David Ruffin's voice soared through numerous Motown classics like "My Girl" and "I Wish It Would Rain." Ruffin, 50, died early. David Ruffin Jr. : A few SONS of the Worlds Most Entertaining singers of all times have come together for a Tribute to their Fathers. He was 50. These times also proved to be turbulent for the group, however. [13] Edwards was briefly married to Ruth Pointer, whom he wed in Las Vegas in 1977. He and Eddie Kendricks were their original lead singers, but when of the Motown group broke worldwide and became soul heroes with My Girl in 1964, it was David Ruffin\s voice that rang out. His name is David Ruffin Jr. and he is not only a song-writer, but a singer like his Dad as well. Did you know that David Ruffin had a son? There werent many paths to wealth and stardom for Black people in Southern states that were still trapped, in the 1940s and 1950s, under the oppressive weight of Jim Crow laws and segregation. Robinson soon wrote a tune with Ruffin in mind, something slow and sweet. His mother died during childbirth, and he was raised by his father, a Baptist minister. Daughter: Cheryl Daughter: Nedra Son: David, Jr. David Ruffin was a singer in the Motown group The Temptations. In 1990, Dennis teamed up with Kendricks to release a dance/club track for A&B Records entitled "Get It While It's Hot". Yep Jimmy Ruffin is still alive, although he is a very reclusive and private person. Of course, his father was the Temptations' lead singer from 1964 to 1968.http://www.tmz.com/2014/11/11/david-ruffin-junior-arrested-domestic-violence-temptations/http://www.wochit.com 1 in 1965, and has since been played 498 million times on the streaming service Spotify and a string of other instantly recognizable classics: Aint Too Proud to Beg, I Wish It Would Rain, (I Know) Im Losing You.. The industry could be indifferent to stars who suffered substance abuse crises. Snoop Dogg might not be the legendary Snoop that he is today, if it hadnt been for his 1993 classic, Gin and Juice, setting his career on fire. Everything in the world was changing, and I think David was in this position where people were just having him sing the same kinds of things, instead of trying to figure out who David was, said Paul Barker, the Motown Museums director of development and community activation. He was raised by his father (who was a strict Baptist minister) and his new wife who was a teacher. David Ruffin's parents were both natives of Mississippi. It's unclear what kind of injuries the woman allegedly suffered. He moved to Philadelphia in 1989, lived with a girlfriend, Diane Showers, and palled around with Linster Butch Murrell, the owner of a small limo service. The son of late Temptations singer, David Ruffin, has been very instrumental in some of the most timeless rap songs from the 90s. When the crack cocaine epidemic surged in the 1980s, government leaders responded with tactics that disproportionately criminalized and punished people who had addictions, particularly in Black communities. His father Eli worked as a truck driver at numerous lumber mills, and his mother Ophelia worked out of their home. After a failed attempt at a Motown solo career, Edwards rejoined the Temptations in 1980, when they returned to Motown. But his family and friends felt his achievements were diminished, when he died, by news coverage that all but blamed him for having struggled with addictions. Through photos and stories, we hope to provide a glimpse into her life, her work, and what she meant to the people who knew her. mode: 'thumbnails-rr1', Few glimpsed such vulnerability in Detroit, where Ruffin tried to make it as a solo artist in the early 1960s. David's voice will continue to bridge the generation gap just as it crossed the color lines in the sixties and seventies. His name is David Ruffin Jr. and he is not only a song-writer, but a singer like his Dad as well. }); Copyright 2015 . Among many others, David wrote and sang the chorus for Mtv's & VH1's all time Top 100 Hip-Hop songs, "Gin & Juice", ranked at #8. I dont want to get too hippy-dippy about it, but I felt like I was out of my body., They repeated the experience at Live Aid, and then Oates produced a song, One More for The Lonely Hearts Club, that Ruffin and Kendricks recorded for a 1987 album. The "Tempts"' hitless status changed in March of 1965 with the classic "My Girl", on which David sang lead. Michael Jackson offered to pay for the funeral of David Ruffin, but did not attend the service. But that is not your life.. Many other famous singers sent flowers to the service, but Jackson did not attend. [citation needed] In 