The Temptations and Four Tops competed in a "Battle of the Bands" style Motown 25 soul event at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium, California in 1983. The only original or "Classic Five" Temptations performing were Melvin Franklin and Otis Williams, as Eddie Kendricks (who left the group in 1971) and David Ruffin (who left the group in 1968, and was replaced by Dennis Edwards) had a falling out with the group. Paul Williams (who also left the group in 1971) had died in 1973, and Al Bryant (who left the group and was replaced by Ruffin in 1964) had died in 1975.

Joining Williams and Franklin were then-Temptations Dennis Edwards, Richard Street, and Ron Tyson. All of the original members of the Four Tops performed: Renaldo "Obie" Benson, Abdul "Duke" Fakir, and Lawrence Payton, with Levi Stubbs providing the lead vocals. The two groups performed "Reach Out I'll Be There","Baby I Need Your Loving", "Get Ready", "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)", "My Girl" "Ain't Too Proud to Beg" and "I Can't Get Next to You", among other numbers. The joint performance was a success, and the Temptations and Four Tops toured together for two years following the Motown Records special. Source: Wikipedia

Update February 2, 2018: Former Temptations lead singer Dennis Edwards died in Chicago from meningitis on February 1, 2018 at age 74. RIP Dennis Edwards.

Motown 25 was remembered on Motown 60 A Grammy Celebration 2019 at Microsoft Theater, Los Angeles. The Motown 60th anniversary special event was broadcast on CBS.

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