Davis Eli "David" Ruffin (January 18, 1941 – June 1, 1991) was an American
soulSoul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
singer and
musicianA musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
most famous for his work as one of the lead singers of
the TemptationsThe Temptations is an American vocal group having achieved fame as one of the most successful acts to record for Motown Records. The group's repertoire has included, at various times during its five-decade career, R&B, doo-wop, funk, disco, soul, and adult contemporary music.Formed in Detroit,...
from 1964 to 1968 (or the group's "Classic Five" period as it was later known). He was the lead voice on such famous songs as "My Girl" and "
Ain't Too Proud to Beg"Ain't Too Proud to Beg" is a 1966 song and hit single by The Temptations for Motown Records' Gordy label, produced by Norman Whitfield and written by Whitfield and Edward Holland, Jr. The song peaked at number 13 on the Billboard Pop Chart, and was a number-one hit on the Billboard R&B charts for...
." Known for his unique raspy and anguished tenor vocals, Ruffin was ranked as one of the 100 Greatest Singers of All Time by
Rolling StoneRolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
magazine in 2008. He was inducted into the
Rock and Roll Hall of FameThe Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is a museum located on the shore of Lake Erie in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, United States. It is dedicated to archiving the history of some of the best-known and most influential artists, producers, engineers and others who have, in some major way,...
in 1989 for his work with the Temptations. Fellow Motown recording artist
Marvin GayeMarvin Pentz Gay, Jr. , better known by his stage name Marvin Gaye, was an American singer-songwriter and musician with a three-octave vocal range....
once said admiringly of Ruffin that, "I heard in [his voice] a strength my own voice lacked."
Early years and career
Ruffin was born
Davis Eli Ruffin on January 18, 1941 in the rural unincorporated community of
Whynot, MississippiWhynot is a rural unincorporated community in southeastern Lauderdale County, Mississippi, United States.Its history dates back to the 1840s.-History:...
, the son of Eli, a
BaptistBaptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
minister, and Ophelia Ruffin (
née Davis). His father was strict and at times violently abusive. Ruffin's mother died just months after his birth and his father married a schoolteacher, Earline, in 1942. As a young child, Ruffin, along with his other siblings (older brothers Quincy and
JimmyJimmy Ruffin is an American soul singer, and elder brother of the late David Ruffin of The Temptations. He had several hit records between the 1960s and 1980s, the most successful being "What Becomes of the Brokenhearted."-Life:...
, and sister Rita Mae), traveled with their father and their stepmother as a family gospel group opening shows for
Mahalia JacksonMahalia Jackson – January 27, 1972) was an African-American gospel singer. Possessing a powerful contralto voice, she was referred to as "The Queen of Gospel"...
and The Five Blind Boys of Mississippi among others. He also had an older sister Rosetta who died as a child. Ruffin sang in the choir at Mount Salem Methodist Church, talent shows, and wherever else he could. In 1955, at the age of fourteen, he left home under the guardianship of a minister and went to
Memphis, TennesseeMemphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
with the purpose of pursuing the ministry.
At age 15, Ruffin went to
Hot Springs, ArkansasHot Springs is the 10th most populous city in the U.S. state of Arkansas, the county seat of Garland County, and the principal city of the Hot Springs Metropolitan Statistical Area encompassing all of Garland County...
with the jazz musician Phineas Newborn, Sr. There they played at the Fifty Grand Ballroom and Casino. Ruffin continued to sing at talent shows, worked with horses at a jockey club and eventually became a member of
the Dixie NightingalesThe Dixie Nightingales, also known as Ollie & the Nightingales and The Nightingales, was an African-American male vocal group, whose repertoire included gospel and later rhythm and blues and soul music.-History:...
. He also sang with the Soul Stirrers briefly after the departure of
Johnnie TaylorJohnnie Harrison Taylor was an American vocalist in a wide variety of genres, from rhythm and blues, soul, blues and gospel to pop, doo-wop and disco.-Early years:...
. It was in Ruffin's travels as a teenager that he met such later popular personalities as
Elvis PresleyElvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
,
Little RichardRichard Wayne Penniman , known by the stage name Little Richard, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, recording artist, and actor, considered key in the transition from rhythm and blues to rock and roll in the 1950s. He was also the first artist to put the funk in the rock and roll beat and...
,
Bobby WomackRobert Dwayne "Bobby" Womack is an American singer-songwriter and musician. An active recording artist since the early 1960s where he started his career as the lead singer of his family musical group The Valentinos and as Sam Cooke's backing guitarist, Womack's career has spanned more than 40...
,
the Staple SingersThe Staple Singers were an American gospel, soul, and R&B singing group. Roebuck "Pops" Staples , the patriarch of the family, formed the group with his children Cleotha , Pervis , Yvonne , and Mavis...
, the Swan Silvertones and
the Dixie HummingbirdsThe Dixie Hummingbirds are an influential American gospel music group, spanning more than 80 years from the jubilee quartet style of the 1920s, through the "hard gospel" quartet style of Gospel's golden age in the 1940s and 1950s, to the eclectic pop-tinged songs of today.-History:Formed in 1928 in...
.
After some of his singing idols like
Sam CookeSamuel Cook, , better known under the stage name Sam Cooke, was an American gospel, R&B, soul, and pop singer, songwriter, and entrepreneur. He is considered to be one of the pioneers and founders of soul music. He is commonly known as the King of Soul for his distinctive vocal abilities and...
and
Jackie WilsonJack Leroy "Jackie" Wilson, Jr. was an American singer and performer. Known as "Mr. Excitement", Wilson was important in the transition of rhythm and blues into soul. He was known as a master showman, and as one of the most dynamic singers and performers in R&B and rock history...
had left gospel music and gone secular, Ruffin also turned in that direction. He met and came under the guardianship of Eddie Bush and Dorothy Helen who took David to
Detroit, MichiganDetroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
and introduced him to
Gwen Gordy FuquaGwen Gordy Fuqua was the elder sister of Motown founder Berry Gordy, sister of Motown songwriters Anna Gordy Gaye, Robert Gordy and George Gordy, sister of Motown Museum founder Esther Gordy Edwards, sister of Fuller Gordy and also Loucye Gordy, and the former wife of Harvey Fuqua...
,
Berry GordyBerry Gordy, Jr. is an American record producer, and the founder of the Motown record label, as well as its many subsidiaries.-Early years:...
's sister and
Billy DavisRoquel "Billy" Davis of Detroit was an American songwriter, record producer, and singer. Davis is best known as a songwriter for a number of soul musicians label, and as a writer/producer of commercial jingles, mostly for Coca-Cola...
. Asked about Ruffin in the
Detroit Free Press in 1988, Gordy Fuqua said, "He was very much a gentleman, yes ma'am and no ma'am, but the thing that really impressed me about David was that he was one of the only artists I've seen who rehearsed like he was on stage." In Detroit, his brother Jimmy Ruffin was pursuing a career in music while working at the
Ford Motor CompanyFord Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK...
