When Marvin Gaye Wished He Had Dennis Edwards’ Growl — The Motown Compliment That Says Everything About Soul Music
🎙️ In the golden age of Motown, even legends admired other legends. That is what makes this line so powerful: “Man, I wish I could sing like you, if I could have that growl in my voice.” According to Dennis Edwards, those words came from none other than Marvin Gaye — one of the smoothest, most emotionally refined voices in American music. Edwards later recalled being stunned by the compliment, answering that everybody wanted to sing like Marvin.
Background
The exchange feels almost unreal today because it reveals something fans often forget: Motown was not just a hit factory. It was a family of giants who pushed, challenged, and quietly admired one another. Marvin Gaye had silk in his voice — sensual, spiritual, wounded, and elegant. Dennis Edwards had fire. His voice carried a gospel-born rasp, a street-corner urgency, and a growl that could turn a Temptations record from beautiful into dangerous.
🌟 Edwards joined The Temptations in 1968, replacing David Ruffin, a change that could have destroyed a lesser group. Instead, it opened a new chapter. Motown’s official history notes that Edwards had sung in church from early childhood, briefly fronted The Contours, and then became a Temptation during one of the group’s most important creative transitions.
Introduction
That transition became the sound of a changing America. With producer Norman Whitfield guiding the group into psychedelic soul, Edwards’ voice helped power records like “Cloud Nine,” “Ball of Confusion,” and “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone.” Motown describes Cloud Nine as the first Temptations album with Edwards as lead singer, introducing a harder, more socially aware sound influenced by the era’s unrest and musical experimentation.
Video
Lyrics
🎵 Let’s sing along with the lyrics! 🎤
[Verse 1: Dennis Edwards]
Someone to count on in a world ever changing
Here I am, stop where you standing
What you need is a lover, a man to take over
Oh, girl, don’t look any further[Verse 2: Dennis Edwards & Siedah Garrett]
Strange when you think of the chances
That we’ve both been in a state of mind
Too cool to be careless, looking for the right thing
Oh, baby, don’t look any further[Pre-Chorus: Garrett & Edwards, both]
(Tonight) Tonight we’re gonna taste a little paradise
(Rocking all night long) Rocking all night long
(Daylight) Daylight, I’ll still be looking in your ebony eyes
And we’ll go on and on and on (Go on and on and on)