Two years later, Paul parked two blocks away from Motown and took his own life. In 1980, Robin Gibb of the Bee Gees produced his album Sunrise and the hit single "Hold On To My Love", which reached #10 in the US and #7 in the UK, on the RSO label. Follow-up singles in America were successful, with "I've Passed This Way Before" and "Gonna Give Her All The Love I've Got" in late 1966 and early 1967. And he would say, 'Now, you guys should stop drinking that. His siblings were Quincy B. Ruffin, Reada Mae Ruffin, and Jimmy Lee Ruffin. But, the Feds didnt end up using his statement, so he did all that for nothing. Hopelessly lonely, he would keep mannequins around to feel less alone. Few of the songs charted and he blamed Motown for not properly promoting his music. and championed environmentalism in "Mercy, Mercy Me." David Ruffin had one child, David Ruffin, Jr. David Ruffin was born on January 18, 1941. [40], In 1982, Ruffin was charged $5,000 and sentenced to six months in a low-security prison in Terre Haute, Indiana, for failing to pay taxes amounting to more than $310,000 over three years (197577). Before joining Motown, Terrell worked for James Brown. Wiki User 2009-12-28. [28] John Oates later wrote a minor hit single for Ruffin and Kendrick, but the two duos fell out, allegedly due to Daryl Hall's objections to Ruffin's heavy drug use. Surviving members of the Temptations sang "My Girl". It became the group's first number-one single in 1965. Hip hop group Hotstylz used Ruffin's song and referred his name on their single "Lookin' Boy". John Ruffin was a Civil War Veteran, fighting with the 14th United States Colored Heavy Artillery Regiment. He became addicted to cocaine and began missing rehearsals and performances. Since his death in 2009 the world has continued to wonder if the man Jackson saw in the mirror was a monster. The man most of us know by his unmistakable, calming yet disturbed raspy voice was born Davis Eli Ruffin on January 18, 1941, in Whynot, Mississippi. Jimmy L. Ruffin, the older brother of David, was born May 7, 1939 in Collinsville, Ms. Jimmy and David began singing with their family group, the Spiritual Trying Four.They performed in church, school choir competetions, (often taking home the prize) and with various gospel groups. At age 17 Wells married Motown background singer Herman Griffin. 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". His next official release for Motown did not arrive until 1973 when David Ruffin was released. After joining the Temptations, the bespectacled Ruffin initially sang backgrounds while the role of lead singer mostly alternated between Eddie Kendricks and Paul Williams. Tensions arose when David asked for billing before the group, a practice common among vocal groups of the time. [13] When Robinson achieved his goal, the song, "My Girl", was recorded in November 1964 and released a month later. The grimmest fate befell the ultra-talented Bobby, who was jailed for drug offenses, contracted HIV, and passed away from AIDS-related complications. Ruffin was married twice. By 1967 Terrell broke up with Ruffin after he beat her badly and also is rumored to have hit her with his motorcycle helmet. [9] This went under the name of The Council Collective and Jimmy appeared with Paul on Radio 1 to say he is involved because his father worked down the mines and "he understands the suffering.". The joy and sadness in his songs can be felt by all. [39], In 1978, Ruffin was arrested at a birthday party in Memphis. And though no one knew it at the time, in 1969 a future Motown star was born literally. David Ruffin died on June 1, 1991 at the age of 50. Parker then had his . I wrote and edited this short clip from an Ask The Messengers TV show in Detroit, episode (Episode 35). Grand Puba of Brand Nubian 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.". Deeply depressed by the loss, he nearly quit the music business. Larry S. Buford Larry Buford is a Los Angeles-based contributing writer. Disturbingly, he also forced Wells to terminate two pregnancies "because of [her] career." [6] Ruffin's mother died from complications of childbirth ten months after his birth in 1941; and his father later married Earline, a schoolteacher, in 1942. Ruffin's performance at the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival was featured in the award-winning documentary film Summer of Soul, directed by Questlove. A third album, titled David, was recorded in 197071, but was shelved by Motown and did not see commercial release until 2004.