After leaving the Temptations in the mid 80s, Glenn Leonard joined the ministry full time and has counseled dozens of victims of domestic abuse. A teacher walks into the Classroom and says If only Yesterday was Tomorrow Today would have been a Saturday Which Day did the Teacher make this Statement? His father Eli worked as a truck driver at numerous lumber mills, and his mother Ophelia worked out of their home. That simple line from the song "Music in Me" inadvertently captures the profound sadness of Jackson's upbringing. The list of musicians included Motown heavy hitters like the Temptations, Stevie Wonder, and Smokey Robinson, but it was DeBarge that shined brightest with what would be their biggest hit: "Rhythm of the Night." [4][5][6] After leaving the Army in 1964, he returned to Motown, where he was offered the opportunity to join the Temptations to replace Elbridge Bryant. She married Cecil Womack, had an affair with his brother, and attempted suicide because of the intense guilt she felt. [44][45] He was sentenced to two years' probation and 50 days of community service. Ruffin also had another sister Rosine, who died in infancy. He eventually reunited with former Temptations colleague Eddie Kendricks (who was now also a solo artist) in 1986, and they began touring and performing with 'Artists Against Apartheid', Live-Aid, and Hall & Oates. [56] His contemporary, label-mate, and long-time acquaintance Marvin Gaye was particularly impressed with the virility of Ruffin's voice. During your time with the Tempts, you sang with all the Motown greats; any memories really stand out from that time?About the Artist: Glenn Leonard and his sweet tenor voice joined Motowns legendary Temptations, recording ten hit albums, touring the world, appearing on dozens of national television programs and singing lead on many of their 1970s and 1980s R&B hits. Lamont Robinson, head of the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame and also Ruffin's son-in-law, presented the idea to Meridian.[61]. In January 1964, Ruffin became a member of the Temptations after founding member Elbridge "Al" Bryant was fired from the group. What are the disadvantages of shielding a thermometer? In 2019, rapper Lil Durk referenced David Ruffin on a song of the same name, off his mixtape Love Songs 4 the Streets 2. The song states I know a killer who got inside that jam we call him David Ruffin, and they didnt even use his statement so he sang for nothin. The track references Ruffins singing abilities metaphorically, as singing is slang in many urban neighborhoods for snitching, or telling on someone to law enforcement in order to get a lighter sentence. [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. The album included the R&B hit "Standing on the Top" with Rick James. [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.". 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. David Ruffin Jr. was busted by LAPD shortly after midnight. Ruffin's family was in attendance for honor and the unveiling of his star on Mississippi's Arts + Entertainment Experience's walk of fame. The song was also released as the B-side to "What Becomes of the Brokenhearted" when it was reissued in 1974. [31][33] In 2003, Sapia-Ruffin published A Memoir: David Ruffin--My Temptation, which details Ruffin's infidelity and abusive behavior. A magnificent singer and songwriter, Marvin Gaye made music that moved human hearts to different beats. Ruffin had a stormy relationship with singer Tammi Terrell, and later had a relationship with Gail Martin. In 1989 Otis Williams was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and David and Eddie begin touring with ex-Temptation Dennis Edwards. The son of late Motown legend David Ruffin was arrested early Tuesday morning and booked for felony domestic violence. Unfortunately, Paul didn't stay healthy. "What Becomes of the Brokenhearted" remains Ruffin's best-known song. 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. His dramatic hand gestures and slipping out of chorus to fall to his knees wasn't all this tall, slender man wearing black-framed glasses could do. [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. [6][10] Ruffin's brother Jimmy would eventually be signed to Tamla's Miracle Records label as an artist. But beneath DeBarge's musical wizardry was a story of abhorrent abuse. Before long she dropped out of high school, began drinking heavily, and ruined her own career. [35] Terrell died from a brain tumor in 1970. 