Table of Contents
Who Was David Ruffin?
David Ruffin was an influential American singer and songwriter, renowned for his powerful voice and dynamic stage presence. He began his musical journey as a teenager, participating in local talent shows in Memphis before signing with Motown Records and joining the legendary vocal group, the Temptations. Under Ruffin’s leadership, the Temptations achieved tremendous success with iconic hits such as “My Girl” and “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg.” However, his struggle with drug addiction ultimately led to his dismissal from the group. Following his departure, Ruffin experienced a challenging solo career, finding occasional success but ultimately succumbing to a cocaine overdose two years after being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Early Years
David Eli Ruffin was born on January 18, 1941, in Whynot, Mississippi. Tragically, his mother passed away during childbirth, leaving him to be raised by his father, a Baptist minister. At the age of 13, Ruffin left home with aspirations of becoming a minister but soon turned to music, participating in talent shows in Memphis. He began writing songs as a teenager and started his professional career as a member of the Dixie Nightingales, a local gospel group, alongside his brother, Jimmy. Ruffin’s talent caught the attention of various gospel groups, including the Womack Brothers, the Staple Singers, and the Dixie Hummingbirds, where he honed his skills as a performer and showman.
The Temptations
At 17, Ruffin had a brief stint with Chicago’s Chess Records before relocating to Detroit, where he encountered Berry Gordy, the founder of Motown Records. After recording an album with the Voice Masters and signing with a Motown subsidiary, he struggled to achieve commercial success. His big break arrived in 1963 when he was selected to replace Eldridge Bryant as the tenor vocalist for the Temptations. Initially in the background, Ruffin stepped into the spotlight in 1965, leading the group on hits like “My Girl,” “I Wish It Would Rain,” and “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg.” The Temptations became a global sensation, appearing on shows such as American Bandstand and The Ed Sullivan Show. Despite his rise to fame, Ruffin’s erratic behavior, often linked to cocaine use, became increasingly problematic. His demands for special privileges and aspirations to rename the group to “David Ruffin and the Temptations” ultimately led to his dismissal in June 1968.
Solo Career and Legal Troubles
Following his exit from the Temptations, Ruffin, still under contract with Motown, pursued a solo career. He achieved some success with the single “My Whole World Ended (the Moment You Left Me)” in 1969, but his success was short-lived. After a three-year hiatus from the music industry, he returned in 1975 with the top 10 hit “Walk Away From Love” and a handful of minor successes. In 1979, Ruffin signed with Warner Bros., but this marked a decline in his career rather than a resurgence.
In the early 1980s, Ruffin faced legal issues, including a brief jail term for tax evasion. Despite these challenges, he participated in the Temptations’ 1983 reunion tour. However, he missed the first three shows due to a relapse into his former partying lifestyle. The tour did lead to a memorable appearance alongside Eddie Kendricks at a prestigious concert at New York’s Apollo Theater and a performance with Hall and Oates at the Live Aid concert in Philadelphia.
Death
In 1989, Ruffin was honored with induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame alongside five other members of the Temptations. Tragically, just two years later, on June 1, 1991, Ruffin collapsed in a Philadelphia crack house. He was later dropped off at a hospital, where he was pronounced dead from a drug overdose at the age of 50. David Ruffin’s legacy as a soulful performer endures, highlighting both his remarkable talent and the struggles that marred his life and career.