Shelley’s Plumbline
In construction, a plumbline is a weight suspended from a string used as a tool to find the true reference line. A plumbline will always find the vertical axis pointing to the center of gravity, ensuring everything is right, justified, and centered.
Pulling from a library of more than 3,000 shows from his storied career in broadcasting, Shelley's Plumbline leads us in a search for the truth, opening the channels of communication and understanding on tough social topics that are as relevant today as they were 40 years ago.
Join us as we explore the past, compare it to today, and craft a better future.
Shelley’s Plumbline
Shelley's Plumbline: The Last Interview with Eddie Kendricks
Shelley's Life in Music
Today we’ll begin an exploration of Shelley’s fascinating life in the music world. Over the course of his career, Shelley worked with many major names in music, such as Jackie Wilson, Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett, and The Temptations. And he became fast friends with musical giants such as Bobby "Blue" Bland, Otis Redding, and Isaac Hayes.
Today we’ll hear a clip of his interview with Eddie Kendricks, a lead singer with The Temptations. The interview traces the evolution of The Temptations, and discusses the surprising strategies of Barry Gordy and Motown Records and how they would manage the careers of groups, giving hit songs to certain groups to increase their popularity and accelerate their careers.
Eddie also talks about his youth on the streets of Birmingham, Alabama, and how his life very nearly went in another, darker direction.
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