1989, Edwards was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of The Temptations. Ruffin was arrested in the late 80s for drug possession, and went through rehabilitation. They had a son together named Otis Lamont Miles. We now understand why his dad was so adamant about Jr.s other musical abilities. David has released a EP and a more recent release of MUTHAPHUCKAWERK/RuffinItMusic and an equally explosive single, in which he is featured on with Rap icon Mista Perkins, titled PATRON/wwg.DRJ is also piecing a new LP: BLOODLINE. Ruffins ability to embody the ecstasy and agony of songs about love gained and lost cast an unbreakable spell on countless admirers who once watched, slack-jawed, as he and the Temptations, and other Motown legends, dazzled crowds. With his own Band" backing him locally, nationally, and potentially internationally, David is well prepared to further elevate the Ruffin name in the entertainment world. They would go to different churches on Sundays and people would give them money. He then moved to Detroit, Michigan, and was signed to Anna Records in 1960 and then Check-Mate Records in 1961. June 25, 1936 - February 16, 2023 Our beloved mother/matriarch, Mrs. Octavia Anderson Ruffin departed her earthly life on February 16, 2023 at her residence 317 St. James Ave. She lived at her residence for over 60 years. Best of 2022 Top 250 Movies Most Popular Movies Top 250 TV Shows Most Popular TV Shows Most Popular Video Games Most Popular Music Videos Most Popular Podcasts. After the New Year's Eve performance, (when the Tempts and David ate at Melvin's house) David told a story of how his mother gave him up to a pimp as Payment for a debt. iloveoldschoolmusic.com. He has a lot of money. The son of late Temptations singer, David Ruffin, has been very instrumental in some of the most timeless rap songs from the '90s.His name is David Ruffin Jr. and he is not only a song-writer, but a singer like his Dad as well. He died of an overdose of cocaine and morphine. [14] The couple had one daughter, Issa Pointer, who became a member of her mother's vocal group, The Pointer Sisters. Otis Williams first wife was Josephine Rogers. placement: 'Right Rail Thumbnails', His voice was really good and helped the group become famous. target_type: 'mix' She told Ask. _taboola.push({ However, Ruffin, who was attempting to make his way back into the group, crashed the stage during Edwards's lead vocal on "Ain't Too Proud to Beg" to significant applause. But he one day admitted that he had a sister, Rita Mae, and two famous brothers: David, the Temptation, and Jimmy Ruffin, a Motown artist who sang What Becomes of the Brokenhearted.. He arrived at her familys house in North Carolina in an eye-catching white limousine that had been fitted with white mink carpet, accompanied by a large, white dog. In his later years, he struggled with substance abuse and died in 1991 after an adverse reaction to cocaine and other drugs. It's in his blood. [2], Later in 1967, Edwards quit the Contours and was placed back on retainer. }); Copyright 2015 . The son of late Temptations singer, David Ruffin, has been very instrumental in some of the most timeless rap songs from the 90's. His name is David Ruffin Jr. and he is not only a song-writer, but a singer like his Dad as well. the Temptations most popular song, My Girl, a Motown artist who sang What Becomes of the Brokenhearted., California residents do not sell my data request. He's written and sang the chorus for Mtv's & VH1's all time Top 100 Hip-Hop songs, "Gin & Juice", ranked at #8. For other people named Dennis Edwards, see, An audio sample of "Don't Look Any Further", 19901994: Ruffin, Kendricks, and Edwards, The Temptations Review featuring Dennis Edwards, Learn how and when to remove this template message, Ball of Confusion (That's What the World Is Today), "Don't Look Any Further" by Dennis Edwards, "Classic concert: Dennis Edwards back in Magic City with Temptations Review", #VeteranOfTheDay Army Veteran Dennis Edwards, Dennis Edwards obituary; Lead singer of the Temptations whose gritty vocals brought urgency and drama to hits such as Papa Was a Rollin Stone and Cloud Nine, List of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductees, "Ex-Temptations Singer Dennis Edwards Loses His Court Battle to Use Temptations Name", "Throwback Clip: Aretha Franklin talks writing 'Day Dreaming' about Dennis Edwards", "Topically Yours: Dennis Edwards Interview (podcast)]", "Legendary Temptations singer Dennis Edwards, of Florissant, dies at 74", "Dennis Edwards, Temptations Lead Singer, Dead At 74", "Temptations Former