[22]. "[60][61] Ruffin was born in nearby rural Whynot, but claimed Meridian as home. I sat there looking at the kids with tears running down my face and I would say, 'I am trapped.'" Author of "Things Are Gettin' Outta Hand" and "Book To The Future" (Amazon); two insightful books that speak to our moral. Biographical Information David Parker Ray was born on November 6, 1939 and died on May 28, 2002. . [7] His recording of "What Becomes of the Brokenhearted" became a major success. The singer died at age 49. As a result, Ruffin's estate filed suit against NBC and other major players involved in the making of the series, claiming defamation. According to the Michigan Chronicle, rumor has long held that Ruffin caused Terrell's death by hitting her head with a hammer. He suffered from sickle cell anemia, which can cause debilitating pain. [37], At the time of his death, Ruffin had been living in Philadelphia since 1989 with his girlfriend Diane Showers, who met him as a 14-year-old fan. TheDetroit residentattended Mumford High School in Detroit, and her career included modeling andbartending. With soaring fame came more pain. In 1994, Mary Wilson got into a car wreck that killed her teenage son. The 1985 film The Last Dragon is memorable for its campy antagonist Sho'nuff, its corny-yet-badass hero Bruce Leroy, and its fantastic soundtrack. Two years later, lead singer Diana Ross would mourn her brother and sister-in-law, who were found decaying in a basement after being suffocated to death. He took part in recording for Ian Levine's Motown revival label, Motorcity Records, in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Their relationship allegedly ended after Ruffin struck her face with a motorcycle helmet. We were always known as twins coming up, Cheryl Ruffin-Robinson, who's close in age to Nedra Ruffin, said of her sister. Only months after his birth his mother Ophelia Ruffin died, and his father later remarried, to a schoolteacher.David began singing and touring at a very young age with his father and siblings in a gospel group. By this point, Ruffin was also trying to get his brother Jimmy, ex-Temptation Eddie Kendricks, Paul Williams, and then-Tempts lead singer Dennis Edwards to join him in a group called the Fellas. [19] Though Ruffin himself personally encouraged Edwards to take his place, Ruffin began turning up unannounced at Temptations concerts during Edwards' first few dates with the group. Later she dated Motown star Bobby DeBarge, who reportedly wrote the song "I Call Your Name" about her. We know it was the Temptations. [4] As children, the brothers began singing with a gospel group, the Dixie Nightingales.[5]. [17], Ruffin's first solo single was a song originally intended for the Temptations, "My Whole World Ended (The Moment You Left Me)". The 48-year-old is a singer and stage actor in Los Angeles. Ruffin is buried at Palm Memorial Park Northwest Cemetery, Las Vegas, Clark County, Nevada in the Garden of Eternal Life Section. If Michael Jackson ever thrilled you, if the Supremes keep you hanging on, or if you love listening to Lionel Richie all night long, you have Motown to thank. The single sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc by the R.I.A.A. [4][7] Later, Ruffin hosted a radio show in the UK for a time, and became an anti-drug advocate following the 1991 drug overdose death of his brother David. [53], In The Temptations television miniseries, Ruffin's beaten body is depicted as being dumped in the street in front of a hospital where he dies. While his solo career initially showed promise, Ruffin went into decline, reportedly in part because of his cocaine addiction and the lack of support from Motown. Since no one made a death scene of David Ruffin or how he died. [57] Ruffin is also inducted into the Mississippi Musicians Hall of Fame. In 1966, he heard a song about unrequited love written for The Spinners, and persuaded the writers that he should record it himself. (At one time, The Voice Masters also included another future Temptations member, Melvin Franklin, one of numerous people David would claim as a cousin). As the Sun-Sentinel put it, "this human beanpole could do it all splits, flips, spins, steps and then he'd start to sing." [6] His third solo album for the label, The Groove Governor, was released in 1970, and did not fare as well as his previous two albums. Terrell would eventually find out that Ruffin had a wife, several