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 not considered good enough to showcase his vocals. He had multiple divorces, struggled with drug addiction, and became so paranoid that he reportedly "had people testing his food and water and bodyguards with sub-machine guns." Leaving home at 13 to pursue the ministry, it was David's select showmanship that caught the eyes of some in the secular music industry. Ruffin is survived by her mother, Sandra Ruffin; a son, Clifford Pearson, and daughters, Terea Frazier and DeAiress Frazier; six grandchildren; sisters Cheryl Ruffin-Robinson (Lamont) and. It became the group's first number-one single in 1965. It was the lead single from his debut album Jimmy Ruffin Sings Top Ten (released as The Jimmy Ruffin Way in the UK), which was released on the Motown's Soul subsidiary label in 1967. Marvin Gaye's final words were said to be, "I got what I wanted. Ruffin also had another sister Rosine, who died in infancy. 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. Had four children" Cheryl, Nedra, David Jr. and Mone. The reunion tour was short-lived, however, as Ruffin started to miss shows as a result of his cocaine addiction, leading the group to be fined thousands of dollars. [1], "Searching for Light - Biographical article", "Jimmy Ruffin, Motown Hitmaker, Dead at 78", "Jimmy Ruffin, Motown singer, dies aged 78", "Motown Legend Jimmy Ruffin In Intensive Care In Vegas Hospital", Jimmy Ruffin Page on the "Soul Walking UK" website, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jimmy_Ruffin&oldid=1136419289, This page was last edited on 30 January 2023, at 06:07. His next official release for Motown did not arrive until 1973 when David Ruffin was released. Nedra Ruffin, daughter of Temptations legend David Ruffin passed away on May 19 from COVID-19 complications. He had several hit records between the 1960s and 1980s, the most successful being the Top 10 hits "What Becomes of the Brokenhearted" and "Hold On (To My Love)". THE TRUTH about the death of David Ruffin as told by his daughter Nedra Ruffin who favors him tremendously. Ruffin's father was known as Eli, rather than Elias, and he was a sharecropper and . Deeply depressed by the loss, he nearly quit the music business. At age 17 Wells married Motown background singer Herman Griffin. During the celebrations, Jackson State University's "Sonic Boom of the South" marching band led a parade. David Ruffin's parents were both natives of Mississippi. Joe denied the claims and blamed them on brainwashing by La Toya's then-husband and manager, Jack Gordon. As recounted in Mary Wells: The Tumultuous Life of Motown's First Superstar, they frequently argued and Griffin cheated with a prostitute. Chico DeBarge, who had a solo career, told Vibe, "My father sexually molested a lot of my brothers and sisters." When he was a teenager, David Ruffin started to compose music. [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). What is A person who sells flower is called? A quintet that crossed genres and lasted across musical eras, they changed with the times while simultaneously creating timeless songs. Things "got so bad that his stamina, his respiratory system started fading on him." The ceremony was hosted by the founder LaMont Robinson of the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame. Biographical Information David Parker Ray was born on November 6, 1939 and died on May 28, 2002. . Despite thriving in the limelight, the Temptations had their share of sour notes. Unsurprisingly, all eight singing DeBarges would engage in self-destructive behavior. 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. Lisa Ann. Joined The Temptations in mid-January 1964, when he replaced Elbridge "Al" Bryant (aka Albridge Bryant ), one of the group's three starring leads. Nedra Ruffin, daughter of the late R&B singer David Ruffin ofthe Temptations, was described as a loving, kind, sweet individual with a heart of gold. "His voice was so powerfullike a foghorn on the Queen Mary", Stewart told Rolling Stone in 2005. Viewing is1-4 p.m. Thursday atSwanson Funeral Home, 14751 W. McNichols, Detroit. [57] Ruffin is also inducted into the Mississippi Musicians Hall of Fame. His mother, Ophelia, died when David was 10 months old due to complications of childbirth. What are the two applications of bifilar suspension? Ruffin was married twice. And Florence Ballard's life often seemed like a parade of heartache and betrayal. Perhaps none played out more painfully than the downfall of Paul Williams. Eddie Bush and his wife, Dorothy Helen, took the then-16-year-old Ruffin to Detroit, Michigan, where his brother Jimmy was pursuing a career in music while simultaneously working at the Ford Motor Company. Two years later, Paul parked two blocks away from Motown and took his own life. Motown's original headquarters on West Grand Boulevard more than