Ali-Ollie Woodson
His soaring tenor and soulful songwriting became the heart of the Temptations' sound during their 1980s resurgence.
1951–2010 (age 59)·American R&B musical artist·Birthday: September 12·Baby Boomers
Biography
Ali-Ollie Woodson's voice was a force of nature that arrived at a pivotal moment for Motown's most famous group. Born in Detroit, he honed his skills as a multi-instrumentalist before joining the Temptations in 1984, stepping into the daunting role once held by legends like David Ruffin and Dennis Edwards. Woodson wasn't just a replacement; he was a revitalizing presence, co-writing and singing lead on the group's last major pop hit, 'Treat Her Like a Lady.' His powerful, gospel-inflected tenor carried the group through a decade of performances, making him a favorite among fans of the modern Temptations era. Beyond the stage, he lent his voice to sessions for Aretha Franklin and others, and battled leukemia with a quiet dignity that mirrored his professional grace. When he died in 2010, the music world lost a singer who had deftly bridged the soul of the past with the rhythms of his own time.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Ali-Ollie was born in 1951, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Ali-Ollie Was Born
The biggest hits of 1951
#1 Movie
Quo Vadis
Best Picture
An American in Paris
#1 TV Show
Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts
Ali-Ollie's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1951Born
First color TV broadcast in the US
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,925Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Too Young" — Nat King ColeBest Picture: An American in Paris
1956Started school
Elvis Presley appears on The Ed Sullivan Show
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $10,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Heartbreak Hotel" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: Around the World in 80 Days
1964Became a teenager
Civil Rights Act signed; Beatles arrive in America
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $13,450Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"I Want to Hold Your Hand" — The BeatlesBest Picture: My Fair Lady
1967Could drive
Summer of Love in San Francisco; first Super Bowl
Gas: $0.33/galHome: $14,250Min wage: $1.40/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"To Sir, with Love" — LuluBest Picture: In the Heat of the Night
1969Could vote
Apollo 11: humans walk on the Moon; Woodstock festival
Gas: $0.35/galHome: $15,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Sugar, Sugar" — The ArchiesBest Picture: Midnight Cowboy
1972Turned 21
Watergate break-in; last Apollo Moon mission
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $19,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" — Roberta FlackBest Picture: The Godfather
1981Turned 30
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1991Turned 40
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
2001Turned 50
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2010Died at 59
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
Key Achievements
- Served as the lead vocalist for the Temptations for twelve years, from 1984 to 1996 and again briefly in the early 2000s.
- Co-wrote and sang lead on the Temptations' 1984 hit 'Treat Her Like a Lady,' which reached No. 2 on the Billboard R&B chart.
- Performed as a session musician and vocalist for iconic artists including Aretha Franklin and Jean Carn.
- Inducted into the Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame in 2013 as a member of the Temptations.
Did You Know?
He was a skilled drummer and keyboardist in addition to being a vocalist.
He made a cameo appearance as a singer in the 1992 film 'The Mighty Ducks.'
His birth name was Ollie C. Woodson, but he later added 'Ali' after converting to Islam.
“You've got to be able to feel the music, not just sing the notes.”