children and girlfriends all over. Jamerson later got snubbed at Motown's 25th anniversary and was barred from going backstage. In 1961, Jimmy became a singer as part of the Motown stable, mostly on sessions but also recording singles for its subsidiary Miracle label, but was then drafted for national service. ", Known for his unique raspy and anguished tenor vocals, Ruffin was ranked as one of the 100 Greatest Singers of All Time by Rolling Stone magazine in 2008. [citation needed], Ruffin created music as both the vocalist and drummer in the Voice Masters, a doo-wop style combo[11] and 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, a group which included future Motown producer, Lamont Dozier. Mary Wells not only cracked the top 10, but two years later she sang Motown's first #1 hit "My Guy." Search instead in Creative? [19] Ruffin was fired on June 27, and replaced with Dennis Edwards, a former member of the Contours, who had been a friend of Ruffin and the group as a whole beforehand. Jimmy became a session singer at Motown in 1961. [6][10] Ruffin's brother Jimmy would eventually be signed to Tamla's Miracle Records label as an artist. [6] Ruffin was portrayed by Lamman Rucker in the 1998 mini-series The Temptations. Lamont Robinson, founder and CEO of the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame and brother-in-law to Ruffin, said Nedra Ruffin was instrumental in getting the renaming of Parkside Street in Detroit to David Ruffin Avenuein June 2019. [38][39], Ruffin first sought treatment for his drug addiction in 1967. They divorced in 1963 and in 1964 Wells parted ways with Motown because she felt the company underpaid her. In January 1964, Ruffin became a member of the Temptations after founding member Elbridge "Al" Bryant was fired from the group. Drink milk. Terrell was only 24 when she died. in February 1976.[23]. [36] Though she had migraines since childhood, Terrell told Ebony magazine in 1969 that she believed her emotional state during this relationship was a contributing factor to her headaches. Of course, his father was the Temptations' lead singer from 1964 to 1968.http://www.tmz.com/2014/11/11/david-ruffin-junior-arrested-domestic-violence-temptations/http://www.wochit.com [31][33] In 2003, Sapia-Ruffin published A Memoir: David Ruffin--My Temptation, which details Ruffin's infidelity and abusive behavior. That simple line from the song "Music in Me" inadvertently captures the profound sadness of Jackson's upbringing. Little Brother sampled Ruffin's song Slow Dance for their song Slow It Down. [4] He also teamed up with brother David to record the album I Am My Brother's Keeper, a modestly successful 1970 album for Motown that included the songs "When The Love Hand Comes Down", "Your Love Was Worth Waiting For" and a cover of Ben E. King's "Stand by Me". A quintet that crossed genres and lasted across musical eras, they changed with the times while simultaneously creating timeless songs. Ruffin's father was known as Eli, rather than Elias, and he was a sharecropper and . death or 74 years old today. Gaye may have had duet success with Mary Wells and Diana Ross, but Terrell really brought out the best in him. The song stayed at #1 for eight weeks, and the rest is history. [34], In 1966, Ruffin began dating Tammi Terrell after she joined the Motortown Revue; opening for the Temptations. [29][50][52] However, his girlfriend at the time, Diane Showers, was not surprised when she was informed of his death. It also initially reached #8 in the UK Singles Chart, rising to #4 when it was reissued in the UK in 1974. Per OZY, during the 1960s it was common for record companies not to acknowledge background musicians, "but Motown's negligence was extraordinary." In 1964, America welcomed a British invasion. [1] He was approaching his fifth birthday when his younger brother David was born. The 58-year-old Detroiter was admitted to Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oaks on Mother's. At age 17 Wells married Motown background singer Herman Griffin. They had a tumultuous relationship. It contained the song "Don't You Miss Me a Little Bit Baby", which made the lower parts of the Billboard Hot 100 (#68) and was a Top 30 hit on the R&B Charts, peaking at #27. As Tammi Terrell and Marvin Gaye would say, ain't nothing like the real thing. Ruffin also worked alongside another ambitious singer, Marvin Gaye, as an apprentice at Anna Records, a Chess-distributed label run by Gordy's sister Gwen Gordy