Editing David Ruffin (section)

{{Short description|American singer (1941–1991)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2015}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name              = David Ruffin
| image             = David-Ruffin-700.jpg
| caption           = Ruffin in 1970
| birth_name        = Davis Eli Ruffin<ref name="birthname"/>
| birth_date        = {{birth date|1941|1|18}}
| birth_place       = [[Whynot, Mississippi]], U.S.
| death_date        = {{death date and age|1991|6|1|1941|1|18}}
| death_place       = [[West Philadelphia|West Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]], U.S.
| genre             = {{flatlist|
*[[Soul music|Soul]]
*[[Rhythm and blues|R&B]]
*[[Pop music|pop]]
*[[Rock and Roll]]
}}
| occupation        = Singer
| years_active      = 1956–1991
| label             = {{flatlist|
*[[Anna Records|Anna]]
*[[Chess Records|Chess]]
*[[Motown]]
*[[Warner Bros. Records|Warner Bros.]]
*[[RCA Records|RCA]]
}}
| alias             = Little David Bush
}}

'''David Eli Ruffin''' (born '''Davis Eli Ruffin''';<ref name="birthname">Ribowsky, p. 88</ref> January 18, 1941&nbsp;– June 1, 1991) was an American [[soul music|soul]] singer most famous for his work as one of the lead singers of [[the Temptations]] (1964–1968) during the group's "Classic Five" period as it was later known. Ruffin was the lead voice on such famous songs as "[[My Girl (The Temptations song)|My Girl]]" and "[[Ain't Too Proud to Beg]]." He later scored two top 10 singles as a solo artist, "[[My Whole World Ended (The Moment You Left Me)]]" and "[[Walk Away from Love]]."

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<ref name=rollingstone>{{cite web|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/100-greatest-singers-of-all-time-19691231/david-ruffin-19691231|title=100 Greatest Singers of All Time|publisher=rollingstone.com|page=65|access-date=December 28, 2009}}</ref> and again in 2023.<ref>{{Cite magazine|date=January 1, 2023|title=The 200 Greatest Singers of All Time|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-singers-all-time-1234642307/david-ruffin-2-1234643097/|access-date=July 18, 2023|magazine=Rolling Stone|language=en-US}}</ref> He was inducted into the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]] in 1989 for his work with the Temptations.<ref name=":2">{{cite web|url=http://www.rockhall.com/inductees/the-temptations|title=the Temptations at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum|publisher=rockhall.com|access-date=December 28, 2009}}</ref> Fellow [[Motown]] recording artist [[Marvin Gaye]] once said admiringly of Ruffin that, "I heard [in his voice] a strength my own voice lacked."<ref name=rollingstone/>