. Jimmy landed a deal with Miracle Records, one of several labels owned by Berry Gordy's Tamla (later Motown) Records. On the
StreetGold video
The Original Leads of the Temptations, Ruffin explained how he went to Detroit and began to record a different kind of music. He said that he met Berry Gordy in 1957. Ruffin stated that Marvin Gaye and he used to pack records for Anna Records, which was a Chess-distributed label formed in 1958 by Gordy Fuqua and Billy Davis, and that he at one time lived with Berry Gordy’s father (who was a contractor) and worked with him in the building construction of Motown.
Early career
Strongly inspired by pop and R&B music of the time, Ruffin recorded his first released records with the songs "You and I" (1958) b/w "Believe Me" (1958) and the original version of "Statue of A Fool." "You and I" a melodic ballad with a 17-year-old Ruffin as he portrays a young man wanting him and his dream girl to be a pair, and the B-side "Believe Me" which was more of an uptempo song. These songs were recorded at VEGA Records and released under the name "Little David Bush", using the last name of the man he had met previously, Eddie Bush. Ruffin eventually started recording at Anna Records, and recorded the song "I'm in Love" b/w "One of These Days" (1961), with the Voice Masters, which included future Motown producer
Lamont DozierLamont Herbert Dozier is an American songwriter and record producer, born in Detroit, Michigan. Dozier has either co-written or produced several US Billboard #1 hits.-Career:...
and members of the singing group
the OriginalsThe Originals were a successful Motown R&B and soul group during the late 1960s and the 1970s, most notable for the hits "Baby I'm For Real", "The Bells" and the disco classic, "Down to Love Town"...
(and, at one time, it also had another future Temptations member,
Melvin FranklinDavid Melvin English better known by the stage name Melvin Franklin, was an American bass singer. Franklin is best known for his role as a member of Motown singing group The Temptations from 1960 to 1994....
, one of numerous people David would claim as a cousin). Later Billy (a/k/a "Roquel')Davis formed Check-Mate Records taking Ruffin with him. While there, he recorded the songs "Mr. Bus Driver (Please Hurry)", a minor local hit, b/w "Knock You Out With Love" (1962). He then recorded the songs, "Actions Speak Louder Than Words" b/w "You Can Get What I Got" (1961). Though Ruffin's name is on the label, the Voice Masters provide backup. Ruffin eventually met an up-and-coming local group by the name of The Temptations. His older
brother Jimmy Ruffin went on a
Motortown RevueThe Motortown Revue was the name given to the package concert tours of Motown artists in the 1960s. Early tours featured Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, Mary Wells, The Marvelettes, Barrett Strong, and The Contours as headlining acts, and gave then-second-tier acts such as Marvin Gaye, Martha & The...
tour with the Temptations, and he told David that they needed someone to sing
tenorThe tenor is a type of male singing voice and is the highest male voice within the modal register. The typical tenor voice lies between C3, the C one octave below middle C, to the A above middle C in choral music, and up to high C in solo work. The low extreme for tenors is roughly B2...
in their group. Ruffin showed interest in joining the group to
Otis WilliamsOtis Williams is an American baritone singer. Nicknamed "Big Daddy", he has also acted as a sporadic songwriter and record producer. Williams co-founded the Motown vocal group The Temptations in early 1960 as The Elgins, a group in which he continues to perform...
whom he lived very close to in Detroit. In January 1964, Ruffin became a member of the Temptations after founding member Elbridge "Al" Bryant was fired from the group (Ruffin's first recording session with the group was January 9, 1964). Though both David and his brother Jimmy were considered, David was given an edge over Jimmy thanks to his performance skills, which David displayed when he joined the Temptations on-stage during a local Detroit performance earlier in 1963.
With the Temptations
The bespectacled Ruffin initially sang backgrounds, while the role of lead singer mostly alternated between Eddie Kendrick and
Paul WilliamsPaul Williams was an American baritone singer and choreographer. Williams is noted for being one of the founding members and original lead singer of the Motown group The Temptations...
. He did sing a few lead parts both on stage and in the studio during his first year with the group, but his leads on these studio tracks would not be released for over a year, as they were considered not good enough to showcase Ruffin's vocals.
Smokey RobinsonWilliam "Smokey" Robinson, Jr. is an American R&B singer-songwriter, record producer, and former record executive. Robinson is one of the primary figures associated with Motown, second only to the company's founder, Berry Gordy...
, who
producedA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
and
co-wroteA songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
most of the Temptations' material at this point, saw Ruffin during this period as a "sleeping giant" in the group with a unique voice that was, "mellow," yet, "gruff." Robinson thought that if he could write just the perfect song for Ruffin's voice, then he could have a smash hit. The song was to be something that Ruffin could "belt out" yet something that was also "melodic and sweet". That song, "My Girl" recorded in November 1964 and released a month later, became the group's first #1 single and its signature song and elevated Ruffin to the role of lead singer and front man.
The follow-ups to "My Girl" were also extremely successful singles, including "
It's Growing"It's Growing" is a 1965 hit single by The Temptations for the Gordy label. Written by Miracles members Smokey Robinson and Pete Moore and produced by Robinson, the song was a top 20 pop single on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States, on which it peaked at number 18...
" (1965), "
Since I Lost My Baby"Since I Lost My Baby" is a 1965 hit single recorded by The Temptations for the Motown Records' Gordy label. Written by Miracles members Smokey Robinson and Pete Moore and produced by Robinson, the song was a top 20 pop single on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States, on which it peaked at...
" (1965), "
My Baby"My Baby" is a 1965 hit single recorded by The Temptations for the Gordy label. Written by Miracles members Smokey Robinson, Ronnie White, and Pete Moore and produced by Robinson, the song was a top 20 pop hit in the United States, and a top 5 hit on the R&B charts.An extension of the theme from...
" (1965), "
Ain't Too Proud to Beg"Ain't Too Proud to Beg" is a 1966 song and hit single by The Temptations for Motown Records' Gordy label, produced by Norman Whitfield and written by Whitfield and Edward Holland, Jr. The song peaked at number 13 on the Billboard Pop Chart, and was a number-one hit on the Billboard R&B charts for...
" (1966), "
Beauty Is Only Skin Deep"Beauty Is Only Skin Deep" is a 1966 hit single recorded by The Temptations for the Gordy label. Written by Norman Whitfield and Edward Holland, Jr., and produced by Whitfield, the song was a number three pop hit and a number one R&B hit in the United States.The song's theme is inner beauty, and...
" (1966), "
(I Know) I'm Losing You" I'm Losing You" is a 1966 hit single recorded by The Temptations for the Gordy label and produced by Norman Whitfield.- History :...
" (1966), "
All I Need"All I Need" is a 1967 hit single recorded by The Temptations for the Gordy label. It is the group's first single to be produced by Norman Whitfield's protégé Frank Wilson. Written by Wilson, Edward Holland, Jr. and R...
" (1967), "
(Loneliness Made Me Realize) It's You That I Need" It's You That I Need" is a 1967 hit single recorded by The Temptations for the Gordy label and produced by Norman Whitfield. This is one of the small handful of pre-psychedelic era songs the group recorded that had more than two members singing lead at one point, and the only one that charted...
" (1967), "
I Wish It Would Rain"I Wish It Would Rain" is a 1967 song recorded by the Temptations for the Motown label and produced by Norman Whitfield.-Background:...
" (1967), and "
I Could Never Love Another (After Loving You)"I Could Never Love Another " is a single recorded by The Temptations and released on Motown Records' Gordy label during the spring of 1968...
