The Temptations are often titled the most successful group in black music history. The group was comprised of Eddie Kendricks, Paul Williams, Melvin Franklin and Eldrige Bryant, who was replaced by David Ruffin. While its music, which merged R&B, doo-wop, funk, disco and soul, quickly gained attention, it wasn't until Smokey Robinson began producing its albums that the group gained substantial momentum. Its most well-known songs include My Girl and Ain't Too Proud To Beg.
Levi Stubbs, Renaldo Benson, Lawrence Payon and Abdul Fakir made up this group, which originally started as a jazz band under the name The Four Aims but changed its name in 1956. Its most celebrated hits include Baby I Need Your Lovin, which was their first release, and Reach Out I'll Be There.
Although this group has had a number of different members over the years, the most famous trio is Diana Ross, Mary Wilson and Florence Ballard. The Supremes began its rise with six number-one hits in a single year, starting with Where Did Our Love Go. The group is often credited with helping redefine America as a multi-cultural nation.
The first Motown group to perform on Dick Clark's American Bandstand, in 1961, this group includes Smoky Robinson -- who was also an executive at the label -- Bobby Rogers, Ronnie White, Warren Moore and Emerson Rogers, who was replaced by Claudette Rogers. The Miracles signed with Motown when it was just starting, and helped bring the record label to international acclaim with songs like Shop Around and I Second That Emotion.