AS THE only surviving original member of the Temptations, baritone Otis Williams is in reflective mood, as he chats down the phone ahead of the group’s Saturday concert at the BIC.

“It’s great to still be doing something that I love after all these years, the people still want to hear our songs and see us live, life has been very good to me,” says Williams, 70.

Formed in Detroit in the early 1960s, The Temptations have become one of the most successful R&B groups of all time.

A string of albums and instantly recognisable hit singles including My Girl, Beauty is Only Skin Deep and Get Ready has helped create a career and reputation for heart-warming songs, professionalism and sharp suits.

With a musical legacy spanning more than 50 years, The Temptations have outlasted most of their contemporaries and gain new fans every year with their soul-drenched R&B sound.

For Otis the reason behind the band’s continued popularity is a simple one, a solid work ethic.

“We don’t take for granted the position we are in, that is down to the fans, and it is our responsibility to give them a fun and enjoyable time, and for that we have to put in the effort” says Williams.

Being picked up by the legendary Motown Records Label in the early sixties, the group’s early efforts were not commercially successful, despite that, Williams is keen to emphasise the importance of those early days.

“It was a big learning curve for us, Berry Gordy, Motown’s founder, really believed in his acts, he wouldn’t just give up on them.

“He would continually put us in the studio to record, believing that sooner or later we would produce a hit.

“They also put us through ‘Motown’ school, which was all kind of classes on presentation, performance, how to act on stage etc. It was fun in those days, but the things we learnt back then really helped us when we did hit the big time.” says Williams.

The release of the groups Ear-Resistible album in 2000, once again saw them re-entering the charts, the album also won them their third Grammy award.

Since then the group have continued to release albums and tour, something that Otis does not intend to give up any day soon.

“For me it is still a labour of love. I love getting up on stage and performing, the whole spectacle, people come to see our shows to forget about their troubles for a couple of hours, and it’s our duty to give them that form of escapism.”