Editing David Ruffin (section)

==Career==

===Early years===
After moving to Detroit with the Bushes, Ruffin recorded his first released record with the songs "You and I" (1958) b/w "Believe Me" (1958). These songs were recorded at Vega Records and released under the name "Little David Bush", using the last name of his guardian. 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.<ref name="StreetGold">{{cite AV media|people=Farag, Henry|year=1992|medium=VHS videocassette|title=David Ruffin|publisher=Street Gold Records|location=Merrillville, Indiana}}</ref>

In 1957, Ruffin met [[Berry Gordy Jr.]], then a songwriter with ambitions of running his own label.<ref name="RuffinEarlyYears"/> Ruffin lived with Gordy's father, a [[General contractor|contractor]], and helped "Pops" Gordy do construction work on the building that would become [[Hitsville USA]], the headquarters for Gordy's [[Tamla Records]] (later [[Motown Records]]) label.<ref name="RuffinEarlyYears"/><ref name="StreetGold"/> Jimmy Ruffin would eventually be signed to Tamla's Miracle Records label as an artist.

Ruffin also worked alongside another ambitious singer, [[Marvin Gaye]], as an apprentice at [[Anna Records]], a [[Chess Records|Chess]]-distributed label run by Gordy's sister [[Gwen Gordy Fuqua]] and his songwriting partner [[Roquel Billy Davis|Billy Davis]].<ref name="RuffinEarlyYears"/><ref name="StreetGold"/>

Asked about Ruffin in the ''[[Detroit Free Press]]'' in 1988, Gordy Fuqua said: "He was very much a gentleman, yes ma'am and no ma'am, but the thing that really impressed me about David was that he was one of the only artists I've seen who rehearsed like he was on stage".<ref name=soulbot/> According to Ruffin, both he and Gaye would pack records for Anna Records.{{citation needed|date=December 2017}}

Ruffin created music as both the vocalist and drummer in the Voice Masters, a [[doo-wop]] style combo<ref name="Ruffin, David 2016">{{cite book|chapter=Ruffin, David|title=Encyclopedia of Popular Music|editor-first=Colin|editor-last=Larkin|editor-link=Colin Larkin|publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]|location=London, England|date=2016|isbn=9780195313734}}</ref> and eventually started recording at Anna Records, where he 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]]. Other group members included members of [[The Originals (band)|The Originals]]: Ty Hunter, CP Spencer, Hank Dixon and (Voice Masters and The Originals founder) Walter Gaines. (At one time, The Voice Masters also included another future Temptations member, [[Melvin Franklin]], one of numerous people David would claim as a cousin).<ref name="RuffinEarlyYears"/> Ruffin did sign to Anna Records as a solo artist, but his work in that time was unsuccessful.<ref name="Ruffin, David 2016"/>

Ruffin eventually met an up-and-coming local group by the name of [[the Temptations]]. His older brother, Jimmy, went on a [[Motortown Revue]] tour with the Temptations, and he told David that they needed someone to sing [[tenor]] in their group. Ruffin shared his interest in joining the group with [[Otis Williams]], who also lived in Detroit.

In January 1964, Ruffin became a member of the Temptations after founding member Elbridge "Al" Bryant was fired from the group. Ruffin's first recording session with the group was January 9, 1964. Ruffin and his brother both auditioned to join the group, but they ultimately chose David after he performed with them on stage during the label's New Year's Eve party in 1963.<ref>Williams and Romanowski (1988), pp. 68–70.</ref>