Lead Singer Dennis Edwards Dead at 74", "DENNIS EDWARDS - full Official Chart History", Diana Ross & the Supremes Join the Temptations, Lost and Found: You've Got to Earn It (19621968), I Could Never Love Another (After Loving You), Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me), https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Dennis_Edwards&oldid=1141040792, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles needing additional references from January 2018, All articles needing additional references, Pages using infobox musical artist with associated acts, Articles with unsourced statements from March 2015, Articles with unsourced statements from February 2018, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 23 February 2023, at 01:44. She told. They could team up with . He fed it to his dog, and asked his surprised hosts: You got any baby food? David Ruffin then tucked into a jar of baby peaches, and quietly explained that he was plagued by an ulcer. He is buried in Detroit\'s Woodlawn Cemetery. When he was a kid in rural Mississippi, living, for a time, in a house with no running water, he dreamed of being a famous performer. By the late-1960s, he had developed alcoholism, which made it hard for him to continue with the group. Of particular interest was whether someone had robbed Ruffin, who had recently toured with Kendricks and another ex-Temptation, Dennis Edwards; one of Ruffins managers suggested he could have carried as much as $40,000 on him the night he died, but he arrived at the hospital with just $53. It aint nothin but another television show, he told them. His voice proved to be powerful, as he went on to sing lead on Temptations hits that brought joy and happiness in the turbulent times of the 1960s. Ruffin wanted to end the session early and leave with his friends, but a producer insisted that he needed to stay. The Four Tops are a famous Motown group from the 1960s. According to Rose, she was impregnated by him through "non-consensual relations." They ended up at a property on 52nd Street near Columbia Avenue in West Philadelphia, where Ruffin split 10 vials of crack cocaine with another man, William Nowell, according to reports at that time. In 1964 he joined The Temptations, who had yet to chart a hit, at Motown Records. Home. and found a woman with visible. Leaving home at 13 to pursue the ministry, it was David's select showmanship that caught the eyes of some in the secular music industry. Son of David Ruffin, and Uncle of Jimmy Ruffin. Ruffin was excited for new performance opportunities that were opening to him and sliding deeper into addictions gravitational pull. The Temptations should do some music with him and bring that old Motown sound back again. Yes, there is a David Ruffin Jr. CryCryCry - DAVID RUFFIN JR MR DAVIDRUFFINJR 2.72K subscribers Subscribe 495 Share 19K views 3 years ago "Cry Cry Cry" was originally conceived in the winter of 2010. That person\s name is Otis Williams, and he is also a record producer and actor. [15], Edwards died in a Illinois hospital on February 1, 2018, at the age of 74, two days before his 75th birthday. They could team up with Smokey Robinson again and write some good old fashion love songs like they use to do. Sometimes he was a fun-loving wild child in search of thrills; other times, he could turn self-destructive. Mr. David Sr. would probably be beaming with pride right about now. Candi Staton sometimes revisits one of her favorite memories of her old friend. But there was no escaping the racial hatred that coursed through much of the country. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. #beforidie https://t.co/bTLTD5cDrx t.co Genna Sapia Ruffin on Twitter David Ruffin Jr. was busted by LAPD shortly after midnight. Edwards began missing shows and rehearsals, and was replaced in 1984 by Ali-Ollie Woodson. David Ruffin was a singer in the group the Temptations. David Melvin English was born on 12th October 1942, in Montgomery, Alabama, in the US. Stream ad-free with Amazon Music Unlimited on mobile, desktop, and tablet. "Mr. Eli would take them from church to church on Sundays, and people would feel sorry for these motherless children," Gina said. He passed away tragically from a drug overdose in 1991 when Nedra was 27. An autopsy showed that Ruffin, 50, who had a history of drug abuse, died of an overdose of cocaine and morphine. (L) David Ruffin with son, David Jr.; (R) David Ruffin. He died in 1991 from a drug overdose. THIS IS TO ALL OF YOU THAT EITHER THOUGHT OF MY FATHER YESTERDAY OR ONE OF HIS FAMILY MEMBERS ON HIS DEATHAVERSARY: The Day after my "22 