" (1968). Ruffin also shared lead vocals on the 1967 hit single "You're My Everything" with Eddie Kendrick. The tall, 6'3", Ruffin's passionate and dramatic performances endeared him to the Temptations' audiences and fans. According to
Otis WilliamsOtis Williams is an American baritone singer. Nicknamed "Big Daddy", he has also acted as a sporadic songwriter and record producer. Williams co-founded the Motown vocal group The Temptations in early 1960 as The Elgins, a group in which he continues to perform...
, Ruffin (playfully nicknamed "Ruff" by the group) was initially a natural comedian and a hard-working singer when he first joined the group. Ruffin's most notable non-vocal contribution to the Temptations was the masterminding of their trademark four-headed microphone stand.
By 1967, however, ego problems with Ruffin became an issue for the group. He became addicted to
cocaineCocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. The name comes from "coca" in addition to the alkaloid suffix -ine, forming cocaine. It is a stimulant of the central nervous system, an appetite suppressant, and a topical anesthetic...
and began missing rehearsals and performances. Refusing to travel with the other Temptations, Ruffin and his then-girlfriend
Tammi TerrellThomasina Winifred Montgomery, known as Tammi Terrell was an American singer-songwriter most notable for her association with Motown and her duets with Marvin Gaye. As a teenager she recorded for the Scepter–Wand, Try Me and Checker record labels. She signed with Motown in April 1965 and enjoyed...
traveled in a custom
limoLimo may refer to:* Limousine, a luxury car* Limo , an administrative division in southern Ethiopia* Limousine , a song from the band Brand New* LiMo Platform, a mobile phone and device operating system...
(with the image of his trademark black rimmed glasses painted on the door). After
the SupremesThe Supremes, an American female singing group, were the premier act of Motown Records during the 1960s.Originally founded as The Primettes in Detroit, Michigan, in 1959, The Supremes' repertoire included doo-wop, pop, soul, Broadway show tunes, psychedelic soul, and disco...
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 RossDiana Ernestine Earle Ross is an American singer, record producer, and actress. Ross was lead singer of the Motown group The Supremes during the 1960s. After leaving the group in 1970, Ross began a solo career that included successful ventures into film and Broadway...
was for her group and began demanding that the group name be changed to
David Ruffin & the Temptations. This led to a number of fights between Ruffin and the group's
de facto leader, Otis Williams. In addition to the group's problems with Ruffin's ego, he began inquiring into the Temptations' financial records, demanding an accounting of the group's money. This caused friction between Ruffin and Gordy.
In June 1968, the Temptations agreed that Ruffin had finally crossed the line when he missed a concert that month to instead attend a performance by his new girlfriend, Barbara Martin. Ruffin was replaced with
Dennis EdwardsDennis Edwards is a soul and R&B singer, most noted for being one of Motown act The Temptations' lead singers replacing David Ruffin. He is the father of Issa Pointer, whose mother is Ruth Pointer of The Pointer Sisters.-Career:...
, a former member of
the ContoursThe Contours were one of the early African-American soul singing groups signed to Motown Records.The group is best known for its Billboard Top 10 hit, "Do You Love Me," a million-selling song that peaked twice in the Top 20....
who had been a friend of Ruffin and the group as a whole beforehand. Though Ruffin himself personally encouraged Edwards to take his place, after Edwards' first few dates with the group, Ruffin began turning up unannounced at Temptations' concerts. When the group started to perform a Ruffin-era song such as "My Girl" or "Ain't Too Proud to Beg", Ruffin would suddenly walk on to the stage, take the microphone from Edwards' hands, and steal the show, embarrassing the group but entertaining the fans.
Meanwhile, Ruffin filed suit against Motown Records, seeking a release from the label and an accounting of his money. Motown counter-sued to keep the singer from leaving the label and eventually the case was settled. The settlement required Ruffin to remain with Motown to finish out his initial contract (Ruffin joined Motown as a solo artist and always had a separate contract from the other Temptations, which some felt caused a lot of the in-fighting within the group).
Solo years and personal issues
Ruffin's first solo single was a song originally intended for the Temptations, "
My Whole World Ended (The Moment You Left Me)"My Whole World Ended " is the solo debut single for former Temptations lead singer David Ruffin, released on Motown Records in early 1969 . The song was written by Harvey Fuqua, Johnny Bristol, Pam Sawyer, and James Roach, with its melody and intro based upon the classical music piece...
". The single from the album entitled
My Whole World EndedMy Whole World Ended is the 1969 debut solo album of David Ruffin, who had risen to fame as lead singer of The Temptations from 1964 to 1968...
was released in 1969 followed soon by the album
Feelin' GoodFeelin' Good is the second solo album from former Temptations member David Ruffin. Released only six month after his solo debut My Whole World Ended , this album climbed to #9 on the R/B charts.-Track listing:...
. The single reached the US Pop & R&B "Top Ten." A third album, titled
DavidDavid is an album by Temptations singer, David Ruffin. Although recorded during the late 1960s through the early 1970s, the album was not released until 2004. The sole CD edition is currently out of print and regularly commands high prices when offered for sale...
, was recorded in 1970-71, but was shelved by Motown and did not see a commercial release until 2004; his next official release for Motown did not arrive until 1973, when
David RuffinDavid Ruffin is the self-titled album from singer David Ruffin. Coming out after Motown simply refused to put out his proposed third album in 1971 , Ruffin was likewise no longer afforded access to "A-list" material and support musicians...
was released. His final Top Ten hit was 1975's "
Walk Away from Love"Walk Away from Love" is 1975 R&B crossover single by David Ruffin The single, produced by Van McCoy, was number one on the US R&B singles chart for one week in early 1976...
", produced by
Van McCoyVan Allen Clinton McCoy was an accomplished musician, music producer, arranger, songwriter, and orchestra conductor. He is known best for his 1975 internationally successful song "The Hustle", which is still played in dance halls and on radio to this day more than thirty years since his death...
, which reached number nine on the Pop chart. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a
gold discMusic recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,...
by the R.I.A.A. in February 1976. Other notable recordings from Ruffin's solo career include "I Lost Everything I've Ever Loved" (1969); the gospel-inflected "I'm So Glad I Feel For You" (1970); "Blood Donors Needed (Give All You Can)" (1973); "Common Man" (1973) (which was
sampledIn music, sampling is the act of taking a portion, or sample, of one sound recording and reusing it as an instrument or a different sound recording of a song or piece. Sampling was originally developed by experimental musicians working with musique concrète and electroacoustic music, who physically...
on the 2001
Jay-ZShawn Corey Carter , better known by his stage name Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is one of the most financially successful hip hop artists and entrepreneurs in America, having a net worth of over $450 million as of 2010...
song "Never Change"); "No Matter Where" (1974); "Who I Am" (1975); "Statue Of a Fool" (1975); and cover versions of the Jackson Five's "
I Want You Back"I Want You Back" was released in 1969 and in early 1970s became a number-one hit single recorded by The Jackson 5 for the Motown label. The song, along with a b-side cover of Smokey Robinson & the Miracles' "Who's Lovin' You", was the only single from the first Jackson 5 album, Diana Ross Presents...
