Ron Tyson

Ron Tyson (born Ronald Tyson Presson) Born February 8, 1948, in Monroe, NC, and raised in Philadelphia, PA, is a singer and songwriter best known as a long-tenured member of The Temptations.

Tyson began his professional career at age seven with his grandfather's gospel group, the Southern Gospel Six, before moving into the Philadelphia soul scene in the 1960s. He formed the quartet The Ethics in 1967 with Andrew Collins, Joe Freeman, and Carl Enlow. The group recorded for the Wale, Vent, and Golden Fleece (Bear Family Records) labels until 1974, producing singles such as "Sad, Sad Story" and "Farewell." In the mid-1970s, the group transitioned into Love Committee, featuring members like Norman Frazier and Michael Bell, and achieved a minor R&B hit with "Law & Order" on Gold Mind Records.

Throughout the 1970s, Tyson was a staff songwriter and producer in Philadelphia, frequently collaborating with Norman Harris and Allan Felder. His credits include work for Archie Bell & the Drells (IMDb), Blue Magic, and The Dells. He was a key contributor to Eddie Kendricks' projects during the singer's departure from Motown, providing backing vocals and co-writing "You're a Part of Me" for the He's a Friend album. Tyson also co-wrote "In a Lifetime" and other tracks for The Temptations' 1977 Atlantic Records LP, Hear to Tempt You, several years before joining the group as a vocalist.

Tyson joined The Temptations in February 1983, replacing Glenn Leonard as the first tenor/falsetto lead. He made his television debut with the group on the Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever special and appeared on the Back to Basics album (AllMusic), providing lead vocals for "Sail Away" and "Make Me Believe in Love." Having remained with the group for over 40 years, Tyson is the second-longest-serving member in the group's history after founder Otis Williams. In addition to his group work, he has released solo material, including the 2011 album Recipe 4 Love.

Honours:

Grammy Awards: Tyson won a Grammy Award with The Temptations for the album Ear-Resistible (AllMusic), which received the award for Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance at the 43rd Annual Grammy Awards (2001). He also shared in the group's Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award, presented in 2013 (Grammy.com).

Hall of Fame Inductions: In 2016, Tyson was inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame for his significant contributions to American music