years later" . Paul Williams is a famous musician who has been sober for 23 years. Half-brother of David Ruffin Jr.. Cousin of Jimmy Ruffin Jr.. Ruffin was best known for being part of the musical group the Temptations during their \Classic Five\ period. (L) David Ruffin with son, David Jr.; (R) David Ruffin. They divorced in 1964. She remembers holiday dinners and birthdays drenched in laughter and filled with food. After doing a lil research on David Ruffin Jr. weve learned that when he told his dad he wanted to rap instead of sing, his Pops reportedly told him, Well I aint backing you up on a fad. In the mid-1980s, he attempted a solo career, scoring a hit in 1984 with "Don't Look Any . Released his debut EP "All My Life" in 2008. Otis Williams is the last surviving member of the Temptations\ classic lineup. David Ruffin Jr. was busted by LAPD shortly after midnight. If you change your mind, go to Notifications in the menu to enable browser notifications. I felt like I was watching myself from above. His father, Eli Ruffin, was a Baptist minister. That's what the family was suing Otis for when the movie was released. [citation needed] Edwards was portrayed by Charles Ley in the 1998 biographical television mini-series The Temptations, though he was not heavily focused upon, as the mini-series gave more attention to the Ruffin/Kendricks-era Temptations lineup. David Ruffin was a singer with the group the Temptations. Ruffin ventured inside, and somehow got his hands on a microphone. The singer was pronounced dead an hour later. Two of these songs, "Cloud Nine" and "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone", won Grammy Awards. #SolGoode & #SolLovee Jo. David proved that he can get down with the best of em, just like his pops. Ruffin, 58, died May 19 at . The son of late Motown legend David Ruffin was arrested early Tuesday morning and booked for felony domestic violence. His mother's name was Rose English; she was from Mobile County, Alabama. Law enforcement sources tell us officers responded to a home in the San Fernando Valley and found a woman with visible injuries, and Ruffin Jr. was taken into custody. His tenure with the Temptations ended abruptly, in 1968, when the group fired him for skipping one of their concerts; Ruffin had opted instead to watch one of Dean Martins daughters sing at the Latin Casino, in Cherry Hill. They have had over 20 members, but only one original member is still alive. His last song with them was called \I Could Never Love Another.\ He was fired from the group in 1968 for his unprofessional behavior. The performances at the Uptown in the 1960s compelled a young Daryl Hall to finagle his way backstage, where he was befriended by his idols. When the world lost David Ruffin, it lost a life too short-lived, a heavenly voice, and a whimsical, charismatic man. From a seat in the audience, he began to serenade her. Ruffin the voice of Motown classics like My Girl died at age 50 in 1991. [12] Edwards's group included Paul Williams Jr. (son of original Temptations member Paul Williams), David Sea, Mike Patillo, and Chris Arnold. Ruffin Jr. is being held on $50,000 bail. Eddie left the Temptations because his friends Paul Williams and Ruffin died of drug overdoses, and his other friend Kendricks has cancer. I am not certain of the abuse but I do know that Ruffin's mother died right before he was a year old. Aenean lacinia bibendum nulla sed consectetur. Thank you for joining us! As the bands popularity grew, they toured relentlessly with other Motown artists along the Chitlin Circuit, a network of clubs and theaters on the East Coast, the Midwest, and the South that were welcoming to Black performers. David Ruffin Jr to Mom, Mother's Day 2022 - YouTube AboutPressCopyrightContact usCreatorsAdvertiseDevelopersTermsPrivacyPolicy & SafetyHow YouTube worksTest new features 2022 Google LLC [9] Edwards was also inducted into Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame with The Temptations in 2013. He was getting high so much. And that becomes your life. He passed away tragically from a drug overdose in 1991 when Nedra was 27. Its so sad, she said, how people can zero in on one negative thing about your life. During the 1990s, Edwards began touring under the name "Dennis Edwards & the Temptations", prompting a legal battle between himself and Otis Williams. [8] Edwards was the first singer to join the Temptations after their "Classic 5" period. Glad to know that there is a David Ruffin Jr. that has great talent like his father. A Hip-Hop Classic with Dr Dre and Snoop Dogg, and has worked with other stellar artists