", "
Rainy Night in Georgia"Rainy Night in Georgia" is a song written by Tony Joe White in 1962 and popularized by R&B vocalist Brook Benton in 1970.In 1969, after several years without a major hit, Benton had signed to a new record label, Cotillion Records...
" popularized by
Brook BentonBrook Benton was an American singer and songwriter who was popular with rock and roll, rhythm and blues, and pop music audiences during the late 1950s and early 1960s, when he scored hits such as "It's Just A Matter Of Time" and "Endlessly", many of which he co-wrote.He made a comeback in 1970...
(both recorded for the shelved 1970 album); and Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes' "I Miss You", featuring Eddie Kendrick (1973).
In 1970 Ruffin recorded an album with his brother Jimmy,
I am My Brother's Keeper, for which they had minor hits with "When My Love Hand (Comes Tumbling Down)" and "Your Love Was Worth Waiting For". While his solo career initially showed promise, Ruffin reportedly went into decline in part because of his cocaine addiction and the lack of support from Motown.
After leaving Motown in 1977, Ruffin recorded for
Warner Bros. RecordsWarner Bros. Records Inc. is an American record label. It was the foundation label of the present-day Warner Music Group, and now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of that corporation. It maintains a close relationship with its former parent, Warner Bros. Pictures, although the two companies...
releasing the albums
So Soon We ChangeSo Soon We Change is a 1979 album from Temptations singer, David Ruffin.-Track listing:#"Let Your Love Rain Down on Me"#"Break My Heart"#"I Get Excited"#"Chain on the Brain"#"Morning Sun Looks Blue"#"Let's Stay Together"#"So Soon We Change"...
(1979) and
Gentleman RuffinGentleman Ruffin is the final solo album from Temptations singer, David Ruffin before his death. The cover art was also the inspiration for the art on rapper Wiz Khalifa's mixtape Kush and Orange Juice.-Track listing:#"I Wanna Be with You"...
(1980), and later signed with
RCA RecordsRCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label...
, accompanied by former Temptations band-mate Eddie Kendrick, who chose to rekindle their friendship when Kendrick himself started experiencing problems with the Temptations. In 1982, Ruffin joined The Temptations'
Reunion tour and recorded the smash hit "Standing on the Top" with
Rick JamesJames Ambrose Johnson, Jr. , better known by his stage name Rick James, was an American singer, songwriter, musician and record producer. James was a popular performer in the late 1970s and 1980s, scoring four number-one hits on the U.S. R&B charts performing in the genres of funk and R&B...
. In 1985, Ruffin started touring with Kendrick as a duo act.
In 1982, Ruffin was sentenced to six months in a low-security prison in
Terre Haute, IndianaTerre Haute is a city and the county seat of Vigo County, Indiana, United States, near the state's western border with Illinois. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 60,785 and its metropolitan area had a population of 170,943. The city is the county seat of Vigo County and...
, for failing to pay taxes during the mid-1970s. On May 19, 1986, he pleaded no contest to a charge of receiving and concealing stolen property worth less than $100 (a Colt .32-caliber handgun) and was fined $50 plus $100 in court costs. Charges of assault and battery and receiving stolen property worth more than $100 were dropped. A 1987 cocaine arrest landed him in jail for repeated parole violations.
In 1985, longtime Temptations fans
Hall & OatesHall & Oates are an American musical duo composed of Daryl Hall and John Oates. They achieved their greatest fame in the late 1970s and early to mid-1980s. Both sing and play instruments. They specialized in a fusion of rock and roll and rhythm and blues styles, which they dubbed "rock and soul."...
teamed up with Ruffin and Kendrick to perform at the re-opening of the
Apollo TheaterThe Apollo Theater in New York City is one of the most famous, and older, music halls in the United States, and the most famous club associated almost exclusively with Black performers...
in New York. Their performance was released as a relatively successful live album and single. The four singers also sang a medley of Temptations hits at
Live AidLive Aid was a dual-venue concert that was held on 13 July 1985. The event was organized by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure to raise funds for relief of the ongoing Ethiopian famine. Billed as the "global jukebox", the event was held simultaneously in Wembley Stadium in London, England, United Kingdom ...
on July 13, 1985.
John OatesJohn William Oates is an American rock, R&B and soul guitarist, musician, songwriter and producer best known as half of the rock and soul duo Hall & Oates ....
later wrote a minor hit single for Ruffin and Kendrick, but the two duos fell out, allegedly due to
Daryl Hall'sDaryl Hall is an American rock, R&B and soul singer, keyboardist, guitarist, songwriter and producer, best known as the co-founder and lead vocalist of Hall & Oates . Hall scored several Billboard chart hits in the 1970s and early 1980s, and is regarded as one of the best blue eyed soul singers...
objections to Ruffin's heavy drug use. After being inducted into the
Rock and Roll Hall of FameThe Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is a museum located on the shore of Lake Erie in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, United States. It is dedicated to archiving the history of some of the best-known and most influential artists, producers, engineers and others who have, in some major way,...
, in 1989, with the other Temptations, Ruffin, Kendrick and Dennis Edwards began touring and recording as "Ruffin/Kendrick/Edwards: Former Leads of The Temptations".
Personal life
Ruffin was married twice, first to Sandra Ruffin and later to Joy Hamilton. With Sandra, Ruffin had three daughters: Cheryl, Nedra and Kimberly. He has one son, David Ruffin Junior (also a recording artist), with his longtime live-in girlfriend Genna Sapia, who later added his last name to hers in tribute, becoming Genna Sapia-Ruffin. Ruffin had a more public relationship with singer
Tammi TerrellThomasina Winifred Montgomery, known as Tammi Terrell was an American singer-songwriter most notable for her association with Motown and her duets with Marvin Gaye. As a teenager she recorded for the Scepter–Wand, Try Me and Checker record labels. She signed with Motown in April 1965 and enjoyed...
.
Death
After a successful month-long tour of England with Kendrick and Edwards, Ruffin collapsed on June 1, 1991, in a
Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
, crack house after sharing ten vials with a friend in under half an hour. Although the cause of death was ruled an accidental overdose of
cocaineCocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. The name comes from "coca" in addition to the alkaloid suffix -ine, forming cocaine. It is a stimulant of the central nervous system, an appetite suppressant, and a topical anesthetic...
, Ruffin's family and friends suspected foul play, claiming that a money belt containing the proceeds from the tour ($40,000) was missing from his body. He had just finished recording the single "Hurt the One You Love" for
Motorcity RecordsMotorcity Records is a British record label formed by producer Ian Levine in 1989. The label aimed to record new material with former Motown artists.-History:...
.
In
The Temptations television miniseries, Ruffin's beaten body is depicted as being thrown from a moving car in front of a hospital, where he dies. Also stated in the mini-series was that his body remained unclaimed in a morgue for a week after his death. As a result, Ruffin's estate filed suit against
NBCThe National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
and other major players involved in the making of the series, claiming defamation. According to the plaintiffs in the case, Ruffin was actually taken to the hospital by a limousine and was escorted to the waiting area by his driver, who informed the attendants of his identity. The Ruffin children further state that his body was claimed by one of them within a few days after his death.