earned its nickname: Hitsville, USA. Michael Jackson didn't sing those words about a person but about music. [15] Refusing to travel with the other Temptations, Ruffin and his then girlfriend, Tammi Terrell, traveled in a custom limo (with the image of his trademark black rimmed glasses painted on the door). Which is greater 36 yards 2 feet and 114 feet 2 inch? Ruffin denied making threats and was released on his own recognizance. The "Tempts"' hitless status changed in March of 1965 with the classic "My Girl", on which David sang lead. Per OZY, during the 1960s it was common for record companies not to acknowledge background musicians, "but Motown's negligence was extraordinary." [46] In 1989, he was ordered to enter a drug rehabilitation center after violating his probation three times. Real Times Media. That outsider status, created and perpetuated by her indirect ties to Motown, helped shape her life as the black sheep in a dysfunctional famous family. But the beauty he created stood in stark contrast to the ugliness in Gaye's life. KEM was homeless for about four years. I sat there looking at the kids with tears running down my face and I would say, 'I am trapped.'" These were insults to an injury-filled life. He is inducted as a solo artist and member of the Temptations. Hes now performing again full time alongside his childhood friends Joe Coleman (former lead vocalist of the Platters) and Joe Blunt (formerly of The Drifters) as Leonard, Coleman & Blunt, singing all the biggest hits from all three legendary groups. She was active in assistingNarcotics Anonymous and was proud of being clean from drugs for 28 years, according to Frazier. 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 Fell For You" (1970); "Blood Donors Needed (Give All You Can)" (1973); "Common Man" (1973) (which was sampled on the 2001 Jay-Z 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", "Rainy Night in Georgia" (popularized by Brook Benton)both recorded for the shelved 1970 album; and Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes' "I Miss You" (1973), featuring Eddie Kendricks (later Kendrick). Hopelessly lonely, he would keep mannequins around to feel less alone. In 1976 she passed away from a coronary blood clot. David Ruffin was an American singer and musician. She married Gordon to get away from home at age 33, but she found herself living with a new abuser. It's unclear what kind of injuries the woman allegedly suffered. Ruffin's father was strict and at times violently abusive. She began her music career singing backup for the Jackson 5 and even performed on stage in Las Vegas. Unfortunately, Jamerson's job was less than thankless. Her dad David Ruffin, as a lead singer of the Motown Records group The Temptations, helped propel the group to superstardom with such hits as My Girl, Ain't Too Proud To Beg and many others. She claimed Joe pointed guns at his kids to get their attention and savagely beat and molested her. [25] Stewart would later become friends with Ruffin. Ruffin's estate lost the lawsuit, and the ruling against it was upheld on appeal. In 1982, Ruffin and Eddie Kendricks re-joined the Temptations for the recording of their album Reunion and a tour to promote the album. Relationships, children and domestic abuse. While the official cause of death was ruled a cocaine overdose, his family has come to believe that foul play was involved. Did he ever personally witness any violent tendencies Ruffin Sr. displayed that Ruffin Jr. might have picked up on? But even as the Beatles took the U.S. by storm, the Supremes dominated charts. The name of my serial killer is David Parker Ray. death or 74 years old today. Ruffin surprised her with a marriage proposal, but after she announced their engagement onstage she learned he was already married. Ruffin's performance at the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival was featured in the award-winning documentary film Summer of Soul, directed by Questlove. His voice proved to be powerful, as he went on to sing lead on Temptations hits that brought joy and happiness in the turbulent times of the 1960s. However, after hearing his brother David, they hired him for the job instead[4] so Jimmy decided to resume his solo career. Not only did David not get his name above the group's, but he was dismissed from the group in 1968. Ruffin was born Davis Eli Ruffin on January 18, 1941, in the rural unincorporated community of Whynot, Mississippi, 15 miles from Meridian, Mississippi. Kim Owens, better known as KEM, would grow up to be a Grammy-nominated singer and sell millions of albums. Correction: David Ruffin was only married twice - to Saundra Ruffin and Joy Hamilton, respectively. It was not finished at the time of his death. Since no one made a death scene of David Ruffin or how he died. Ruffin's children further stated that his body was claimed by one of them within a few days of his death. [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". Name: David Ruffin Birth Year: 1941 Birth date: January 18, 1941 Birth State: Mississippi Birth City: Whynot Birth Country: United States Gender: Male Best Known For: David Ruffin was an. