Ali-Ollie Woodson
Encyclopedia
Ali-Ollie Woodson was an American
R&B singer, songwriter
, keyboardist
and occasional actor
. He was known for singing with The Temptations
beginning in 1984, and also worked with Aretha Franklin
and Bill Pinkney
.
, but was raised in Town Creek
, Alabama
.
started Woodson on the road at the age of 19, giving him a job as a musician and then vocalist for Bill Pinkney's Original Drifters
in the early 1970s. He would return to lead The Original Drifters' gospel song "True Love" in 1996 on the CD Peace in the Valley (Malaco). Woodson always referred to Pinkney as his Father in the music business and Woodson sang Walk Around Heaven All Day at Pinkney's Homegoing service in July, 2007.
from 1984 to 1986, and from 1988 to 1996. He had first recorded with The Temptations in 1983 on their Back to Basics album, when he was invited to perform lead vocals on the album track, "Stop the World Right Here (I Wanna Get Off)," filling in for an exhausted Dennis Edwards
. The following year, Edwards was fired from The Temptations, and Woodson was officially welcomed on board as his replacement. Woodson began his tenure in the group on a high note when he co-wrote, co-produced, and sang lead/played keyboards on the 1984 Temptations single "Treat Her Like a Lady
," which appeared on his first full album with the group, Truly for You
, and was a #2 hit on the U.S. R&B charts.
He continued to compose and sing lead on other moderate hits with The Temptations throughout the mid-1980s, up until his first departure from the group in 1987. However, he would rejoin the group the following year, and remained with them up through their 1995 album, For Lovers Only
.
Woodson, who wasn't a member of The Temptations after 1996, toured with the band in Japan in 2002 when member Barrington "Bo" Henderson was unable to accompany the group due to visa problems.
being the name of the Temptations' 1994 box set). In 1997, he guest starred on an episode of The Jamie Foxx Show
as a patient in a mental hospital. He also appeared in a handful of movies after that.
, although he and Edwards were never Temptations members at the same time. Upon leaving this group, Woodson was replaced by the relative of another legend from The Temptations: Paul Williams
' son Paul Williams Jr., who is still currently performing with Edwards. Woodson also toured with Aretha Franklin
in 2008.
In late 2008, Woodson was diagnosed with leukemia and hospitalized for several weeks. Woodson died in southern California on May 30, 2010 after battling leukemia for nearly eighteen months.
Woodson is survived by his wife, Juanita and his two children with Juanita, Aj and Aliah Woodson.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
R&B singer, songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
, keyboardist
Keyboardist
A keyboardist is a musician who plays keyboard instruments. Until the early 1960s musicians who played keyboards were generally classified as either pianists or organists. Since the mid-1960s, a plethora of new musical instruments with keyboards have come into common usage, requiring a more...
and occasional actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
. He was known for singing with The Temptations
The Temptations
The Temptations is an American vocal group having achieved fame as one of the most successful acts to record for Motown Records. The group's repertoire has included, at various times during its five-decade career, R&B, doo-wop, funk, disco, soul, and adult contemporary music.Formed in Detroit,...
beginning in 1984, and also worked with Aretha Franklin
Aretha Franklin
Aretha Louise Franklin is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. Although known for her soul recordings and referred to as The Queen of Soul, Franklin is also adept at jazz, blues, R&B, gospel music, and rock. Rolling Stone magazine ranked her atop its list of The Greatest Singers of All...
and Bill Pinkney
Bill Pinkney
Bill Pinkney was an American performer and singer. Pinkney was often said to be the last surviving original member of The Drifters, who achieved international fame with numerous hit records. He was chiefly responsible for its early sounds...
.
Birth/Youth
Woodson was born Ollie Creggett on September 12, 1951 in Detroit, MichiganMichigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, but was raised in Town Creek
Town Creek, Alabama
Town Creek is a town in Lawrence County, Alabama, United States, and is included in the Decatur Metropolitan Area, as well as the Huntsville-Decatur Combined Statistical Area...
, Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
.
Bill Pinkney's Original Drifters
Bill PinkneyBill Pinkney
Bill Pinkney was an American performer and singer. Pinkney was often said to be the last surviving original member of The Drifters, who achieved international fame with numerous hit records. He was chiefly responsible for its early sounds...
started Woodson on the road at the age of 19, giving him a job as a musician and then vocalist for Bill Pinkney's Original Drifters
The Drifters
The Drifters are a long-lived American doo-wop and R&B/soul vocal group with a peak in popularity from 1953 to 1963, though several splinter Drifters continue to perform today. They were originally formed to serve as Clyde McPhatter's backing group in 1953...
in the early 1970s. He would return to lead The Original Drifters' gospel song "True Love" in 1996 on the CD Peace in the Valley (Malaco). Woodson always referred to Pinkney as his Father in the music business and Woodson sang Walk Around Heaven All Day at Pinkney's Homegoing service in July, 2007.