===With the Temptations (1964–1968)===
{{main|The Temptations}}
After joining the Temptations, the bespectacled Ruffin initially sang [[background singer|backgrounds]] while the role of lead singer mostly alternated between [[Eddie Kendricks]] and [[Paul Williams (The Temptations)|Paul Williams]]. Ruffin 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. However, [[Smokey Robinson]], who produced and [[songwriter|co-wrote]] most of the Temptations' material at this point, saw Ruffin during this period as a "sleeping giant" in the group with a unique voice that was "mellow" yet "gruff."<ref name="npr">{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1074993|title=My Girl|last=Blair|first=Elizabeth |website=NPR.org |date=June 4, 2000|access-date=December 28, 2009}}</ref> Robinson thought that if he could write just the 'perfect song' for Ruffin's voice, then he could have a smash hit.<ref name="npr"/> The song was to be something that Ruffin could "belt out" yet something that was also "melodic and sweet".<ref name="npr"/> When Robinson achieved his goal, the song, "[[My Girl (The Temptations song)|My Girl]]", was recorded in November 1964 and released a month later. It became the group's first number-one single in 1965. "My Girl" subsequently became the Temptations' signature song, and elevated Ruffin to the role of lead singer and frontman.

The follow-ups to "My Girl" were also extremely successful singles, and included the Ruffin-led hits "[[It's Growing]]" (1965), "[[Since I Lost My Baby]]" (1965), "[[My Baby (Temptations song)|My Baby]]" (1965), "[[Ain't Too Proud to Beg]]" (1966), "[[Beauty Is Only Skin Deep]]" (1966), "[[(I Know) I'm Losing You]]" (1966), "[[All I Need (The Temptations song)|All I Need]]" (1967), "[[(Loneliness Made Me Realize) It's You That I Need]]" (1967), "[[I Wish It Would Rain]]" (1967), and "[[I Could Never Love Another (After Loving You)]]" (1968). Ruffin also shared lead vocals on the 1967 hit single "[[You're My Everything (The Temptations song)|You're My Everything]]" with Eddie Kendricks. Standing at {{convert|6|ft|3|in}}, Ruffin's passionate and dramatic performances endeared him to the Temptations' audiences and fans. According to [[Otis Williams]], Ruffin (playfully nicknamed "Ruff" by the group) was a natural comedian and a hard-working singer when he first joined the group.

Ruffin's most notable non-vocal contribution to the Temptations was the masterminding of their trademark four-headed microphone stand.<ref>{{cite book|last=Ribowsky|title=Ain't Too Proud to Beg|year=2010|page=185}}</ref> This enabled the other members to sing and do their dances without having to crowd around one microphone while the lead singer would sing into a separate microphone.

However, by 1967, difficulties with Ruffin became an issue for the group. He became addicted to [[cocaine]] and began missing rehearsals and performances.<ref name="RuffinProbs"/> Refusing to travel with the other Temptations, Ruffin and his then-girlfriend, [[Tammi Terrell]], traveled in a custom [[Limousine|limo]] (with the image of his trademark black rimmed glasses painted on the door).<ref>{{cite book|last=Ribowsky|title=Ain't Too Proud to Beg|year=2010|publisher=s|page=129}}</ref> After [[the Supremes]] had their name changed to ''Diana Ross & the Supremes'' in early 1967, Ruffin felt that he should become the focal point of the Temptations, just as [[Diana Ross]] was for her group, and began demanding that the group name be changed to ''David Ruffin & the Temptations''.<ref name="RuffinProbs">{{cite book|last=Ribowsky|title=Ain't Too Proud to Beg|year=2010|pages=164–168}}</ref> This led to a number of disagreements between Ruffin and the group's ''de facto'' leader, Otis Williams.<ref name="RuffinProbs"/>
 
In addition to the group's problems with Ruffin's ego, he began inquiring into the Temptations' financial records, demanding an accounting of the group's money.<ref name="RuffinMoneyLawsuit1968">{{cite book|last=Ribowsky|title=Ain't Too Proud to Beg|year=2010|pages=161–162, 198–203}}</ref> This caused friction between Ruffin and Gordy.<ref name="RuffinMoneyLawsuit1968"/><ref>{{cite interview |last= McMurray |first=Clay |title=[[Unsung (TV series)|Unsung]]: The Story of David Ruffin |work= [[TV One (US TV network)|TV One]] |location=[[Silver Spring, Maryland]] |date=March 2012 }}</ref>

