02/16/2026
Eddie Kendricks and Muhammad Ali came from different worlds — one ruled the soul charts, the other the heavyweight division — but they shared a deep mutual respect rooted in Black excellence, confidence, and cultural pride.
Ali was a longtime admirer of Motown, and he especially loved The Temptations, often quoting song lyrics and surrounding himself with musicians who embodied rhythm, style, and self-belief. Eddie Kendricks, with his unmistakable falsetto and smooth charisma, was one of the artists Ali openly admired. Ali was known to attend performances and spend time backstage with Motown stars, treating them not as celebrities, but as brothers.
Those close to both men recalled how Ali gravitated toward Eddie’s gentle personality — a contrast to Ali’s loud public bravado. Kendricks, in turn, admired Ali not just as a fighter, but as a man who stood firm in his convictions, even when it cost him his career during the Vietnam War years.
There’s no record of a single dramatic headline moment between them — no big speech, no viral quote — but their bond lived in quieter spaces: shared rooms, shared laughter, shared pride in what they represented to their people at a pivotal time in American history.
Two icons. Different stages.
One rhythm. One courage.