Jawan Jackson played a Temptation for years on Broadway. Now he's officially in the group.

Detroit native Jawan Jackson has been anointed an official member of The Temptations.

After playing The Tempts’ Melvin Franklin in two hit Broadway shows, the deep-voiced singer will assume bass duties in the group, stepping into the spot once held by Franklin, who died in 1995.

Jackson will make his onstage debut Tuesday in Seattle alongside Otis Williams, Ron Tyson, Terry Weeks and Anthony Grant, launching a tour that will include autumn European dates. He replaces bass vocalist Willie Green, who joined the group in 2016.

Jackson has been immersed in The Temptations’ world since 2012, when he won the role of Franklin in Berry Gordy’s “Motown: The Musical.” From 2017 to 2021, he played the late bass singer in The Tempts musical “Ain’t Too Proud.”

“I got a lot of love for being Melvin,” Jackson says. “Now I get to be my actual self, bringing my own artistry to The Temptations. I’ll be carrying Melvin’s essence with me, of course, but I get to be Jawan.”

Williams, who cofounded The Tempts six decades ago and is the group’s only original member, offered the gig to Jackson several weeks ago.

“It’s a childhood dream – I’ve been a fan of The Temptations for so long,” Jackson says. “During the ‘Ain’t Too Proud’ days, a couple of us guys were always joking with Otis: ‘If a spot ever opens up, call us.’ This time around, I got the phone call, and it wasn’t a joke.”

Motown Records was a hit machine: Here are the 50 greatest Motown hits from the Detroit era

Jackson and The Temptations co-founder grew close during the “Ain’t Too Proud” run: Franklin, after all, had been Williams’ best friend. The elder singer is even the godfather of Jackson’s son, born in April.

“I really had to get to know him in this character,” says Jackson.

Jackson said there’s a slight learning curve as he shifts from the Broadway interpretation of The Temptations’ music and choreography into the real thing. He became emotional when he saw the set list the group will be performing on tour.

“I didn’t have to learn much. The pressure is off, because these are some of my favorite songs to sing,” he says. “Hopefully, I just jump back in and get with the flow.”

The Tempts typically play about 80 dates annually. Jackson, based in New York, expects to continue his acting work.

He’s also planning a trip home as a guest at the Fisher Theatre when the touring edition of “Ain’t Too Proud” launches its Detroit run in August.

“There’s no way I’m missing that,” Jackson says.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Temptations ask Broadway actor cast as Melvin Franklin to join group