In June 1968, the Temptations agreed that Ruffin had finally crossed the line when he missed a June 22 [[Cleveland]], [[Ohio]], date with the Temptations in order to attend a performance by his new girlfriend, Barbara Gail Martin ([[Dean Martin]]'s daughter).<ref name="RuffOut"/> Ruffin was fired five days later and was replaced with [[Dennis Edwards]], a former member of [[the Contours]], who had been a friend of Ruffin and the group as a whole beforehand.<ref name="RuffOut"/> Though Ruffin himself personally encouraged Edwards to take his place, Ruffin began turning up unannounced at Temptations concerts during Edwards' first few dates with the group.<ref name="RuffOut"/> When the group started to perform a Ruffin-era song such as "My Girl" or "Ain't Too Proud to Beg", Ruffin would suddenly walk on to the stage, take the microphone from Edwards' hands, and steal the show, embarrassing the group but entertaining the fans.<ref name="RuffOut">Ribowsky (2010), ''Ain't Too Proud to Beg'', pp. 180–188.</ref> According to Edwards, the adulation and Ruffin's pleas convinced the other four Temptations to give Ruffin a second chance, but when he arrived late to what was to be his return show with the group in [[Gaithersburg, Maryland]], the Temptations decided to keep Edwards and drop considerations of rehiring Ruffin.<ref>{{cite web|last=Meros|first=Tom|title=Dennis Edwards (Interview)|website=[[YouTube]] |date=October 27, 2011 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djjZtVCRBQk| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211117/djjZtVCRBQk| archive-date=2021-11-17 | url-status=live}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>Ribowsky (2010), ''Ain't Too Proud to Beg'', pp. 187–188.</ref> However, Otis Williams has always maintained that Ruffin's firing was permanent, and he was never considered for rehiring.

In October 1968, Ruffin filed suit against Motown Records, seeking a release from the label and an accounting of his money.<ref name="RuffinMoneyLawsuit1968"/> Motown counter-sued to keep the singer from leaving the label and eventually the case was settled.<ref name="RuffinMoneyLawsuit1968"/> The settlement required Ruffin to remain with Motown to finish out his initial contract (Ruffin joined Motown as a solo artist and always had a separate contract from the other Temptations, which some felt caused a lot of the in-fighting within the group).<ref name="RuffinMoneyLawsuit1968"/>

=== Solo years ===
Ruffin's first solo single was a song originally intended for the Temptations, "[[My Whole World Ended (The Moment You Left Me)]]". The single (from the album also titled ''[[My Whole World Ended]]'') was released in 1969 and reached the US Pop and R&B Top Ten. This was followed by the 1969 album ''[[Feelin' Good (David Ruffin album)|Feelin' Good]]''. A third album, titled ''[[David (David Ruffin album)|David]]'', was recorded in 1970–71, but was shelved by Motown and did not see commercial release until 2004.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-unreleased-album-mw0001895171|title=The Unreleased Album - David Ruffin {{!}} Songs, Reviews, Credits|website=AllMusic|language=en-us}}</ref>

In 1970, Ruffin recorded an album with his brother Jimmy, ''[[I Am My Brother's Keeper]]'', for which they had minor hits with "When My Love Hand (Comes Tumbling Down)" and "Your Love Was Worth Waiting For". Ruffin's next official release for Motown did not arrive until 1973 when ''[[David Ruffin (album)|David Ruffin]]'' was released. While his solo career initially showed promise, Ruffin quickly declined as a performer due to his cocaine addiction, and Motown only giving him the bare minimum of support when it became clear that he was not nearly as popular without the Temptations behind him.

Ruffin's final top ten hit was "[[Walk Away from Love]]" in 1975, produced by [[Van McCoy]], which reached number nine on the Pop Charts. It was also Ruffin's only entry into the [[UK Singles Chart|UK Charts]] (as a solo artist), and was a hit there as well, making it into the Top Ten (peaking at number 10) in early 1976. The single sold over one million copies and was awarded a [[Music recording certification|gold disc]] by the [[R.I.A.A.]] in February 1976.<ref>{{cite book | first= Joseph | last= Murrells| year= 1978 | title= The Book of Golden Discs | edition= 2nd | publisher= Barrie and Jenkins Ltd | location= London | page= [https://archive.org/details/bookofgoldendisc00murr/page/363 363] | isbn= 0-214-20512-6 | url-access= registration | url= https://archive.org/details/bookofgoldendisc00murr/page/363 }}</ref>

Other notable recordings from Ruffin's solo career include "I Lost Everything I've Ever Loved" (1969); the [[gospel (music)|gospel]]-inflected "I'm So Glad I Fell For You" (1970); "Blood Donors Needed (Give All You Can)" (1973); "Common Man" (1973) (which was [[sampling (music)|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).