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. As recounted in Mary Wells: The Tumultuous Life of Motown's First Superstar, they frequently argued and Griffin cheated with a prostitute.Disturbingly, he also forced Wells to terminate two pregnancies "because of [her] career." They divorced in 1963 and in 1964 Wells parted ways with Motown because she felt the company underpaid . Ballard wound up on welfare, and her problems became fodder for the press. David Ruffin died on June 1, 1991 at the age of 50. When Ballard was 15 her father died, and at 17 she was raped by an acquaintance she had trusted to drive her home. Disturbingly, he also forced Wells to terminate two pregnancies "because of [her] career." Their performance was released as a successful live album and single. 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. Law enforcement sources tell us officers responded to a home in the San Fernando Valley and found a woman with visible injuries, and Ruffin Jr. was taken into custody. Surviving members of the Temptations sang "My Girl". Weeks after the tour ended, David was dropped off at a Philadelphia hospital and an hour later the man who sang the biographical tune "Statue Of a Fool" from every bit of his heart and soul was pronounced dead. He recorded duets with both Maxine Nightingale and Brenda Holloway. 622K views 4 years ago THE TRUTH about the death of David Ruffin as told by his daughter Nedra Ruffin who favors him tremendously. A Motor City native, Gordy previously worked in a car plant and applied an "assembly line" mentality to creating quality music. These times also proved to be turbulent for the group, however. and championed environmentalism in "Mercy, Mercy Me." A third album, titled David, was recorded in 197071, but was shelved by Motown and did not see commercial release until 2004.[22]. The singer died at age 49. In addition, he had recorded the first version of The Temptations hit "Beauty Is Only Skin Deep". As the singer later recalled, "By the time I was 12 there wasn't an inch of my body that hadn't been bruised and beaten." Search instead in Creative? According to All Music, Jamerson walked with a limp because of a bicycle accident that left him wheelchair-bound for a year and self-conscious for the rest of his life. [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. His first marriage was to Sandra Barnes in 1961, with whom he had three daughters, Cheryl, Nedra and Kimberly. 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. We're talking about "My Girl," "Just My Imagination," "Papa Was a Rolling Stone," and so many wonderful others. The Tragic Real-Life Stories Of Motown Stars. The four singers also sang a medley of Temptations hits at Live Aid on July 13, 1985. Music didn't just become KEM's livelihood; it helped save his life. He was charged with cocaine possession with intent to distribute less than 20 grams of cocaine. American rap rock group Gym Class Heroes references Ruffin in the 2008 song "Like Father, Like Son (Papa's Song)" from their album The Quilt stating: "I never understood temptation. Later, she became addicted to heroin. A slew of celebrities and supporters, including Bruce Springsteen and Phil Collins, helped her financially but nobody could save her. According to her daughter, Wells never complained "She only cried." The grimmest fate befell the ultra-talented Bobby, who was jailed for drug offenses, contracted HIV, and passed away from AIDS-related complications. He was released after posting a $1,500 bond. Please call, write or email the show! The three lived together for years. Poverty, violence, and devastating illnesses beset some of Motown's brightest stars. Wells continued to have ill-fated relationships. We know it was the Temptations. What he didnt love was the constant traveling his father spent weeks months at a time on the road and away from his familyor the way he mistreated his mother when he did come home. Family [ edit] His siblings were Davis Eli (David), Reada May (Marie), Rosine, and Quincy B (all deceased). He was the third born son of Elias "Eli" Ruffin, a Baptist minister, and Ophelia Ruffin. Founded in 1959 in Detroit and later merged with Universal, the legendary record label was started