Legacy
Ruffin had many admirers among his fellow artists, mainly for the emotive power he brought to every song he sang. "Nobody could sing like David Ruffin," said his close friend and colleague
Martha ReevesMartha Rose Reeves is an American R&B and Pop singer and former politician, and was the lead singer of the Motown girl group Martha and the Vandellas. During her tenure with The Vandellas, they scored over a dozen hit singles, including "Jimmy Mack", "Dancing in the Street" and "Nowhere to Run"...
(of
Martha and the VandellasMartha and the Vandellas were among the most successful groups of the Motown roster during the period 1963–1967...
fame). His contemporary, label-mate, and long-time acquaintance Marvin Gaye was particularly impressed with the
virilityVirility refers to any of a wide range of masculine characteristics viewed positively. It is not applicable to women or to negative characteristics. The Oxford English Dictionary says virile is "marked by strength or force." Virility is commonly associated with vigour, health, sturdiness, and...
of Ruffin's voice. Gaye said Ruffin's work "made me remember that when a lot of women listen to music, they want to feel the power of a real man."
Daryl Hall of Hall & Oates, one of Ruffin's biggest fans, said, "His voice had a certain glorious anguish that spoke to people on many emotional levels". Ruffin himself said, "I don't know what kind of voice I have, I really don't"...it's just about "the feeling I get for the song."
The raspy-voiced
Rod StewartRoderick David "Rod" Stewart, CBE is a British singer-songwriter and musician, born and raised in North London, England and currently residing in Epping. He is of Scottish and English ancestry....
fell in love with Ruffin's voice after he heard "
I Wish It Would Rain"I Wish It Would Rain" is a 1967 song recorded by the Temptations for the Motown label and produced by Norman Whitfield.-Background:...
". "It jumped out of the speakers and ravished my soul," Stewart exclaimed. Stewart would later become friends with Ruffin. "His voice was so powerful -- like a foghorn on the
Queen Mary," Stewart told
Rolling StoneRolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
magazine.
For all of his nearly forty years in the music business, much of it with modest success, Ruffin is remembered almost exclusively for his relatively brief stint in the Temptations. The cover art of his last album
Gentleman RuffinGentleman Ruffin is the final solo album from Temptations singer, David Ruffin before his death. The cover art was also the inspiration for the art on rapper Wiz Khalifa's mixtape Kush and Orange Juice.-Track listing:#"I Wanna Be with You"...
was the inspiration on the art of rapper
Wiz KhalifaCameron Jibril Thomaz , better known by the stage name Wiz Khalifa , is an American rapper. He released his debut album, Show and Prove, in 2006, and signed to Warner Bros. Records in 2007...
's mixtape
Kush and Orange JuiceKush & Orange Juice is a mixtape by rapper Wiz Khalifa, released as a free online download on April 14, 2010. His eighth independently produced mixtape, Kush & Orange Juice gained notice by becoming the No...
.
In popular culture
In 1998,
NBCThe National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
aired
The Temptations, a four-hour television miniseries about the group's career. Ruffin was portrayed by
Leon RobinsonLeon Preston Robinson IV usually credited as simply Leon, is an American actor and singer, who began his professional career as an actor in 1981.-Personal life:...
(who uses the professional name "Leon"). The actor won high praise for his portrayal of Ruffin, but Ruffin's family was upset by the way the miniseries portrayed Ruffin and filed a lawsuit against the producers of the miniseries and also
Otis WilliamsOtis Williams is an American baritone singer. Nicknamed "Big Daddy", he has also acted as a sporadic songwriter and record producer. Williams co-founded the Motown vocal group The Temptations in early 1960 as The Elgins, a group in which he continues to perform...
, whose memoir had been the source material for the miniseries. The case was dismissed in favor of the defendants, with Williams later claiming that he had no real control over the presentation of the material.
Grand PubaMaxwell Dixon is an emcee best known as a member of the group Brand Nubian.-Biography:He made his debut with the group Masters of Ceremony. Its album Dynamite was hailed by critics, but probably due to lack of sales, the group soon disbanded, and Puba emerged as the lead emcee of Brand Nubian...
of
Brand NubianBrand Nubian is an American hip hop group from New Rochelle, New York, consisting of three MC's: Grand Puba , Sadat X and Lord Jamar , and two DJs: DJ Alamo and DJ Sincere...
referenced the singer on the 1990 single "All for One", stating: "I hit a beat and swing a note as if my name was David Ruffin".
The first song on
Fall Out BoyFall Out Boy is an American rock band from Wilmette, Illinois, formed in 2001. The band consists of vocalist, guitarist and composer Patrick Stump, bassist and lyricist Pete Wentz, guitarist Joe Trohman, and drummer Andy Hurley. The band released five studio albums from 2003–2008...
's 2005 CD
From Under the Cork TreeFrom Under the Cork Tree is the third studio album by American rock band Fall Out Boy. It was released on May 3, 2005, through Island Records as the band's major label debut...
was to have been titled "My Name is David Ruffin...and These are The Temptations" but for legal reasons, the name was changed (to "Our Lawyer Made Us Change the Name of This Song So We Wouldn't Get Sued").
HotstylzHotstylz is a rap group based out of Chicago, Illinois, USA, and signed to Yung Joc's label Swagg Team Entertainment, distributed by Jive/RCA Records...
used Ruffin's song and referred his name on their song Lookin' Boy
Complete lead vocals with the Temptations
- The Temptations Sing Smokey
The Temptations Sing Smokey is a 1965 album by The Temptations for the label. As its name implies, it is composed entirely of songs written and produced by Smokey Robinson, and several other members of the Miracles as well....
(1965)
- "My Girl" (Robinson, Ronald White
Ronald "Ronnie" White was an African American soul singer and songwriter, notable as a founding member of The Miracles, and the only member to survive all of that group's line-up changes...
)
- "You'll Lose a Precious Love" (Robinson) – Recorded on March 2, 1964, it's the first lead Ruffin recorded with the group.
- "It's Growing
"It's Growing" is a 1965 hit single by The Temptations for the Gordy label. Written by Miracles members Smokey Robinson and Pete Moore and produced by Robinson, the song was a top 20 pop single on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States, on which it peaked at number 18...
" (Robinson, Warren Moore)
- "Who's Lovin' You
"Who's Lovin' You" is a Motown soul song, written in 1960 by William "Smokey" Robinson. The song has been recorded by many different artists including The Miracles, who recorded the 1960 original version, The Temptations, The Supremes, Terence Trent-D'arby, Brenda and The Tabulations, John Farnham,...
" (Robinson)
- "You've Really Got a Hold on Me
"You've Really Got a Hold on Me" is a 1962 Top 10 hit single by The Miracles for the Tamla label. One of the group's most covered tunes, this million-selling song is a 1998 Grammy Hall of Fame inductee...
" (Robinson) – Ruffin and Paul Williams sings "the unison harmony co-lead vocal" with Eddie Kendrick
- The Temptin' Temptations
The Temptin' Temptations is a 1965 album by The Temptations for the Gordy label. The album includes several of the group's hits from 1965, and also includes a handful of singles that were not included on the Temptations' first 1965 album, The Temptations Sing Smokey...
(1965)
- "Since I Lost My Baby
"Since I Lost My Baby" is a 1965 hit single recorded by The Temptations for the Motown Records' Gordy label. Written by Miracles members Smokey Robinson and Pete Moore and produced by Robinson, the song was a top 20 pop single on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States, on which it peaked at...