such as Kurupt, Daz, Nate Dogg, Sisqo & Jazz of DruHill . The man was a walking skeleton.. [5] In 1966, Edwards auditioned for Detroit's Motown Records, where he was signed but placed on retainer. The 48-year-old is a singer and stage actor in Los Angeles. The Uptown Theater, on North Broad Street, was a prominent point on the circuit, an iconic part of Philadelphias Black community, and a venue where musicians could sometimes look out at an audience and see Black and white concertgoers enjoying music together. David Ruffin was a singer in the Motown group The Temptations. He left the group in 1977 to pursue a solo career, but rejoined them later. Check out a little bit of Davids vocal. PHILADELPHIA - Reports weren't complete Sunday from an autopsy of former Temptations singer David Ruffin, but acquaintances said that his drug problems were well known. His father, Eli Ruffin, was a Baptist minister. News coverage of his death veered toward the sensational. Where are the Four Tops buried? Submit a correction or make a comment about this profile, Submit a correction or make a comment about this profile. Williams, who grew up in Texas, packed up and moved to Michigan with his mother when he was 10 (his parents separated shortly after Williams was born). Legends are never forgotten and David Ruffin IS a musical LEGEND. Their grief was compounded by stories that they felt tore his character down, she said. David Jr. also revealed that he worked on several Death Row Records albums, helping to create Dr. Dres B*t*hes Aint S*it (Chronic album); Snoop Doggs songs, The Shiznit (Doggystyle album) and Gs Up Hoes Down (Doggystyle Album); Tupacs Ambitionz Az A Ridah (All Eyez On Me album), and he also worked on songs from the 8 Mile and Poetic Justice soundtracks, among others. It was just called a bad habit. mode: 'thumbnails-rr1', 2023 EHM PRODUCTIONS,INC. The Temptations officially introduced Edwards on July 9, 1968 on stage in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. Her father, Quincy Ruffin, a member of the U.S. Army Special Forces, had long insisted that he had been an orphan. target_type: 'mix' I remember the stepmother being interviewed after the show. We humbly honor the old school soul music era and will keep pushing forward to keep it alive. David Jr. also revealed that he worked on several Death Row Records albums, helping to create Dr. Dres B*t*hes Aint S*it (Chronic album); Snoop Doggs songs, The Shiznit (Doggystyle album) and Gs Up Hoes Down (Doggystyle Album); Tupacs Ambitionz Az A Ridah (All Eyez On Me album), and he also worked on songs from the 8 Mile and Poetic Justice soundtracks, among others. After doing a lil research on David Ruffin Jr. weve learned that when he told his dad he wanted to rap instead of sing, his Pops reportedly told him, Well I aint backing you up on a fad. His friend Donald Brown drove him to the hospital, but he was already dead when they got there. [8] He continued similar stunts for about a month until, according to Edwards, the group decided to lay-off Edwards with the promise of a solo deal from Motown and rehire Ruffin. [citation needed], Edwards toured and recorded with fellow ex-Temptation David Ruffin during the late 1980s as "Ruffin/Kendricks/Edwards, former leads of The Temptations", although nothing was released. Cheryl Ruffin-Robinson said her family has long believed that there was foul play involved in her fathers death, and many questions they have about his final hours are still unanswered. David Ruffin Jr. is known for Real Bloodlines (2015), The Making of: Running Out of Time and Without U (2022). [3] The album of the same name reached No. Himself, Do you know something we don't? It could have been a storybook start to a third act revival. But Ruffin also reached out to his brother Quincy in 1991, and suggested they go back to Mississippi, and walk along a lake together, their feet in the sand. At age 13, he left home. He was Still under contract at Motown, though, and his solo career got off to a promising start with the ballad "My Whole World Ended (The Moment You Left Me"). As long as Id known David, he was always a very complex guy, very intense about things, Williams wrote in his 1988 memoir, Temptations. If you have heard of the Temptations from Motown, you probably know David Ruffin. My Girl was the bands first No. AKA Davis Eli Ruffin. Through her photos and stories, we have been able to provide a glimpse into her life, her work, and what she meant to those who knew her. Check it out and tell us what you think on Facebook. When we think of David Ruffin, we think of The Temps and soul R&B, which