VALDOSTA —
Ever since joining the Temptations, Nate Evans has never felt compelled to sing the hits of his first group, the Impressions.
He joined the Impressions in the 1970s, taking the lead singer spot in the wake of Curtis Mayfield’s departure. Evans performed with the Impressions for several years, but he doesn’t revisit those songs.
“No, no, the Impressions, they do their own thing now,” Evans says. “I’m not part of that. They wouldn’t like for me to sing their songs.”
Nate Evans Temptations Revue Tribute is part of “Motown Magic” coming this week to Valdosta through the Annette Howell Turner Center for the Arts’ Presenter Series. The Temptations will be joined by the Four Tops and a tribute to Diana Ross and the Supremes led by Roz Thomas, who also spoke with The Times about the show.
As for the Temptations, the audience can expect to hear hits such as “Way You Do the Things You Do,” “My Girl,” “Get Ready,” “Ain’t to Proud to Beg,” etc.
In the 1980s, original Temptations Eddie Kendricks, David Ruffin, and Dennis Edwards asked Nate Evans to join the group.
“Eddie called me and offered me the job, I asked, What about Otis and them,” Evans says, referring to original Temptation Otis Williams. “Eddie said, well, you don’t want to write what he said ...”
Williams is the only surviving member of the original Temptations; he has his own version of the group, still touring under the name Otis Williams The Temptations.
As for Evans, he joined the Temptations and, with Kendricks, Ruffin and Edwards now having passed, he carries the torch with Joseph Cross, Ritchie Stanley, Reggie Reed and Curtis Taylor.
Coming of age in Gary, Ind., Evans wanted to become a singer.
“While the other guys came home from school and played basketball, I was watching ‘American Bandstand,’” Evans says.
By the age of 14, he was already landing paying singing gigs. Getting the job with the Impressions was his first big break. He’s been singing professionally ever since.
Having worked with three original Temptations, Evans feels a responsibility to maintain the quality of the group and the music. He never considers new material. That’s not what his group does. Their job is to present the best of the Temptations.
“No, no new stuff,” Evans says. “We take people on a journey back through time, to the past. We present the songs as they are supposed to sound. We don’t speed it up. We make it sound like it used to be.”
Evans says his Temptations often participate in the Motown showcases such as the one coming to Valdosta. He often works with Roz Thomas as Diana Ross leading a Supremes tribute.
“The girl doing Diana Ross,” Evans says. “She’s so good she’s scary. … She walks, talks, and sings just like Diana Ross.”
Being Diana Ross was not Roz Thomas’ original plan. Yet, nature seemed to have it planned for her.
Thomas trained to sing. She wrote her own songs. Performing them, Thomas often heard she sounded and looked like Diana Ross. Finally, in one showcase, a representative introduced her to Legends in Concert, which presents tribute artists and impersonators of famous stars. Thomas began working as Diana Ross.
“It’s been a wonderful opportunity to do Diana Ross,” Thomas says. “I grew up listening to Motown. … I always loved all of those Motown sounds. It’s an honor to perform them.”
Her job is spelled out in the show’s name, “Motown Magic.” She must create the illusion of an audience watching Diana Ross and the Supremes in the Motown era of a few decades gone by.
“It is pure illusion,” Thomas says. “I put on the costume and make-up. The big hair and gowns and pumps.”
In other venues, such as European tours, Thomas plays the full spectrum of Diana Ross from the Supremes to the solo career.
Being Diana has offered Roz many opportunities, from performance to travel to meeting and performing for Michael Jackson. Given Ross’ influence on Jackson, she was a little nervous when he visited the show. She sang “Reach Out and Touch (Somebody’s Hand)” for him.
Yet, when the gig is over whether it’s for Michael Jackson, or in Valdosta, Vegas or Vienna, it is Roz Thomas who steps off the stage, not Diana Ross.
SHOWTIME
Annette Howell Turner Center for the Arts presents “Motown Magic,” featuring the music of the Temptations, the Four Tops and Diana Ross & the Supremes.
When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 23.
Where: Mathis City Auditorium, 2300 N. Ashley St.
Ticket: $45.
Reservations, more information: Call 247-2787; or visit turnercenter.org
Local News
Related Photos
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Nate Evans Temptations Revue is part of the Presenter Series’ ‘Motown Magic’ playing this week at Mathis City Auditorium.
Discussion
‘Motown Magic’ coming to Valdosta
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