{{quote box
| quote = "Although some blame Ruffin's very intermittent post-Tempts success on deliberate corporate neglect, I've never found even his biggest solo hits all that undeniable—ungrouped, his voice seems overly tense whether it's grinding out grit or reaching for highs."
| source = —''[[Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies]]'' (1981)<ref>{{cite book|last=Christgau|first=Robert|author-link=Robert Christgau|year=1981|title=Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies|publisher=[[Ticknor & Fields]]|isbn=089919026X|chapter=Consumer Guide '70s: R|chapter-url=https://www.robertchristgau.com/get_chap.php?k=R&bk=70|access-date=March 12, 2019|via=robertchristgau.com|title-link=Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies}}</ref>
| width = 22%
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After leaving Motown in 1977, Ruffin recorded for [[Warner Bros. Records]], releasing the albums ''[[So Soon We Change]]'' (1979) and ''[[Gentleman Ruffin]]'' (1980). He then signed with [[RCA Records]] and formed a duo with fellow Temptation Eddie Kendricks, who had recently departed from the group under his own set of difficulties, including the weakening power of his voice after years of chain-smoking.

=== Collaborations ===
In 1982, Ruffin and [[Eddie Kendricks]] re-joined the Temptations for the recording of their album ''[[Reunion (The Temptations album)|Reunion]]'' and a tour to promote the album, which included the R&B hit, "Standing on the Top", that the group recorded with [[Rick James]]. However, the reunion tour was short-lived since Ruffin repeatedly failed to show up for concerts while using cocaine, leading the group to be fined thousands of dollars. Otis Williams fired Ruffin from the group for the second and final time by Christmas 1982.<ref name=ReferenceA/>

Ruffin started touring with Kendricks (who dropped the "s" from his last name at this time) as a duo act in 1985 when he was also dismissed for his poor singing. 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. Their performance was released as a successful live album and single. The four singers also sang a medley of Temptations hits at [[Live Aid]] on July 13, 1985. In 1985, a live medley of "[[The Way You Do the Things You Do]]" and "My Girl" was released by Hall & Oates featuring Ruffin and Kendrick. It reached number 20 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, number 12 on the Adult Contemporary chart, and number 40 on the R&B chart.<ref>{{Cite magazine|date=October 12, 1985|title=Billboard Hot 100|url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/80s/1985/BB-1985-10-12.pdf|magazine=Billboard|pages=75}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/daryl-hall-john-oates/chart-history/hsi/|title=Daryl Hall & John Oates Chart History|magazine=Billboard}}</ref> The single earned Ruffin his first and only Grammy nomination.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.grammy.com/grammys/artists/david-ruffin|title=David Ruffin|website=Recording Academy Grammy Awards|date=November 23, 2020}}</ref> [[John Oates]] later wrote a minor hit single for Ruffin and Kendrick, but the two duos fell out, allegedly due to [[Daryl Hall]]'s objections to Ruffin's heavy drug use.

After being inducted into the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]] with the Temptations in 1989,<ref name=":2"/> Ruffin, Kendrick and Dennis Edwards began touring and recording as "Ruffin/Kendrick/Edwards: Former Leads of The Temptations". In 1991, they completed a successful month-long tour of England which grossed nearly $300,000.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-1991-06-03-9106030360-story.html|title=Police Search For Driver, $40,000 In Singer's Death|last=Philadelphia Inquirer|date=June 3, 1991|website=Orlando Sentinel|language=en-US}}</ref> At the time of his death, they were planning a European tour.<ref name=":0"/> Ruffin's final recording in his lifetime was "Hurt the One You Love", which was released as a solo record for [[Motorcity Records]].