Motown great Richard Street dead at 70

Category: Entertainment Published on Friday, 01 March 2013 14:33 Written by Roz Edward, National Content Director Hits: 999

RICHARD STREET (center)

by Roz Edward
(RTNS)--That old wives tale about death coming in groups of three may be more than just an old wives tale. On the heels of the passing of Temptations singer Otis “Damon” Harris from prostate cancer on Sunday, Feb. 4 at the age of 62, another of Motown finest, another Temptation great Richard Street died Wednesday, Feb. 27.
Street sang as a young man with Temptations members Otis Williams and Melvin Franklin, but didn't join the famed Motown group until the early 1970s. He later made the move from his native Detroit to Los Angeles with other Motown acts and stayed with the group until the mid-1990s.
Street was a one of the longest serving members, (only Otis Williams and Melvin Franklin had longer careers with the legendary group. Street and Melvin Franklin were cousins, and Street was reportedly devastated by Franklin’s death in 1995.
In 2000, Street suffered from a blood clot in his lung that nearly cost him his life. But following his phenomenal recovery, he committed to continuing to perform in traditional Temptation style to honor the memory of Melvin Franklin, David Ruffin, Eddie Kendricks and Paul Williams.
Street was 70 years old.
Street's wife, Cindy, says her husband died early Wednesday at a hospital in Las Vegas after a short illness.
Funeral arrangements are incomplete, but Cindy Street expects services to be held sometime next week in Cypress, Calif.
She says her husband "was a really good person" who should be remembered for his work with the Temptations.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.