(February 19, 2013) Damon Harris, the silky-voiced one time falsetto lead singer of the Temptations, has died at age 62 after a long battle with cancer. Harris’s lived his life in many acts, the most popular of which was likely his role as the soaring falsetto that fronted the Temptations from 1971 to 1975, following the departure of Eddie Kendricks. But perhaps his most important act was as a tireless advocate in the fight against cancer. With his formation of the Damon Harris Foundation in the late 90s, he worked to heighten awareness and testing of cancer and became a regular spokesman in the fight against the dreaded disease.
During Damon’s period with the Temptations (at which time he was barely out of his teens), the group topped the charts with songs such as “Papa Was a Rolling Stone” and “Plastic Man” and didn’t seem to miss a beat from the act’s 60s halcyon days. And Damon Harris’s voice was perfect for both the funky tunes provided to the group by Norman Whitfield as well as the sweet ballads that always accompanied them.
After leaving the group in 1975, the Baltimore native became part of the group Impact and then began a solo career that included one moderately popular album. He also formed his own Temptations tribute group and performed briefly with former Tempts Eddie Kendricks and David Ruffin. Last year, Harris recorded the song “You Are My Woman,” which is available at CD Baby. However, he spent the latter part of 2012 in the hospital as he grew increasingly ill.
While he may not have been one of the best known soul singers, Damon Harris was an immensely talented performer. And with his work in the cancer field over the last decade and a half, he proved he had an equally big heart. He will be missed.
By Chris Rizik
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