Richard Street
October 5, 1942 – February 27, 2013
Richard Street was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan. He attended Northwestern High School with his cousin, Melvin Franklin, and another young man named Otis Williams. Along with Al Bryant and a few others, they formed the singing group that would eventually become Otis Williams and the Distants. In 1960, Williams, Franklin and Bryant left the Distants to form the Elgins…which became the Temptations. Street continued singing with the Distants and the Motown group, the Monitors. While these early groups never found mega-success, his friends in the Temptations were skyrocketing to superstardom. He found himself heavily involved in the inner workings of the Motown studio process, and when the Temptations’ Paul Williams started having health and substance abuse issues, his friends called upon him to help out. Street would often tour with the group and sing Paul’s parts on a backstage mic to cover for him. As his condition deteriorated, Paul Williams left the Temptations and Richard Street became a full-time member. For more than two decades, Street remained an integral part of the group, helping create hits like “Papa Was a Rolling Stone,” “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” and “Superstar.” He left the group in 1992 citing the loss of that “family feeling.” He continued to work in the industry until his death at the age of 70. Street’s memoir, Ball of Confusion: My Life as a Temptin’ Temptation was released in 2014.
Burial
Forest Lawn Cypress – Cypress, CA
Specific Location
Garden of Protection, Lot 757, Space 3 – Across Cypress Dr. from the southeast corner of the walled mausoleum gardens, there is a decorative garbage can/water spigot. Richard is buried 11 rows east of this can.
Celebrity Graveland 
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