🎙 A September Day in Detroit
On September 25, 1967, five young men walked into the legendary Hitsville U.S.A. studio in Detroit. The Temptations were already Motown’s crown jewel, but that morning they were about to record a song that would outlive every chart, every radio wave, and every trend.
The song was “My Girl” — a track that would not just become a Temptations anthem, but also one of the purest love songs ever written in the soul tradition. Its story is a blend of serendipity, genius, and the Motown machine at its peak.
🎵 Smokey Robinson’s Gift
The heart behind “My Girl” wasn’t just The Temptations. It was Smokey Robinson — the poetic voice of The Miracles and one of Berry Gordy’s most trusted songwriters.
Smokey had been writing for Motown’s roster, penning hits for Mary Wells and Marvin Gaye. But when he saw David Ruffin — the Temptations’ new lead singer — he knew he had the perfect match.
Ruffin wasn’t the group’s original frontman. In fact, The Temptations were still rotating vocals among members. But his raspy yet velvety tone, with a romantic vulnerability hidden inside, struck Smokey deeply. He once said:
“David had this kind of rough sweetness, like he could plead and roar at the same time. I knew right then, he was the man to sing ‘My Girl.’”
🎶 The Funk Brothers at Work
No Motown record could exist without The Funk Brothers — the in-house band that powered hits for Stevie Wonder, The Supremes, and Marvin Gaye.
For “My Girl,” they created a groove that was at once simple and timeless. The opening guitar riff, played by Robert White, is now iconic. Just two notes — but those two notes could light up a room.
James Jamerson laid down the bassline, steady yet playful. Benny Benjamin on drums gave it that heartbeat feel. And the string section, arranged later, gave it the cinematic sweep that lifted the song from radio pop into soul poetry.
🎤 Ruffin’s Moment
When David Ruffin stepped up to the microphone on that September day, the group knew something special was happening. His delivery was tender, almost hesitant at first — like a man revealing his heart for the first time.
The Temptations harmonized behind him with their trademark precision, filling the air with a silky cushion of sound. Paul Williams, Eddie Kendricks, Otis Williams, and Melvin Franklin weren’t just background singers; they were sculptors of space, making sure Ruffin’s voice had room to soar.
When Ruffin reached the line — “I’ve got sunshine on a cloudy day” — everyone in the studio felt chills.
🎹 A Song of Joy, Not Just Love
“My Girl” wasn’t just another Motown love song. It was different. While so many songs of the era were about heartbreak or yearning, this one was about joy. Pure, unfiltered joy.
It was a song about a woman who didn’t just complete a man’s life but made even the darkest days light up. In the turbulence of 1967 — a year marked by war, riots, and unrest — this simple celebration of love felt almost revolutionary.
📻 From Studio to Radio
When the single was released, Motown had high hopes. But even Berry Gordy couldn’t predict what would happen next.
“My Girl” climbed the charts with astonishing speed. By March 1965, it became The Temptations’ first No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. For the group, it was more than just a success — it was their signature. Every concert, every TV appearance, every future tour would be incomplete without it.
The record wasn’t just a hit in America. It traveled across oceans, becoming one of Motown’s most recognizable exports. The Temptations were suddenly ambassadors of soul.
🌍 A Song That Never Ages
The brilliance of “My Girl” is that it doesn’t age. Put it on in 1967, in 1987, or in 2025 — it still feels fresh, still feels honest.
It has been covered by everyone from Otis Redding to Dolly Parton. It has been featured in movies, commercials, and wedding playlists across generations. The riff alone is enough to trigger instant recognition.
For The Temptations, it became a blessing and a curse. No matter what else they recorded — and they recorded dozens of hits like “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone” and “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg” — “My Girl” was always the first song people remembered.
💔 Behind the Smile
Yet behind this timeless classic, the band was not without its troubles. David Ruffin, whose voice carried the song, would later struggle with fame, ego, and personal demons. His time with The Temptations ended in conflict, but his performance on “My Girl” immortalized him forever.
The group itself would evolve, with members leaving, passing away, or reinventing themselves. But the song was a reminder of what they once were — five young men harmonizing in Detroit, guided by Smokey Robinson’s pen and Motown’s magic.
🌟 Legacy of “My Girl”
More than fifty years later, “My Girl” is not just a song — it’s a cultural memory. It represents a time when music could be simple yet profound, when joy itself was worth writing about.
It’s a track that parents pass on to children, and children to grandchildren. At weddings, anniversaries, graduations, even funerals — “My Girl” plays like a universal language of love.
Motown may have produced hundreds of hits, but few songs define the label as perfectly as “My Girl.”
🎶 Why It Matters Today
In an age of digital overload, auto-tuned vocals, and fleeting viral hits, “My Girl” stands as a testament to authenticity. It reminds us that sometimes, the most powerful songs are not the ones with the flashiest production, but the ones that capture a simple human truth.
On September 25, 1967, The Temptations recorded more than just a song. They recorded a promise — that love, when expressed simply and sincerely, can last forever.