by Barbara Smith

As a youngster, Josiah Travis Kent Rogers loved the swag and the pompadour, not to mention the exhilarating dance moves of the Temptations’ iconic singer David Ruffin. And now, this rising star has literally stepped into the shoes of Ruffin, thrilling audiences in the national tour of the hit musical “Ain’t Too Proud,” set to show March 4 – 5 at Riverside’s Fox Theatre.  Fans who want to double their pleasure can also see the show at San Diego’s Civic Theatre where it runs March 28 – 30.

Rogers, fresh off his stellar run as Seaweed in “Hairspray,” is thrilled to play David Ruffin in the second national tour of “Ain’t Too Proud.” The musical is a tribute to the legendary Temptations, spanning the super group’s extraordinary journey of how they met as wide-eyed teens in Detroit, the groundbreaking heights they reached in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and how personal and political conflicts threatened to tear the group apart.

The 31-year-old took time between performances in Colorado to share the excitement and challenges of portraying David Ruffin, highlighting the timeless nature of the Temptations’ music and their important cultural impact.

Rogers’ connection with the legendary group began early, having grown up listening to their music in his hometown of Orange Village, a suburb of Cleveland. “I’ve always loved music and moving my feet,” he says, describing a trip he took to Disneyland as a child with his grandparents. “I just remember being in a crowd of hundreds of people, and it was just me in the middle moving my feet real fast, and causing a sensation,” he laughs. And now, sensational is an apt descriptor for the energy and passion he brings to this production.

Rogers’ affinity for Ruffin began when he was young. “He was so striking and tall with the glasses and the pompadour hair and that over-the-top personality,” he says. Beyond his unwavering admiration for the talent and charisma of the performer, Rogers connects with Ruffin on a deeper level. “David lost his mom at a young age,” he offers, his voice softening. “I lost my birth mom when I was four.”  He was adopted by his grandparents and then, tragically, lost his grandmother when he was 16. “So, the connection of loss is real,” he says. Now, before each performance, he offers a prayer to his mother, thanking her and also Ruffin for allowing him to sing his music and to tell his story.

After earning the role of Ruffin, Rogers, who received professional training at the Young American College of the Performing Arts, channeled the singer by studying his swagger and stage presence through YouTube videos, soaking in his unique vibe, which he describes as “an undeniable, effortless cockiness that was so natural to him.” The show’s Tony-winning choreography (Sergio Trujillo) is electric, says Rogers, complete with splits, knee slides, mic drops and tosses, all smooth and cadenced to perfection. The cast is stellar, and he gives special kudos to castmate Jamal Stone in the role of Dennis Edwards. “He is freakishly talented, just an explosion of a character.” In fact, the entire cast shares a mutual respect and brotherhood, in many ways mirroring the love and camaraderie embodied by the original Tempts.

To what does Rogers attribute the longevity of the legendary group? “The music transcends generations. They have timeless hits that everybody can relate to. They have songs that make you cry, songs that make you jump and leap for joy.” Their music is loved throughout the world, he says, having traveled to many countries and felt the love firsthand.

Audience response to the show has been through the roof, with crowds often jumping to their feet and shouting out the words to such showstoppers as “My Girl,” “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone,” and, of course, “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg.” A particular highlight for Rogers was when, after a performance in Little Rock, an enthusiastic fan grabbed him and raved, “I don’t know how you got it, but you got that Ruffin in you!’ It turned out the passionate fan was David Ruffin’s cousin. “I was floored,” says the proud performer, “and really fulfilled.”

Especially gratifying to Rogers is being part of a show that highlights African American life. So often, he says, on national tours, a show might have one or two Black performers in it. “With ‘Ain’t Too Proud,’ there’s a whole cast of us. We’re telling an important story and telling it with truth and power. It’s an honor to go up there every night and do this with my brothers. The musical touches on themes of brotherhood, loyalty, resilience, on heartbreak and triumph, and importantly, it touches on the political and racial unrest that prevailed during the 60’s, some of which we still see today.”

Roger’s ardent wish is that audiences will walk away with hope. “I hope they understand the weight and the longevity the Temptations have endured, how they changed cultural boundaries and brought people together in the common joy their music created.”