Melvin Franklin

Who is Melvin Franklin?

Melvin Franklin is a founding Temptation whose deep bass voice anchors the group's harmonies from underneath, providing the low end that grounds the group's more soaring leads. Even tempered and loyal, he is often depicted as one of the more stable presences amid the group's shifting lineup and internal conflicts.

His steadiness makes him something of a quiet constant in the show, a reminder of the group's original bond even as members come and go around him.

Melvin Franklin's role in Ain't Too Proud

Melvin Franklin is a supporting role built around vocal depth and stage presence rather than flashy solo moments, since his bass lines are woven throughout the group's harmonies. Jawan M. Jackson originated the role on Broadway, earning praise for both his rich low register and his warm comic timing.

Audiences remember Franklin as a grounding, good humored presence, the kind of steady bandmate whose contributions are easy to underestimate until his voice is gone.

Melvin Franklin on stage vs screen

Broadway compared with the 1998 NBC miniseries The Temptations

In the 1998 NBC miniseries The Temptations, D.B. Woodside played Melvin Franklin, and Melvin's death gives the miniseries its ending: it closes in February 1995, after Melvin's mother thanks Otis for looking after her son and the two find Melvin unresponsive, followed by his funeral. Melvin's mother, Rose Franklin, later sued over the miniseries's portrayals, and the courts ruled for the defendants.

Jawan M. Jackson originated Melvin in Ain't Too Proud on Broadway in 2019.

Melvin Franklin: frequently asked questions