David Ruffin

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Whynot, Mississippi (1941 – 1991)

David Ruffin (Davis Eli Ruffin 1941 - 1991 ) was an American soul singer born in Whynot, Mississippi who is most famous for his stellar work as lead singer of The Temptations from 1964 to 1968. His gruff, gospel inflected voice was featured on numerous soul hits like”Ain’t Too Proud To Beg”, “Since I Lost My Baby”, “My Girl” and “I Wish It Would Rain”.

His skyrocketing solo career was soon tempered by a dark side he could not control, and his life ended tragically of drug overdose in a seedy Philadelphia tenement.

He started his professional musical career as a teen traveling with The Dixie Nightingales, out of Memphis, Tennessee and eventually he and his brother Jimmy Ruffin found their way to Detroit, and by age 17, they were accepted into the fledgling Motown family by Berry Gordy.

Opportunity arose for David to join the Temptations in 1964, with Ruffin taking lead vocals on the huge hit My Girl. With fellow lead vocalist Eddie Kendricks and talented Motown songwriters and Gordy’s promo machine backing them, they were unstoppable. Ruffin however soon began showing ego problems, showing up late in his own limo, and demanding the group be known as David Ruffin & The Temptations.

By 1969, the often erratic and high, Ruffin had been voted out of the Temps, and started his solo career with the hit “My Whole World Ended (The Moment You Left Me)”.

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• The Motown Solo Albums, Vol. 1
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1		Walk Away From Love			221
2		Put A Little Love In Your Heart			214
3		My Whole World Ended (The Moment You Left Me)			165
4		I Want You Back			125
5		Common Man			72
6		Blood Donors Needed (Give All You Can)			45
7		You Can Come Right Back To Me			44
7		Let Somebody Love Me			44
9		Each Day Is A Lifetime			42
10		My World Ended (The Moment You Left Me)			38
11		Pieces Of A Man			35
12		I've Lost Everything I've Ever Loved			26
13		I'm So Glad I Fell For You			21
14		Everlasting Love			18
15		World Of Darkness			17

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