Tenure with The Temptations
He is notable for being lead singer of Motown act The TemptationsThe Temptations
The Temptations is an American vocal group having achieved fame as one of the most successful acts to record for Motown Records. The group's repertoire has included, at various times during its five-decade career, R&B, doo-wop, funk, disco, soul, and adult contemporary music.Formed in Detroit,...
from 1984 to 1986, and from 1988 to 1996. He had first recorded with The Temptations in 1983 on their Back to Basics album, when he was invited to perform lead vocals on the album track, "Stop the World Right Here (I Wanna Get Off)," filling in for an exhausted Dennis Edwards
Dennis Edwards
Dennis Edwards is a soul and R&B singer, most noted for being one of Motown act The Temptations' lead singers replacing David Ruffin. He is the father of Issa Pointer, whose mother is Ruth Pointer of The Pointer Sisters.-Career:...
. The following year, Edwards was fired from The Temptations, and Woodson was officially welcomed on board as his replacement. Woodson began his tenure in the group on a high note when he co-wrote, co-produced, and sang lead/played keyboards on the 1984 Temptations single "Treat Her Like a Lady
Treat Her Like a Lady (The Temptations song)
"Treat Her Like a Lady" is a 1984 single by The Temptations and the first single where Ali-Ollie Woodson was lead singer. The song appears on Temptations' album Truly for You....
," which appeared on his first full album with the group, Truly for You
Truly for You
Truly for You is a 1984 album by The Temptations for the Gordy label, featuring the debut of new lead singer Ali-Ollie Woodson in Dennis Edwards' place...
, and was a #2 hit on the U.S. R&B charts.
He continued to compose and sing lead on other moderate hits with The Temptations throughout the mid-1980s, up until his first departure from the group in 1987. However, he would rejoin the group the following year, and remained with them up through their 1995 album, For Lovers Only
For Lovers Only
For Lovers Only is a 1995 covers/pop standards album by The Temptations for the Motown label, something of a sequel to their 1967 album The Temptations in a Mellow Mood. The album features the final recordings of Melvin Franklin, who fell ill during recording and died before the album's release...
.
Woodson, who wasn't a member of The Temptations after 1996, toured with the band in Japan in 2002 when member Barrington "Bo" Henderson was unable to accompany the group due to visa problems.
Post-Temptations
Since leaving the group, Woodson began a solo career, and often toured with a Temptations-like revue called Ali-Ollie Woodson & the Emperors of Soul (Emperors of SoulEmperors of Soul
Emperors of Soul is a 1994 box set compilation for The Temptations, released by Motown Records. The five-disc collection covers the Temptations' entire four-decade history, from the first recording of The Distants in 1959 to four new recordings by the then-current Temptations lineup of Ali-Ollie...
being the name of the Temptations' 1994 box set). In 1997, he guest starred on an episode of The Jamie Foxx Show
The Jamie Foxx Show
The Jamie Foxx Show is an American television sitcom that aired on the WB Network from August 28, 1996 to January 14, 2001. The series starred Jamie Foxx, Garcelle Beauvais, Christopher B. Duncan, Ellia English, and Garrett Morris.-Synopsis:...
as a patient in a mental hospital. He also appeared in a handful of movies after that.
The Temptations Revue featuring Dennis Edwards
From 2006 to 2008, he was in The Temptations Revue featuring Dennis EdwardsDennis Edwards
Dennis Edwards is a soul and R&B singer, most noted for being one of Motown act The Temptations' lead singers replacing David Ruffin. He is the father of Issa Pointer, whose mother is Ruth Pointer of The Pointer Sisters.-Career:...
, although he and Edwards were never Temptations members at the same time. Upon leaving this group, Woodson was replaced by the relative of another legend from The Temptations: Paul Williams
Paul Williams (The Temptations)
Paul Williams was an American baritone singer and choreographer. Williams is noted for being one of the founding members and original lead singer of the Motown group The Temptations...
' son Paul Williams Jr., who is still currently performing with Edwards. Woodson also toured with Aretha Franklin
Aretha Franklin
Aretha Louise Franklin is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. Although known for her soul recordings and referred to as The Queen of Soul, Franklin is also adept at jazz, blues, R&B, gospel music, and rock. Rolling Stone magazine ranked her atop its list of The Greatest Singers of All...
in 2008.
Illness and Death
According to his testimony at a televised religious service, Woodson was first diagnosed with throat cancer during one of his tenures with The Temptations. Despite having the cancer removed, Woodson would again need to undergo surgery when the cancer returned two years later and another two years following that surgery.In late 2008, Woodson was diagnosed with leukemia and hospitalized for several weeks. Woodson died in southern California on May 30, 2010 after battling leukemia for nearly eighteen months.
Woodson is survived by his wife, Juanita and his two children with Juanita, Aj and Aliah Woodson.