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10th Annual Hollywood Beauty Awards To Honor Otis Williams of The Temptations with The Gentleman’s Award

Past honorees include Larry King, Joe Mantegna and Edward James Olmos.

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By: Lianna Albrizio

Associate Editor

The annual Hollywood Beauty Awards (HBAs) will present its 2025 Gentleman’s Award to Otis Williams of The Temptations.

Founded by Michele Elyzabeth, the HBAs will celebrate a decade of honoring the architects of beauty on Sunday, April 6, 2025 at Avalon Hollywood, a black-tie dinner ceremony benefitting Helen Woodward Animal Center.

The HBAs recognize talent in hair, makeup, photography and styling for film, TV, music, the red carpet and editorial, as well as special honorees.

In 2018, Lionel Richie presented the premiere Gentleman’s Award to Smokey Robinson. Former honorees also include Larry King, Joe Mantegna and Edward James Olmos. Otis Clayborn Williams is a founding member of the Grammy-winning group The Temptations. For over 60 years, he has been the chief architect of the group’s evolution, shaping one of the most enduring catalogs in music history.

The sole surviving original member, Williams remains a global icon, still performing today.

Early Life and Achievements

Born in Texarkana, Texas, in 1941, he moved to Detroit at age 11 where he was inspired by gospel and early R&B. By high school, he formed several groups before co-founding The Temptations in 1961. Originally known as The Elgins, the group—Otis Williams, Melvin Franklin, Eddie Kendricks, Paul Williams and Elbridge “Al” Bryant—signed with Berry Gordy’s Motown Records, where they became part of the label’s legendary roster. Smokey Robinson helped create their breakthrough hit, “My Girl” (1965), which became a cultural milestone, later inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame and the National Recording Registry.

With a string of hits, The Temptations became show business titans, appearing on TV shows like The Ed Sullivan Show and The Tonight Show, and breaking barriers with primetime specials alongside Diana Ross & The Supremes. They helped define Motown’s golden era, setting the standard for synchronized choreography and impeccable harmonies.

Williams chronicled his journey in his 1988 autobiography, which inspired the Emmy-winning miniseries Temptations and the Tony-winning Broadway musical “Ain’t Too Proud.” His contributions to Motown, American music, and Black culture are undeniable. In 2006, he received an honorary doctorate from Stillman College.

Now 83, Williams continues to perform as The Temptations launch a 2025 national tour.

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