" (Robinson, Moore)
- "My Baby
"My Baby" is a 1965 hit single recorded by The Temptations for the Gordy label. Written by Miracles members Smokey Robinson, Ronnie White, and Pete Moore and produced by Robinson, the song was a top 20 pop hit in the United States, and a top 5 hit on the R&B charts.An extension of the theme from...
" (Robinson, Moore, Robert RogersBobby Rogers is an American soul singer and songwriter, notable as a member of Motown Records' first signed act and first million selling group The Miracles from 1956 to present. He is also the grandfather of R&B singer Brandi Williams from R&B girl group Blaque-Life:Rogers is the son of the late...
)
- "Born to Love You" (Ivy Jo Hunter
Ivy Jo Hunter, born George Ivy Hunter and sometimes credited as Ivy Hunter, is a former R&B songwriter, record producer and singer, most associated with his work for the Motown label in the 1960s....
, William "Mickey" Stevenson) – shared with Eddie Kendrick
- "You're the One I Need" (Robinson) – Ruffin sings the bridge with Paul Williams while Kendrick leads the rest of the song
- Gettin' Ready
Gettin' Ready is a 1966 album by The Temptations for the label. It marks the transition of the group from having Smokey Robinson as its main producer, with new producer Norman Whitfield taking over Robinson's position...
(1966)
- "Say You" (Charles Jones, Robert Dobyne, Robert Staunton)
- "Little Miss Sweetness" (Robinson)
- "Ain't Too Proud to Beg
"Ain't Too Proud to Beg" is a 1966 song and hit single by The Temptations for Motown Records' Gordy label, produced by Norman Whitfield and written by Whitfield and Edward Holland, Jr. The song peaked at number 13 on the Billboard Pop Chart, and was a number-one hit on the Billboard R&B charts for...
" (Edward Holland, Jr.Edward Holland, Jr. is an American singer, songwriter and record producer....
, Norman WhitfieldNorman Jesse Whitfield was an American songwriter and producer, best known for his work with Berry Gordy's Motown label during the 1960s...
)
- Greatest Hits
Greatest Hits is a 1966 greatest hits album for The Temptations, released by the Gordy label. Included are popular Temptations hits such as "The Way You Do the Things You Do", "Get Ready", "Since I Lost My Baby", "My Baby", "Don't Look Back", and their signature #1 hit, "My Girl"...
(1966)
- "Beauty Is Only Skin Deep
"Beauty Is Only Skin Deep" is a 1966 hit single recorded by The Temptations for the Gordy label. Written by Norman Whitfield and Edward Holland, Jr., and produced by Whitfield, the song was a number three pop hit and a number one R&B hit in the United States.The song's theme is inner beauty, and...
" (recorded in 1966, E. Holland, Whitfield)
- Temptations Live!
Temptations Live! was the first live album to be released by The Temptations. Recorded on October 3, 1966 in the Upper Deck of the Roostertail club in Detroit, Michigan, and released on album by Gordy Records in 1967, the album features David Ruffin, Paul Williams, Eddie Kendricks, Melvin...
(1966)
- "I Want a Love I Can See
"I Want a Love I Can See" is a 1963 single by The Temptations for the Gordy label. The single was the group's first A-side to be written and produced by Miracles lead singer Smokey Robinson. Robinson had previously written the B-side "Slow Down Heart", but for over the past year Berry Gordy, Jr...
" (Robinson) – shared with Paul Williams (who was the only lead on the studio version) and Eddie Kendrick for this live performance
- "Yesterday
"Yesterday" is a song originally recorded by The Beatles for their 1965 album Help!. The song first hit the United Kingdom top 10 three months after the release of Help!. The song remains popular today with more than 1,600 cover versions, one of the most covered songs in the history of recorded...
"/"What Now My Love"What Now, My Love?" is the English title of a popular song whose original French version, "Et Maintenant" was written in 1961 by composer Gilbert Bécaud and lyricist Pierre Delanoë...
" (John LennonJohn Winston Lennon, MBE was an English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music...
, Paul McCartneySir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
, Gilbert BécaudGilbert Bécaud was a French singer, composer and actor, known as "Monsieur 100,000 Volts" for his energetic performances. His best-known hits are "Nathalie" and "Et Maintenant", a 1961 release that became an English language hit as "What Now My Love"...
, Pierre DelanoëPierre Delanoë , born Pierre Leroyer, was a French songwriter/lyricist who wrote for dozens of singers such as Edith Piaf, Charles Aznavour, Petula Clark, and Johnny Hallyday....
, Carl SigmanCarl Sigman was an American songwriter.-Biography:Born in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, New York, Sigman graduated from law school and passed his Bar exams to practice in the state of New York...
) – Ruffin does a soulful rendition of McCartney's "Yesterday". He also sings Bécaud's "What Now My Love" with Melvin Franklin doing speaking parts in French.
- The Temptations with a Lot o' Soul
The Temptations with a Lot 'o Soul is a 1967 album by The Temptations for the Gordy label. Featuring four hit singles, With a Lot o' Soul is the most successful Temptations album from their "classic 5" era, during which David Ruffin, Eddie Kendricks, Paul Williams, Melvin Franklin, and Otis...
(1967)
- "(I Know) I'm Losing You
" I'm Losing You" is a 1966 hit single recorded by The Temptations for the Gordy label and produced by Norman Whitfield.- History :...
" (Cornelius GrantCornelius Grant was born April 27, 1943 in Fairfield, Texas, a small town 80 miles south of Dallas. Raised by his grandmother, who he adored, he taught himself how to play guitar at the age of nine. When he was 13, his family moved to Detroit....
, E. Holland, Whitfield)
- "Ain't No Sun Since You've Been Gone" (Grant, Sylvia Moy
Sylvia Moy is a songwriter and record producer, formerly associated with the Motown Records group. The first woman at the Detroit-based music label to write and produce for Motown acts, she is probably best known for her songs written for Stevie Wonder....
, Whitfield)
- "All I Need
"All I Need" is a 1967 hit single recorded by The Temptations for the Gordy label. It is the group's first single to be produced by Norman Whitfield's protégé Frank Wilson. Written by Wilson, Edward Holland, Jr. and R...
" (Frank WilsonFrank Wilson is an African American former songwriter and record producer for Motown Records.-Biography:He was born to James Wilson and Samantha Gibbs...
, E. Holland, R. Dean Taylor)
- "(Loneliness Made Me Realize) It's You That I Need
" It's You That I Need" is a 1967 hit single recorded by The Temptations for the Gordy label and produced by Norman Whitfield. This is one of the small handful of pre-psychedelic era songs the group recorded that had more than two members singing lead at one point, and the only one that charted...
" (E. Holland, Whitfield)
- "Just One Last Look" (Holland-Dozier-Holland
Holland–Dozier–Holland is a songwriting and production team made up of Lamont Dozier and brothers Brian Holland and Edward Holland, Jr. They are considered to be one of the greatest songwriting teams in popular music...