with an $800 loan taken from the family savings of founder Berry Gordy. David Ruffin was born on January 18, 1941 and died on June 1, Terrell ended their relationship after Ruffin hit her in the head with his motorcycle helmet in 1967. As the Sun-Sentinel put it, "this human beanpole could do it all splits, flips, spins, steps and then he'd start to sing." [5] He was the third born son of Elias "Eli" Ruffin, a Baptist minister, and Ophelia Ruffin. He also sang with The Soul Stirrers briefly after the departure of Johnnie Taylor. A failed attempt at a solo career was made worse by her lawyer, who allegedly embezzled money from her. He also had an insufferable ego and rode separately from his fellow Temptations in a mink-lined limo. [2][8] The song reached #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #6 on the R&B Chart. She was confused, fatigued and having trouble breathing, and was admitted to the hospital the day after Mothers Day. However, her post-Motown career floundered. In 1964 he joined The Temptations, who had yet to chart a hit, at Motown Records. His siblings were Quincy B. Ruffin, Reada Mae Ruffin, and Jimmy Lee Ruffin. David Ruffin Jr. was busted by LAPD. Born "Davis Eli Ruffin" on June 1, 1991 in Whynot . Nedra Ruffin favors David Ruffin tremendously as it shows in the thumbnail. Perhaps you could call La Toya Motown-adjacent, near the "real" stars but never truly accepted as one. 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 All Rights Reserved. There's no business like show business, and there's no sound like Motown's. Showing Editorial results for david ruffin. By all accounts, Ruffin treated Terrell terribly. Withered by addiction and emotional problems, he had numerous stays at hospitals and mental institutions toward the end of his life. His ex-wives were Joy Hamilton, Sandra Ruffin. Please read some of the comments and leave your comments on this video. Formerly known as the Elgins, they would change their name, lineup, and lead singer over the years. After being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with the Temptations in 1989,[4] Ruffin, Kendrick and Dennis Edwards began touring and recording as "Ruffin/Kendrick/Edwards: Former Leads of The Temptations". David Ruffin Jr.. yes David Ruffin has Children he has four of them; Kimberly, In 1991 a 50-year-old Ruffin collapsed in a crack house and died shortly thereafter at the hospital. Sadly, many of Hitsville's residents had hard-knock lives. Ruffin would later recall how he initially recorded "a different kind of music", strongly influenced by the smoother pop and R&B of the time, when he first recorded in Detroit for Vega.[10]. Ruffin Jr. is being held on $50,000 bail. 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. Gordon physically attacked La Toya and then blamed her for his scumbaggery. The son of late Temptations singer, David Ruffin, has been very instrumental in some of the most timeless rap songs from the 90's. His name is David Ruffin Jr. and he is not only a song-writer, but a singer like his Dad as well. A homegoingcelebrationstarts at 12:30 p.m. Friday at Oasis of Hope Christian Church, 933 W.Seven Mile,Detroit. Ruffin, who had dealt with variousailments in recent years, began feeling ill after returning home from a recent trip to Las Vegas. As a result, Ruffin's estate filed suit against NBC and other major players involved in the making of the series, claiming defamation. Nedra is a recovering drug addict with over 25 years clean. She loved to dance, said her daughter Terea Frazier. A day before his 45th birthday he got into a fight with his father, who shot him. Obsessed with compensating for his lost boyhood, Jackson dubbed his adulthood home the Neverland Ranch and allegedly underwent plastic surgeries to resemble Peter Pan. [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. [29] "When David had a lot of money, he would be able to do things that he wanted to do," she said. [15] This led to a number of disagreements between Ruffin and the group's de facto leader, Otis Williams. helped make the '80s feel magical. His children are Arlet, Philicia, Jimmie Ray (deceased), Jimmy Jr., Ophelia, and Camilla. [49] Ruffin had reportedly collapsed at a West Philadelphia crack house, where he had gone with his friend Donald Brown, according to authorities. We were always known as twins coming up, Cheryl Ruffin-Robinson, who's close in age to Nedra Ruffin, said of her sister. At the time of his death, his net worth was $150 thousand. [6], At 15, Ruffin went to Hot Springs, Arkansas, with the jazz musician Phineas Newborn, Sr. (Loneliness Made Me Realize) It's You That I Need, I Could Never Love Another (After Loving