Temptations' Otis Williams Applauds Alicia Keys, Beyonce

Otis Williams, a founding member of the Temptations, has both witnessed and been a part of more than four decades of music history. Needless to say, Williams' knows a thing or two about longevity, and he's got his eyes on a few artists with such potential.

"Alicia Keys is developing into possibly being an artist of that ilk," he tells Spinner. "I believe Beyonce is another one that's doing great work, not just as an artist, but as a movie star as well. I give a lot of credit to her father, Matthew, for guiding her and making her the superstar she's really becoming. But the strange thing about it -- there aren't too many I can rattle off. When I was coming along, you could rattle off a list of names. But I keep my face buried in 'Billboard' and all kinds of music magazines, and it's sad to say there's not too many that have the work ethic of Alicia Keys or Beyonce."

Wiliams says it's a long way from when he first began. "That's the glory and blessed thing of being part of Motown -- they had a division of artist development where their artists took us to school," he recalls. "We started 10 in the morning and we would be there until five and six in the evening just about everyday that we were home. They were grooming us, which is why the Temps are still around today."