David's cause of death was drug overdose. [23], The cover-art of Ruffin's last album Gentleman Ruffin was the inspiration for the art of rapper Wiz Khalifa's mixtape Kush and Orange Juice. Ruffin also worked alongside another ambitious singer, Marvin Gaye, as an apprentice at Anna Records, a Chess-distributed label run by Gordy's sister Gwen Gordy Fuqua and his songwriting partner Billy Davis. Later, Ruffin hosted a radio show in the UK for a time, and became an anti-drug advocate following the 1991 drug overdose death of his brother David. [55], In June 2019, the city of Detroit unveiled "David Ruffin Avenue" as the secondary street name where he formerly lived at 17385 Parkside. However, Smokey Robinson, who produced and 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. ″Of course, David has been gone for a long time from the Temptations.″. [36][37], Ruffin first sought treatment for his drug addiction in 1967. In 1991, they completed a successful month-long tour of England which grossed nearly $300,000. Otis Williams fired Ruffin from the group for the second and final time (along with Kendricks, whose voice was weakened due to heavy smoking) by Christmas 1982.[23]. 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". Temptations Singer David Ruffin Dies Of Apparent Drug Overdose. The reunion tour was short-lived, however, as Ruffin started to miss shows as a result of his cocaine addiction, leading the group to be fined thousands of dollars. [15] Motown counter-sued to keep the singer from leaving the label and eventually the case was settled. This was right after a successful month-long tour of England with Kendrick and Edwards. ″As a kid, I was always impressed by him and I always looked up to him,″ said Ruffin-Moore, news director at WGRR-FM radio in Cincinnati. [5] Ruffin lived with Gordy's father, a 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. PHILADELPHIA (AP) _ Temptations singer David Ruffin, whose distinctive baritone was featured on such hits as ″My Girl″ and ″Ain’t Too Proud to Beg,″ died Saturday of an apparent drug overdose, police said. Rodrigue a kind loving type of person has passed away. The Philadelphia Inquirer … [24][25] The single earned Ruffin his first and only Grammy nomination. 15 Jun. But I guess we both got a little David Ruffin in us.". His siblings were Quincy B. Ruffin, Reada Mae Ruffin, and Jimmy Lee Ruffin. Jackson, Rod Stewart, Daryl Hall and John Oates, Diana Ross, the Spinners, and Martha Reeves and the Vandellas sent floral arrangements.[52]. Davis Eli Ruffin was born Jan. 18, 1941 in Meridian, Miss. Showers said Ruffin used cocaine. There were no details about the cause of death. [15] This caused friction between Ruffin and Gordy. I ruffuse to have a battle of wits with an unarmed person . [53] His contemporary, label-mate, and long-time acquaintance Marvin Gaye was particularly impressed with the virility of Ruffin's voice. He was the lead singer for the famed Motown group "The Temptations". ″He walked in the line of fire,″ Showers said. Known professionally as David Ruffin, he was an original member of the Temptations. Ruffin was the older brother of Temptations lead singer David Ruffin, who died in 1991 at age 50. He was charged with cocaine possession with intent to distribute less than 20 grams of cocaine. Encyclopedia of Popular Music, 4th ed. [56], On October 26, 2019, the city of Meridian ceremonially named a section of 8th Street near the Temple Theatre "David Ruffin Boulevard. 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. The Philadelphia Inquirerreported that Ruffin and a man named William Nowell split ten vials of crack c… "Nobody could sing like David Ruffin", said his close friend and colleague Martha Reeves (of Martha and the Vandellas fame). He was replaced by Dennis Edwards. Grand Puba of Brand Nubian referenced the singer on the 1990 single "All for One", stating: "I hit a beat and swing a note as if my name was David Ruffin. ″He was a very dynamic performer - his singing, the dancing,″ she said. He 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. Ruffin started touring with Kendricks (who dropped the "s" from his last name at this time) as a duo act in 1985. Edwards, who was the group’s first manager, said Ruffin was a very important part of the Temptations. He had just finished recording the single "Hurt the One You Love" for Motorcity Records. This was followed by the 1969 album Feelin' Good. Le frère aîné de David Ruffin, ancien coleader du groupe The Temptations, décédé d’une overdose en 1991, est mort, fauché brutalement par la maladie, à l’âge de 78 ans. [27] "When David had a lot of money, he would be able to do things that he wanted to do," she said. While the official cause of death was ruled a cocaine overdose, his family has come to believe that foul play was involved. [37] Although the cause of death was ruled an accident, Ruffin's family and friends suspected foul play, claiming that a money belt containing $40,000 was missing from his body. Ruffin surprised her with a marriage proposal, but after she announced their engagement onstage she learned he was already married. At that time the group, composed of Ruffin, Eddie Kendricks, Paul Williams, Otis Williams and Mel Franklin, was signed to Detroit’s Motown label. He was 78. He was taken to Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania where he died from "an adverse reaction to drugs (cocaine)" on June 1, 1991. These were displayed when he joined the Temptations on stage during the label's New Year's Eve party in 1963.[10]. There were no details about the cause of death. "Jimmy Ruffin was a rare type of man who left his mark on the music industry. His first stint in a rehabilitation center came in 1967. Sadly the answer is yes, the man with the magical voice died on June 1, 1991, and David Ruffin’s death was ruled as an outcome of a cocaine overdose. Although the cause of death was ruled an accident, Ruffin's family and friends suspected foul play, claiming that a money belt containing the proceeds from the tour ($300,000) was missing from his body. Ruffin's estate lost the lawsuit, and the ruling against it was upheld on appeal. There were no details about the cause of death.