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 Ultimate Collection
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• David
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• The Motown Solo Albums, Vol. 1
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1		Walk Away From Love			231
2		Put A Little Love In Your Heart			177
3		My Whole World Ended (The Moment You Left Me)			166
4		I Want You Back			112
5		Common Man			81
6		Let Somebody Love Me			45
7		Each Day Is A Lifetime			44
8		You Can Come Right Back To Me			36
9		Blood Donors Needed (Give All You Can)			31
10		My World Ended (The Moment You Left Me)			30
11		Pieces Of A Man			22
12		My Whole World Ended (The Moment You Left Me) - Album Version (Stereo)			21
13		You Can Come Right Back To Me - Single Version			20
14		I've Lost Everything I've Ever Loved			19
15		I'm So Glad I Fell For You			18

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