Fuqua and his songwriting partner Billy Davis. David Ruffin's parents were both natives of Mississippi. Eight of them signed with Motown, six would join the DeBarge singing group at different points, and all of them had hellish childhoods courtesy of their father, Robert. Standout star El was intermittently homeless and had strained relationships with his 12 children. Had four children" Cheryl, Nedra, David Jr. and Mone. Subscribe 30K views 8 years ago The son of late Motown legend David Ruffin was arrested early Tuesday morning and booked for felony domestic violence. Together they performed some of the most riveting love songs of all time, including "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" and "You're All I Need to Get By." However, Smokey Robinson, who produced and co-wrote 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. https://www.youtube.com/@NatMorrisChannelMy Website: https://www.natmorris.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soul_skool_/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nawimo2 https://www.facebook.com/NatMorris313#thetemptations#howdiddavidruffindie?#nedraruffindead#deathofdavidruffin#nedraruffinpasseson#natmorris He had one of the most recognizable voices in music. Starting in 1964 they had five consecutive #1 hits, proving the Supremes could be every bit as fabulous as the Fab Four. And Im going to miss our get-togethers.. Afterward, she struggled to trust anyone. Drug addiction was his undoing. She married Gordon to get away from home at age 33, but she found herself living with a new abuser. -What advice will you give David Ruffin Jr. when you talk with him? Following the success of his initial hits, Ruffin found it hard to maintain an identity, as most of his songs were later covered by other Motown artists, most prominently "Everybody Needs Love", a hit when covered by Gladys Knight & the Pips for their 1967 debut album of the same name, "Maria (You Were The Only One)", a hit for Michael Jackson and "If You Let Me," a minor hit for Eddie Kendricks. [36], 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. He is inducted as a solo artist and member of the Temptations. In 2012, a compilation album titled There Will Never Be Another You, including his hit songs "What Becomes of the Brokenhearted", and "Hold On To My Love", had been released.[10]. There's no business like show business, and there's no sound like Motown's. [31] She named their son David E. Sapia, but Ruffin later changed his name to David Eli Ruffin, Jr. As Ruffin found success in the United States difficult to sustain, he began to concentrate instead on the British market. [16] After 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. David's voice will continue to bridge the generation gap just as it crossed the color lines in the sixties and seventies. His father Eli worked as a truck driver at numerous lumber mills, and his mother Ophelia worked out of their home. Browse 174 david ruffin stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. [7] In 1955, at the age of 14, he left home under the guardianship of a minister, Eddie Bush, and went to Memphis, Tennessee, with the purpose of pursuing the ministry. Ruffin also shared lead vocals on the 1967 hit single "You're My Everything" with Eddie Kendricks. [64], The first song on Fall Out Boy's 2005 CD From Under the Cork Tree was to have been titled "My Name is David Ruffinand 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.". Relationships, children and domestic abuse. By all accounts, Ruffin treated Terrell terribly. On October 17, 2014, it was reported that he was gravely ill and had been taken into an intensive care unit at a Las Vegas hospital. The same showmanship that brought David into the R&B industry caught the attention of fans around the world. That year, longtime Temptations fans Hall & Oates teamed up with Ruffin and Kendrick to perform at the re-opening of the Apollo Theater in New York. Continue Learning about General Arts & Entertainment. Otis told Deseret News that Paul sometimes drank "two to three fifths of Courvoisier a day." [11] He died on November 17, 2014, in Las Vegas, aged 78. If you've got sunshine on a cloudy day, we don't need to guess what made you feel that way. ( divorced) David Ruffin Net Worth The three lived together for years. [7], In 2013, David Ruffin was inducted twice into the Rhythm & Blues Music Hall of Fame at Cleveland State University. 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