is why we were pretty surprised that his son was so instrumental in the rap culture,helping to create someclassicthatll probably be around formany generations to come, (R) Late Temptations singer, David Ruffin ; (L) his son, David Ruffin Jr. The Detroit resident attended Mumford High School in Detroit, and her career included modeling. But David Ruffin could sing like a hurricane, and possessed an innate sense of how to connect with people, how to make them smile and laugh and feel what he felt. Thousands attended his funeral in Detroit, a send-off that said more about Ruffin, and what his music meant to people, than any of the headlines about his death. David Jr is currently preparing to tour independently with 4942 as well as spearheading The Sons Of Motown project. Murrell remembers watching Ruffin sometimes disappear into properties to buy drugs. People figured you can stop a bad habit, but they dont understand addiction, said the soul singer Candi Staton, a longtime friend of Ruffins. People never get tired of Motown because Motown is real music. 3 Rose Franklin disputes the manner in which the mini-series depicted the final days of her son, Melvin. Eli's parents had moved from Alabama to Mississippi, because of the harsh circumstances of living after the American Civil War. Thank you for carrying this torch for me. Ruffins upbringing had been rooted in pain, something his niece, Gina Ruffin Moore, discovered when she was a little girl, living in Fort Bragg, N.C. . [10] When problems arose between Woodson and the Temptations in 1987, Edwards was brought back once again. He has been nominated for three Academy Awards, winning one for his original song \We\ve Only Just Begun\ from the film The Carpenters (1970). He had a spot on his liver and the doctor said he needed to retire from the group. [5][6] His last major duty assignment was with Headquarters Battery, 2nd Howitzer Battalion, 35th Artillery, Seventh Army. Edwards joined the Temptations in 1968, replacing David Ruffin and sang with the group from 1968 to 1976, 1980 to 1984 and 1987 to 1989. He is singing, Cant Get Next To You. [2], As a teenager, Edwards joined a gospel vocal group called The Mighty Clouds of Joy, and studied music at the Detroit Conservatory of Music. [A]ll I needed was the right song for his voice, and I felt like I would have a smash hit record, Robinson once told NPR. He sounds quite a bit like his father to me. I work on the investigations team, and narrative-driven projects. Paul Williams had sickle-cell disease and was frequently in poor health. On another occasion, Staton and the singer Bobby Womack visited Ruffin while he was recording new music in California. Edwards was again replaced by Woodson in 1989 after leaving the group for a third and final time. Otis Lamont Miles died in 1983 from falling off a building in a workplace accident in Detroit. There were hints that Ruffins future would be tumultuous. [citation needed] His group continues to perform today as Dennis Edwards' Temptations Revue. They were enabling him.. Ruffin, 58, died May 19 at Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak as a result of complications from COVID-19. This blog is dedicated to celebrating the life and career of one of the most iconic figures in Motown history, David Ruffin Jr.\s mother, Mrs. Ruffin. The track created a lot of controversy, as it contained a short rap sequence which did not sit very well with die-hard Temptations fans. Crying in tune, thats how I hear Davids voice, Hall said during a recent interview. We now understand why his dad was so adamant about Jr.s other musical abilities. From a young age, David Jr. recognized his father, David Ruffin Sr., was famous and he loved seeing him perform on stage as lead vocalist of The Temptations on many of their biggest hits. Rod Stewart, Daryl Hall and John Oates, Diana Ross, the Spinners, and Martha Reeves and the Vandellas also sent floral arrangements. Mother: Ophelia Ruffin (d. before David was one year old) Brother: Jimmy Ruffin (b. David began singing and touring at a very young age with his father and siblings in a gospel group. The son of late Temptations singer, David Ruffin, has been very instrumental in some of the most timeless rap songs from the '90s. He began singing as a toddler, just two years old, in his father's church. Ruffin was born Davis Eli Ruffin on January 18, 1941, in Whynot, Mississippi. His biological father was a preacher in a church. _taboola.push({ The Temptations should do some music with him and bring that old Motown sound back again. 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