same year. Otis Lamont was a builder who died in a workplace accident in Detroit in 1983 by swan diving off the building. In 1964, Williams and Josephine divorced. Williams later got engaged to Patti Labelle, but she called it off when he asked her to give up music and become a housewife.
Williams married Ann Cain from 1967 to 1973; he later married his third wife, Arleata Goldie Williams, in 1983; Arleata’s daughter became the June 1994 playboy playmate of the month. He is also known as ‘Big Daddy.’ Otis Williams was the victim of a death hoax that spread on Facebook in 2004. He is, however, currently alive and well.