)
- "Sorry is a Sorry Word" (E. Holland, Hunter)
- "You're My Everything" (Roger Penzabene
Roger Penzabene was a songwriter for the Motown label. Among his most notable compositions are "The End of Our Road" by Gladys Knight & the Pips and Marvin Gaye, and a trilogy of hits for the Temptations: "You're My Everything", "I Wish It Would Rain", and "I Could Never Love Another ".The...
, Grant, Whitfield) – shared with Eddie Kendrick
- "Now That You've Won Me" (Robinson)
- The Temptations in a Mellow Mood
The Temptations in a Mellow Mood is a 1967 album by The Temptations for the Motown label. Composed primarily of pop standards such as "Ol' Man River" and "For Once in My Life", and similar songs written by Holland-Dozier-Holland and other Motown staff songwriters, the Mellow Mood album was part of...
(1967)
- "Hello, Young Lovers
"Hello, Young Lovers" is a show tune from the 1951 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, The King and I. It is sung by Anna, played by Gertrude Lawrence in the original Broadway production, by Valerie Hobson in the original London West End production, and by Deborah Kerr in the film version...
" (Richard RodgersRichard Charles Rodgers was an American composer of music for more than 900 songs and for 43 Broadway musicals. He also composed music for films and television. He is best known for his songwriting partnerships with the lyricists Lorenz Hart and Oscar Hammerstein II...
, Oscar Hammerstein IIOscar Greeley Clendenning Hammerstein II was an American librettist, theatrical producer, and theatre director of musicals for almost forty years. Hammerstein won eight Tony Awards and was twice awarded an Academy Award for "Best Original Song". Many of his songs are standard repertoire for...
) – vocal ensembleA musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
; Ruffin has brief solos
- "Somewhere
"Somewhere" is a song from the 1957 Broadway musical West Side Story which was made into a film in 1961. The music is composed by Leonard Bernstein with lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and takes a phrase from the slow movement of Beethoven's 'Emperor' Piano Concerto, which forms the start of the...
" (Leonard BernsteinLeonard Bernstein August 25, 1918 – October 14, 1990) was an American conductor, composer, author, music lecturer and pianist. He was among the first conductors born and educated in the United States of America to receive worldwide acclaim...
, Stephen SondheimStephen Joshua Sondheim is an American composer and lyricist for stage and film. He is the winner of an Academy Award, multiple Tony Awards including the Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre, multiple Grammy Awards, a Pulitzer Prize and the Laurence Olivier Award...
)
- "I'm Ready for Love
"I'm Ready for Love" is a 1966 single by Motown girl group Martha and the Vandellas. Scoring their biggest hit since "Nowhere to Run" peaked at #8 on the pop singles chart, this tune, which had the narrator longing to be in love with her object of affection, rose to #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 and...
" (Holland-Dozier-Holland)
- "What Now My Love
"What Now, My Love?" is the English title of a popular song whose original French version, "Et Maintenant" was written in 1961 by composer Gilbert Bécaud and lyricist Pierre Delanoë...
" (Bécaud, Delanoë, Sigman)
- "The Impossible Dream
"The Impossible Dream " is a popular song composed by Mitch Leigh, with lyrics written by Joe Darion. It was written for the 1965 musical Man of La Mancha...
" (Joe DarionJoe Darion, was an American musical theatre lyricist, most famous for Man of La Mancha.Darion was born in New York City and died in Lebanon, New Hampshire.-External links:* at the Internet Broadway Database...
, Mitch LeighMitch Leigh is an American musical theatre composer and theatrical producer best known for the musical Man Of La Mancha.-Biography:Leigh was born in Brooklyn, New York) as Irwin Michnick...
)
- The Temptations Wish It Would Rain
The Temptations Wish It Would Rain is a 1968 album by The Temptations for the Gordy label. It was the final release from the group's "Classic-5" era, during which David Ruffin, Eddie Kendricks, Paul Williams, Melvin Franklin, and Otis Williams constituted the Temptations' lineup.Wish It Would...
(1968)
- "I Could Never Love Another (After Loving You)
"I Could Never Love Another " is a single recorded by The Temptations and released on Motown Records' Gordy label during the spring of 1968...
" (Penzabene, Barrett StrongBarrett Strong is an American singer and songwriter. Strong was the first artist to record a hit for Motown, although he is best remembered for his work as a songwriter, particularly in association with producer Norman Whitfield.-His career:Strong was among the first artists signed to Berry...
, Whitfield)
- "Cindy" (Robinson)
- "I Wish It Would Rain
"I Wish It Would Rain" is a 1967 song recorded by the Temptations for the Motown label and produced by Norman Whitfield.-Background:...
" (Penzabene, Strong, Whitfield)
- "Fan the Flame" (Al Cleveland
Al Cleveland is a former American songwriter for the Motown label. Among his most popular co-compositions are 1967's "I Second That Emotion" performed by Smokey Robinson & the Miracles and 1971's "What's Going On" performed by Marvin Gaye.Cleveland was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United...
, Terry "Buzzy" Johnson, Robinson)
- "He Who Picks a Rose" (E. Holland, Emilio "Father" Smiley, Whitfield)
- "Why Did You Leave Me Darling" (James Dean, Deke Richards
Deke Richards, also known as Dennis Lussier and Deke Lussier, is a songwriter and record producer, one of many white musicians/songwriters who were affiliated with Motown...
)
- "I've Passed This Way Before" (Dean, William Weatherspoon)
- Later Releases (Found on the Emperors of Soul
Emperors of Soul is a 1994 box set compilation for The Temptations, released by Motown Records. The five-disc collection covers the Temptations' entire four-decade history, from the first recording of The Distants in 1959 to four new recordings by the then-current Temptations lineup of Ali-Ollie...
box set released in 1994 and the Lost and Found: You've Got to Earn It (1962–1968) LP released in 1999)
- "I Got Heaven Right Here on Earth" (recorded in 1966, Eddie Kendrick, E. Holland)
- "Angel Doll" (recorded in 1967) (Morris Broadnax, Clarence Paul
Clarence Otto Pauling , better known as Clarence Paul, was a songwriter and record producer for Detroit's Motown Records....
, Stevie WonderStevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
)
- "What Am I Gonna Do Without You" (recorded in 1966, Hunter, Wonder)
- "Love Is What You Make It" (Robinson)
- "I Know She's Not a Mannequin" (John Bristol, Shena Dermell, Harvey Fuqua
Harvey Fuqua, was an African-American rhythm and blues singer, songwriter, record producer, and record label executive.Fuqua founded the seminal R&B/doo-wop group the Moonglows in the 1950s...
)
- "Only a Lonely Man Would Know" (Hunter, Beatrice Verdi)
- "That'll Be the Day" (recorded in 1965, Henry Cosby
Henry "Hank" R. Cosby was an African American songwriter and record producer for Motown Records...
, Moy, Stevenson)
- "We'll Be Satisfied" (recorded in 1967, Marc Gordon, F. Wilson) – shared with Eddie Kendrick and Paul Wiliams
Albums
David Ruffin
| Year |
Album |
Chart positions |
U.S. 200The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
|
U.S. R&BTop R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is a chart published by Billboard magazine that ranks R&B and hip hop albums based on sales compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. The name of the chart was changed from Top R&B Albums in 1999...
|
| 1969 |
My Whole World Ended My Whole World Ended is the 1969 debut solo album of David Ruffin, who had risen to fame as lead singer of The Temptations from 1964 to 1968...
