David Ruffin
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David Ruffin. |
David Ruffin (Davis Eli Ruffin) (
January 18,
1941 –
June 1,
1991) was an American
soul singer most famous for his work as lead singer of
The Temptations from
1964 to
1968.
Born in
Whynot, Mississippi, David Ruffin and his older brother
Jimmy Ruffin moved first to
Memphis, Tennessee, and later to
Detroit, Michigan in the 1950s, both pursuing careers in music. Both Ruffins were eventually signed to the local Anna label as solo artists; the label was absorbed by
Motown Records in
1961. In January
1964 David Ruffin became a member of Motown singing group the Temptations after founding member
Elbridge "Al" Bryant was fired from the group. Ruffin was a distant cousin of Temptation
Melvin Franklin.
Ruffin sang backgrounds on the Temptations' records until November 1964, when
songwriter/
producer Smokey Robinson wrote a single especially for Ruffin to sing lead on. That song, "
My Girl", became the group's first #1 single and its signature song.
The follow-ups to "My Girl" were also extremely successful singles, including "
Since I Lost My Baby" (
1965), "
Ain't Too Proud to Beg" (
1966), "All I Need" (
1967), and "
I Wish It Would Rain" (1967). Ruffin's passionate and dramatic performances endeared him to the Temptations' audiences and fans. After Temptations
spin-off group
The Supremes had their name changed to
Diana Ross & the Supremes in early-1967, Ruffin felt that he should become the focal point of the Temptations, just as
Diana Ross was for her group, and began demanding that the group name be changed to
David Ruffin & the Temptations. He became addicted to
cocaine, and began regularly missing group meetings, rehearsals, and performances. Refusing to travel with the other Temptations, Ruffin and his then-girlfriend
Tammi Terrell traveled in a custom
limo.
In mid-
1968, the Temptations decided they could no longer put up with Ruffin's behavior, and replaced him with former
Contour Dennis Edwards. Bitter and upset that he had been fired, Ruffin began turning up at Temptations concerts and, when the group started to perform a Ruffin-era song such as "My Girl" or "Ain't Too Proud to Beg", would grab the microphone from Dennis Edwards and steal the show. The Temptations hired extra security to prevent Ruffin from attending their shows, and Ruffin in return filed suit against Motown Records, seeking a release from the label. Motown attempted to settle with Ruffin by offering him a solo recording contract, which he at first balked at, but later accepted.
Ruffin's first solo single was a song originally intended for the Temptations, "My Whole World Ended (The Moment You Left Me)". The single reached the US pop & R&B Top Ten, and Ruffin continued releasing solo material into the
1970s, with his final Top Ten hit being
1975's "Walk Away From Love", produced by
Van McCoy. He also recorded an album with his brother Jimmy during this period. After leaving Motown in
1977, Ruffin recorded for
Warner Brothers, and later signed with
RCA, accompanied by former Temptations bandmate
Eddie Kendricks.
After being inducted into the
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989 with the other Temptations, Ruffin, Kendrick, and Dennis Edwards began touring and recording as
Ruffin/Kendrick/Edwards: former leads of the Temptations. The project was cut short, however, when David Ruffin, age 50, died of a
drug overdose on
June 1,
1991 in
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Contrary to what Temptation Otis Williams claimed in his autobiography (later adapted into the
Temptations television miniseries), Ruffin's body was not randomly found in the middle of the street, nor did it lay unclaimed in a morgue for over a week. Instead, Ruffin's chauffeur drove him to the hospital, identifying him as "David Ruffin of the Temptations". A few days later, Ruffin's children claimed his body.
[* Cheryl Ruffin-Steinback, et al. v. Suzanne De Passe, et al. Appeal filed Sept 28, 2001 in United States court of Appeals. Text available here.]Albums
David Ruffin* 1969:
My Whole World Ended* 1969:
Feelin' Good* 1969:
Doin' His Thing* 1971:
David (unreleased, finally issued by Motown/Hip-O in 2004)
The Ruffin Brothers* 1971:
I Am My Brothers Keeper (with
Jimmy Ruffin)
David Ruffin* 1973:
David Ruffin* 1975:
Who I Am* 1976:
Everything's Coming Up Love* 1977:
In My Stride* 1979:
So Soon We Change* 1980:
Gentelman RuffinRuffin & Kendrick* 1988:
Ruffin & Kendrick*
David Ruffin's Gravesite
