David Ruffin – Class, Classier, The Classiest Soul Singer
November 13, 2008 by admin
Filed under Featured Artists
David Ruffin was a famous American soul singer and was the lead singer for The Temptations from 1964 to the years till 1968. He was born on 18th January 1941 and died on 1st June 1991.
Singing was in the family of Ruffin and he along with his older brother and sister travelled as a gospel group. He was a singer since birth and left home when he was 14. Ruffin joined his brother in the late 1950’s after performing The Dixie Nightingales in the mid 1950’s.
David joined Miracle Records where his brother had made a deal for singing. Later Ruffin sang for The Voice Masters with the group in the late 1950’s. While singing for Anna Label in the same period he sang for songs like “Action Speak Louder Than Words” and “I’m In Love”. Motown Records later absorbed Anna Label and after breakup of The Voice Masters, David signed a contract with Checkmate Records in 1963. Ruffin had his hit single in Checkmate Records when he sang “Mr Bus Driver, Hurry”.
Ruffin had a chance to become the member in The Temptations in January 1964 when a founder member was removed from the band. The offer was for Jimmy but Jimmy let the offer go to David.
Ruffin had a wonderful career as a singer in The Temptations and he sang “My Girl” which was specially written by Smokey Robinson in November 1964. This song became the No 1 hit and the group had its fame from the song where Ruffin was the lead singer.
Success started catching David Ruffin when he gave numerous hits after his hit “My Girl”. The singles which were all time hit include “Since I Lost My Baby” in 1965, “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg” in 1966, “All I Need” in 1967 and “I Wish It Would Rain” in 1967. Ruffin was also renowned as a comedian other than being a great singer.
In the year 1967, Ruffin saw his downturn when he started consuming cocaine and was addicted to drugs. This was the time when he ignored performances and rehearsals and demanded too much importance which was annoying to others. After he started interfering in the financial matters and started inquiring about money for the group he was replaced with Contour Dennis Edwards. Ruffin misbehaved several times while the group performed and also interfered on the stage during performances. The band hired security to prevent Ruffin from coming on stage and he filed a suit against Motown Records for money and seeking a release from the label. Motown sued back to avoid the singer from leaving. He joined Motown as an individual singer and this caused friction between the group.
His first solo performance was “My Whole World Ended(The Moment You Left Me)”. The single was a hit and rocked the charts. Ruffin continued to give numerous hit singles which include “Walk Away From Love” and one album with Jimmy which had the song “Stand By Me”. This took his career to rise and saw early decline as cocaine addiction did not let him perform. In 1982 Ruffin sang for The Temptations and in 1985 he toured with Kendrick for duo acts.
He died in 1991 on 1st June with a drug overdose in Philadelphia at 50 years of age.
His Albums include “My Whole World Ended” in 1969, “Feelin Good” in 1969, “David” in 1971, “David Ruffin” in 1973, “Me And Rock N Roll Are Here To stay” in 1974, “Who I Am” in 1975, “Everything’s Coming Up Love” in 1976, “In My Stride” in 1977, “So Soon We Change” in 1979 and “Gentleman Ruffin” in 1980. He gave an album with his brothers “I Am My Brother’s Keeper” in 1971. He also gave an album with Kendrick “Ruffin & Kendrick” in 1988. He has given several hits and will always be remembered for his great vocals.
TJ Grooves
Rare Soul Grooves & Soul Music TV
So many singers, actors and music geniuses have spiraled downwards because of drug use. It saddens me that David Ruffin, who I happen to have admired so much, allowed himself to be victimized by his demons.
Nah, he’s not a victim of the evil music industry. He did it to himself. People have to take responsibility for their actions. As I see it, he had everything going for him and he had a huge talent at that. What a waste.
I so love David Ruffin. His voice is just the best. I love his sound. This man had true soul and I’m so sorry that he is gone. He was the Best Temptation if you ask me.
David Ruffin was truly the soul behind the Temptations. It is tragic that he could not resist the temptation to do drugs, as was the fashion in those days, and was lost to drug overuse ultimately. I love ‘My girl’ - it is one of my all-time favorite tracks from that era. Wish we could have heard more of him….
And everyone goes on about singers these days and their drug-orientated lifestyles. Thanks to Smokey Robinsons lyrics and David Ruffins vocals we have a song of innocence like My Girl - an absolute classic. If he’d got help in rehab maybe the story would be different, but as it is remember the Temptations for Ain’t Too Proud to Beg and All I Need. Fabulous.
Ruffin was married twice: his wives were Sandra Ruffin and Joy Hamilton. With Sandra, Ruffin had three daughters: Cheryl, Nedra and Kimberly. He also has a son, David Jr. (also a recording artist), by a former girlfriend.
Ruffin had a stormy relationship with singer Tammi Terrell, and is alleged to have physically abused her.
Michael Jackson covered some of the expenses of his funeral, at which Aretha Franklin and Stevie Wonder performed.
I love David Ruffin. We all have another side to us (let he without sin cast the first stone) David struggled with drug addiction. He was an intelligent man who I am sure knew he was trying to fight these demons on his own and I am sure with the help of his friends and family. I, like so many did not know him personally, but absolutely loved his fantastic voice. He singing ability is unmatched by any singer out there from yesterday, today or tomorrow (in MY opinion, nobody compares to him) and WAS the Temptations. I think that the other Temps were jealous of him, and I think his ego probably added fuel to the fire. I hope that Spike Lee will do a movie about him with the help of the input of his family to finally let the truth be known. These so called “singers” today are overpaid, have not paid dues like these older groups who have paved the way and don’t even deserve to be placed in the same category as David Ruffin. His live performances were ALWAYS stellar. He was and still is a gem and I wish he were alive so that I could personally have met my favorite singer.