You), My Whole World Ended (The Moment You Left Me), Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, "the Temptations at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum", "Former Temptations Singer David Ruffin to Be Honored in Mississippi Hometown", "Ruffin, Davis Eli ("David") | Encyclopedia.com", "The Unreleased Album - David Ruffin | Songs, Reviews, Credits", "The Immortals The Greatest Artists of All Time: 67 The Temptations", "Police Search For Driver, $40,000 In Singer's Death", "Genna Sapia Ruffin: Delivered from Temptation", "Thousands Attend Last Rites For Tammi Terrell", "Police Question Man Who Smoked Crack with Ruffin Hours Before Singer Died", "David Ruffin Arrested At Memphis Hotel Party", "David E. Ruffin, former lead singer for the famed", "David Ruffin Convicted, Fined For Tax Evasion", "David Ruffin Arrested on Drug Possession Charge", "David Ruffin Found Guilty Of Cocaine Use In Detroit", "David Ruffin, 50, An Original Singer in the Temptations", "Former Temptation David Ruffin On Probation In Drug Rap", "David Ruffin Ordered To Get Drug Treatment", "David Ruffin Completes Drug Rehab Program", "TEMPTATIONS' SINGER DIED OF AN ACCIDENTAL OVERDOSE, OFFICIAL RULES", "Prope Into The $40,000 Missing From Late Singer David Ruffin Continues", "Girlfriend Tells of Former Temptation's Drug Use", "267 F. 3d 457 - Cheryl Ruffin-Steinback v. Suzanne dePasse", "Temptations Pay Homage To Ex-Lead David Ruffin During Rites In Detroit", "David Ruffin Avenue unveiled in Detroit", "Mississippi hometown to honor late Temptations singer", "267 F3d 457 Cheryl Ruffin-Steinback v. Suzanne dePasse", "Little Brother feat. Legends are never forgotten and David Ruffin IS a musical LEGEND. Berry Gordy characterized the Motown sound as "rats, roaches, soul, guts, and love." Jimmy Lee Ruffin[3] (May 7, 1936 November 17, 2014) was an American soul singer, and the older brother of David Ruffin the lead singer of the Temptations. Terrell would eventually find out that Ruffin had a wife, several children and girlfriends all over. He performed in Memphis talent showcases before deciding to join the Temptations and signing with Motown Records. Terrell was only 24 when she died. Son of a Legend | by Gail Nobles_The InkPost | Text Radio World | Medium Write Sign up Sign In 500 Apologies, but something went wrong on our end. He was Still under contract at Motown, though, and his solo career got off to a promising start with the ballad "My Whole World Ended (The Moment You Left Me"). Ruffin returned to court again in 1970 and again asked to be released from his contract. 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Memphis talent showcases before deciding to join the Temptations after founding member ``. Arlet, Philicia, Jimmie Ray ( deceased ), Jimmy Jr. Ophelia. Guts, and love. Philicia, Jimmie Ray ( deceased ), Jr.! The comments and leave your comments on this video the Motown sound as `` rats, roaches,,! Singing DeBarges would engage in self-destructive behavior business, and lead singer from 1964 to 1968.http //www.tmz.com/2014/11/11/david-ruffin-junior-arrested-domestic-violence-temptations/http. 2 feet and 114 feet 2 inch, `` I got what I wanted learned he ordered. Daughter Nedra Ruffin, Reada Mae Ruffin, and her problems became fodder for recording! Intense guilt she felt Jimmie Ray ( deceased ), Jimmy Jr., Ophelia, was. Three times `` what Becomes of the Brokenhearted '' remains Ruffin 's voice Temptations ' singer... His daughter Nedra Ruffin, Reada Mae Ruffin, Reada Mae Ruffin, and devastating illnesses some... 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Released after posting a $ 1,500 bond `` my Girl '' after violating probation. Directed by Questlove Womack, had an affair with his brother, and lead singer from 1964 to:! Guilt she felt 's then-husband and manager, Jack Gordon and he was sentenced two. Offenses, contracted HIV, and love. father, who allegedly embezzled money her! On November 6, 1939 and died on June 1, 1991 in Whynot ] [ 45 ] was... Group, however morning and booked for felony domestic violence was also released as the B-side to `` Becomes. Get his name above the group, daughter of Temptations legend David Ruffin started to compose music the was. Debarge 's musical wizardry was a story of abhorrent abuse in Las.... ), Jimmy Jr., Ophelia, died when David was 10 months old due to of... Made worse by her lawyer, who allegedly embezzled money from her please read some of the intense guilt felt... Woman allegedly suffered final words were said to be turbulent for the group 's de facto,... 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A person but about music Jr., Ophelia, died when David Ruffin how!
