Fans still remember “The Temptations” and its members after almost 27 years; they will always hold a special place in our hearts. However, in this post, we shall look at one of the group’s members Melvin Franklin and the reason behind his death. Melvin and his “deep bass” was irreplaceable and the heart of his band, the Temptations.
His mother, who struggled her entire life, his wife, Kimberly English, and his six children were left behind after his death. Franklin often claimed that they required a straightforward setup to capture an audience. They had the highest trust and faith in one another. The Temptations were reputed to perform it in its purest and most esoteric form of music.
Franklin was completely devoted to music. He had a wheelchair and medication prepared for him backstage as he conducted his final appearances in the worst possible circumstances. Whenever he had the single spotlight, he never failed to engage the fans rolling.
His many famous songs and albums include Treat Her Like a Lady, Silent Night, Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone, My Girl, Ain’t Too Proud to Beg, Just My Imagination, The Christmas Song, Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer, Soul to Soul, and many more. So, without any further hold, let us look at how did Melvin Franklin actually die.
Who Is Melvin Franklin?
David Melvin English a.k.a. Melvin Franklin, one of the most loved singers of all time, was born on October 12, 1942, in Montgomery, Alabama, U.S. Melvin had a difficult childhood, and it wasn’t just him; his mother also went through a very trying time. Rose English was her mother, a single young parent who raised Melvin alone.
Since Rose was raped to become pregnant with David English, Melvin’s biological father, nothing can go well after such a period. When he was ten years old, in 1952, his mother married Willard Franklin after giving birth, and they moved to Detroit. Later, when he was a teenager, he adopted his stepfather’s last name as his stage name.
He discovered his love of music after relocating to Detroit, and from that point on, there was no turning back. There, he joined a number of neighborhood singing groups and sang with his companions. Otis Williams, the fellow student in his class, was crucial in bringing out his best musical side of him. He was officially a member of the group “The Temptations.” He loved the color blue, so his buddies in the music industry dubbed him “Blue.”
How Did Melvin Franklin Die?
Melvin’s health issues began in the late 1960s. He was receiving another of many different diagnoses. He was initially diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, but because he was at the prime of his profession, he could not quit it and began taking cortisone for a brief relief.
His health deteriorated as a result, and nothing got better. As a result, he continued to experience diabetes issues; by this point, none of it was getting easier for him. However, his strong will caused him to suffer serious brain damage.
1978-1995
Yet it appears that life was not prepared for a halt. Later, following an incident, he had to fight for his life to survive. In LA in 1978, a robber trying to steal his private car ran into him. Franklin was shot by him, which only made matters worse. But thanks to the skilled medical staff, he survived that incident for a long time.
However, he started experiencing system failures, and seizures in 1994–1995, which led to his hospitalization at Cedars–Sinai Medical Center, where he lapsed into a coma, and all hope for his survival was lost. Then, on February 23, 1995, at the age of 52, he passed away from congestive heart failure a week later. Thus, this was how Melvin Franklin die.
We lost a wonderful performer, a vocalist, and, most importantly, a great guy. Everyone was inconsolable. Additionally, he received the Motown Spirit Award. Currently, only Otis Williams (the founder) is the last surviving member of The Temptations. He said that it was never an easy road to where they are now, and with time, everyone started to drift apart.
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