Richard Street, former lead singer of The Temptations, passed away today of a pulmonary embolism. He was 70.

Street was the lead singer of The Distants, a vocal group which included future Temptations Otis Williams, Melvyn Franklin and Elbridge Bryant. After a stint with a shortlived Motown group called The Monitors, Street was recruited by Otis Williams to sing Paul Williams’ parts from off stage. Williams’ voice had weakened due to alcoholism and sickle cell anemia. Street became a full fledged Temptation in 1971 and remained with the group through 1993. His most notable vocals were on “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone”.

In recent years, Street fronted various Temptations lineups and frequently collaborated with former Temptation Damon Harris. Street’s passing comes nine days after Harris died of prostrate cancer.

Here is Street talking about his high school girlfriend, Diana Ross.