Ali-Ollie Woodson

Ali-Ollie Woodson
Woodson illustration
Background information
Birth name	Ollie Creggett
Born	(1951-09-12)September 12, 1951 Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Origin	Town Creek, Alabama, U.S.
Died	May 30, 2010(2010-05-30) (aged 58) Los Angeles, California
Genres	R&B, pop, soul
Occupation(s)	Singer, songwriter, keyboardist
Instrument(s)	Vocals, keyboards, Drums
Years active	1970–2010
Labels	Motown

Ali-Ollie Woodson (born Ollie Creggett; September 12, 1951 – May 30, 2010) was an American R&B singer, musician, songwriter, keyboardist, drummer, and occasional actor best known for his twelve years with the Temptations alongside Otis Williams. He also worked with Aretha Franklin, Jean Carn, and Bill Pinkney.

Early life and career

Woodson was born on September 12, 1951, in Detroit, Michigan, and was raised in Town Creek, Alabama.

Woodson was best known as the lead singer of Motown act the Temptations from 1984 to 1986, and from 1988 to 1996. He had first recorded with the Temptations in 1983 on their Back to Basics album, when he was invited to perform lead vocals on the album track, "Stop the World Right Here (I Wanna Get Off)", filling in for Dennis Edwards.

Illness and death

According to his testimony at a televised religious service, Woodson was first diagnosed with throat cancer during one of his tenures with The Temptations. Woodson would again need to undergo surgery when the cancer returned two years later and another two years following that surgery. In late 2008, Woodson was diagnosed with leukemia and hospitalized for several weeks. He died in Los Angeles, California on May 30, 2010, after having leukemia for nearly eighteen months.

External links

• Ali Ollie Woodson sings lead on Lady Soul on YouTube
• Ali Ollie Woodson interview by Pete Lewis, 'Blues & Soul' December 2001 (reprinted June 2010)
• Ali Ollie Woodson feature with an interview at Soul Express
• Ali-Ollie Woodson discography at Discogs