- First studio album
- Released on May 1, 1969
- Labels: Motown
Motown is a record label originally founded by Berry Gordy, Jr. and incorporated as Motown Record Corporation in Detroit, Michigan, United States, on April 14, 1960. The name, a portmanteau of motor and town, is also a nickname for Detroit...
|
31 |
1 |
| Feelin' Good Feelin' Good is the second solo album from former Temptations member David Ruffin. Released only six month after his solo debut My Whole World Ended , this album climbed to #9 on the R/B charts.-Track listing:...
Second studio album
Released in November, 1969
Labels: Motown |
148 |
9 |
| 1971 |
David David is an album by Temptations singer, David Ruffin. Although recorded during the late 1960s through the early 1970s, the album was not released until 2004. The sole CD edition is currently out of print and regularly commands high prices when offered for sale...
Previously un-released studio album
Released on June 25, 2004
Labels: Hip-O RecordsHip-O Records is a record label, currently part of Universal Music Group, which specializes in reissues and compilations. Their Hip-O Select label is currently in the midst of releasing the Complete Motown Singles, a series of fourteen box sets which include both sides of every 45 from Motown...
|
— |
— |
| 1973 |
David Ruffin David Ruffin is the self-titled album from singer David Ruffin. Coming out after Motown simply refused to put out his proposed third album in 1971 , Ruffin was likewise no longer afforded access to "A-list" material and support musicians...
Third studio album
Released in February, 1973
Labels: Motown |
160 |
34 |
| 1974 |
Me 'N Rock 'N Roll Are Here To Stay Me 'N Rock 'N Roll Are Here To Stay is a 1974 album by Temptations singer, David Ruffin. On this album the singer was given another opportunity to prove himself, as the former Temptations frontman was teamed with Norman Whitfield - an "A-list" producer who recorded a number of classics with the...
Fourth studio album
Released in December, 1974
Labels: Motown |
— |
37 |
| 1975 |
Who I Am Who I Am is a 1975 album from the former Temptations singer, David Ruffin. Recorded by Van McCoy who produced and arranged the album in Media Sound Studios, New York City.-Track listing:#"Who I Am"...
Fifth studio album
Released on October 1, 1975
Labels: Motown |
31 |
5 |
| 1976 |
Everything's Coming Up Love Everything's Coming Up Love is a 1976 album from Temptations singer, David Ruffin.-Track listing:All tracks composed by Van McCoy; except where indicated#"Discover Me"#"First Round Knock-Out"#"Good Good Times" #"On and Off"...
Sixth studio album
Released on May 1, 1976
Labels: Motown |
51 |
16 |
| 1977 |
In My Stride In My Stride is a 1977 album from Temptations singer, David Ruffin. It was his last album for Motown Records.-Track listing:All Tracks composed by Van McCoy; except where indicated#"You're My Peace of Mind"...
Seventh studio album
Released on June 1, 1977
Labels: Motown |
— |
36 |
| 1979 |
So Soon We Change So Soon We Change is a 1979 album from Temptations singer, David Ruffin.-Track listing:#"Let Your Love Rain Down on Me"#"Break My Heart"#"I Get Excited"#"Chain on the Brain"#"Morning Sun Looks Blue"#"Let's Stay Together"#"So Soon We Change"...
Eighth studio album
Released in 1979
Labels: Warner Bros. RecordsWarner Bros. Records Inc. is an American record label. It was the foundation label of the present-day Warner Music Group, and now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of that corporation. It maintains a close relationship with its former parent, Warner Bros. Pictures, although the two companies...
|
— |
19 |
| 1980 |
Gentleman Ruffin Gentleman Ruffin is the final solo album from Temptations singer, David Ruffin before his death. The cover art was also the inspiration for the art on rapper Wiz Khalifa's mixtape Kush and Orange Juice.-Track listing:#"I Wanna Be with You"...
Ninth and last solo studio album
Released in 1980
Labels: Warner Bros. RecordsWarner Bros. Records Inc. is an American record label. It was the foundation label of the present-day Warner Music Group, and now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of that corporation. It maintains a close relationship with its former parent, Warner Bros. Pictures, although the two companies...
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The Ruffin Brothers
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Album |
Chart positions |
U.S. 200The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
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U.S. R&BTop R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is a chart published by Billboard magazine that ranks R&B and hip hop albums based on sales compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. The name of the chart was changed from Top R&B Albums in 1999...
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| 1970 |
I Am My Brother's Keeper
- First and only studio album released by The Ruffin Brothers (consisting of David Ruffin and his brother Jimmy Ruffin
Jimmy Ruffin is an American soul singer, and elder brother of the late David Ruffin of The Temptations. He had several hit records between the 1960s and 1980s, the most successful being "What Becomes of the Brokenhearted."-Life:...
- Released in 1970
- Labels: Motown
Motown is a record label originally founded by Berry Gordy, Jr. and incorporated as Motown Record Corporation in Detroit, Michigan, United States, on April 14, 1960. The name, a portmanteau of motor and town, is also a nickname for Detroit...
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Ruffin & Kendrick
| Year |
Album |
Chart positions |
U.S. 200The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
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U.S. R&BTop R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is a chart published by Billboard magazine that ranks R&B and hip hop albums based on sales compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. The name of the chart was changed from Top R&B Albums in 1999...
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| 1988 |
Ruffin & Kendrick Ruffin & Kendrick is the last album by the two former Temptation lead singers both David Ruffin and Eddie Kendricks, former members of The Temptations.-Track listing:#"I Couldn't Believe It"#"Ordinary Girl"#"One More for the Lonely Hearts Club"...
- First and only studio album released by Ruffin & Kendrick (consisting of David Ruffin and fellow Temptation Eddie Kendrick)
- Released in 1988
- Labels: RCA Records
RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label...
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Singles
- On the Tamla Motown Label (UK)
- "My Whole World Ended (The Moment You Left Me)"/"I've Got to Find Myself a Brand New Baby" (7", TMG689 NOTE: also released directly by Motown [M-1140])
- "I've Lost Everything I've Ever Loved"/"We'll Have a Good Thing Going On" (7", TMG711 NOTE: also released directly by Motown [M-1149])
- "Blood Donors Needed (Give All You Can)"/"Take Me Clear From Here" (7", TMG936)
- "Walk Away from Love
"Walk Away from Love" is 1975 R&B crossover single by David Ruffin The single, produced by Van McCoy, was number one on the US R&B singles chart for one week in early 1976...
"/"Love Can Be Hazardous to Your Health" (7", TMG1017)
- "Heavy Love"/"Me and Rock & Roll (Are Here To Stay)" (7", TMG1022)
- "Discover Me"/"Smiling Faces Sometimes" (7", TMG1036)
- "I Can't Stop the Rain"/"My Whole World Ended (The Moment You Left Me)" (7", TMG1078)
- "Rode By the Place (Where We Used To Live) /You're My Peace Of Mind (7", TMG1093)
- On the Motorcity
Motorcity Records is a British record label formed by producer Ian Levine in 1989. The label aimed to record new material with former Motown artists.-History:...
label (UK)
- "Hurt the One You Love" (12", MOTC 33, 1991)
External links