Louis Price
Encyclopedia
Louis Bernhardt Price is an American
R&B, soul
singer, and actor
notable for being the lead singer of the first post-Dennis Edwards
led version of The Temptations
from 1977 to 1980.
Price lived in Chicago as a child and attended John Marshall High School. Price moved to Los Angeles
and sung in various groups before being asked to replace Dennis Edwards
of The Temptations
after group leader Otis Williams
fired Edwards. Price joined the group just as they were leaving their longtime label Motown
for Atlantic Records
. Price was the principal lead vocalist on "Hear to Tempt You" and one of the featured lead vocalists on "Bare Back". The Atlantic-era Temptations records fizzled on the charts and Price's tenure was short-lived. He was replaced by a returning Dennis Edwards
as the group returned to Motown in 1980.
He then joined The Drifters
and remained with them through the first half of the 1980s. In the late 1980s, Price signed with Motown and recorded his self-titled debut album, Louis Price, which was released in 1991. The album didn't sell well and he was dropped by Motown.
He has also had something of an acting career - appearing in the film "White Men Can't Jump" and as the principal on the TV series, "My Wife & Kids" In 1998, he was heard providing the singing voices for Dennis Edwards in the "Temptations" miniseries. He also provided singing vocals for Cornwallis for the "Circle of Poo" song in the South Park episode A Very Crappy Christmas
, incorrectly credited as "Lewis Price".
He currently performs various club dates on the west coast.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
R&B, soul
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
singer, and 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...
notable for being the lead singer of the first post-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:...
led version of 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,...
from 1977 to 1980.
Price lived in Chicago as a child and attended John Marshall High School. Price moved to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
and sung in various groups before being asked to replace 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:...
of 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,...
after group leader Otis Williams
Otis Williams
Otis Williams is an American baritone singer. Nicknamed "Big Daddy", he has also acted as a sporadic songwriter and record producer. Williams co-founded the Motown vocal group The Temptations in early 1960 as The Elgins, a group in which he continues to perform...
fired Edwards. Price joined the group just as they were leaving their longtime label Motown
Motown Records
Motown is a record label originally founded by Berry Gordy, Jr. and incorporated as Motown Record Corporation in Detroit, Michigan, United States, on April 14, 1960. The name, a portmanteau of motor and town, is also a nickname for Detroit...
for Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
. Price was the principal lead vocalist on "Hear to Tempt You" and one of the featured lead vocalists on "Bare Back". The Atlantic-era Temptations records fizzled on the charts and Price's tenure was short-lived. He was replaced by a returning 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:...
as the group returned to Motown in 1980.
He then joined The 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...
and remained with them through the first half of the 1980s. In the late 1980s, Price signed with Motown and recorded his self-titled debut album, Louis Price, which was released in 1991. The album didn't sell well and he was dropped by Motown.
He has also had something of an acting career - appearing in the film "White Men Can't Jump" and as the principal on the TV series, "My Wife & Kids" In 1998, he was heard providing the singing voices for Dennis Edwards in the "Temptations" miniseries. He also provided singing vocals for Cornwallis for the "Circle of Poo" song in the South Park episode A Very Crappy Christmas
A Very Crappy Christmas
"A Very Crappy Christmas" is seventeenth and final episode of the fourth season of the animated television series South Park, and the 65th episode overall. It first aired on Comedy Central in the United States on December 20, 2000. In the episode, Kyle awaits Mr. Hankey on Christmas, but he does...
, incorrectly credited as "Lewis Price".
He currently performs various club dates on the west coast.