While many believe the Temptations to be the favorite soul singing group of all time, this assessment of the band's accomplishments is limited considering their substantial impact upon both the look and sound of popular music. Formed in Detroit, Michigan, in 1960 at a time when AM radio was a multi-layered media format that gave access and success to a large quantity of artists from rock, pop, country, soul, blues, and rockabilly music, the Temptations set a standard for vocal performers and created a sound and style that remains distinctly their own. Built around the remnants of two previous bands, the Distants and the Primes, the Temptations were a major force in the success of Berry Gordy's Motown Records and have been referred to as the originators of the "Motown Sound." Rising to popularity with other precedent-setting Motown performers such as Marvin Gaye, Martha and the Vandellas...