Jimmy ruffin cause of death
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Jimmy Ruffin
American singer (1936–2014)
Musical artist
Jimmy Lee Ruffin[3] (May 7, 1936 – November 17, 2014) was an American soul singer, and the older brother of David Ruffin, the lead singer of the Temptations. He had several hit records between the 1960s and 1980s, the most successful being the Top 10 hits "What Becomes of the Brokenhearted" and "Hold On (To My Love)".
Biography
Early life
Jimmy Ruffin was born in 1936 in Collinsville, Mississippi, to Eli, a sharecropper, and Ophelia Ruffin.[1] He was approaching his fifth birthday when his younger brother David was born.[4] As children, the brothers began singing with a gospel group, the Dixie Nightingales.[5]
In 1961, Jimmy became a singer as part of the Motown stable, mostly on sessions but also recording singles for its subsidiary Miracle label, but was then drafted for national service.[4][5][6] After leaving the Army in 1964, he returned to Motown, where he was offered the opportunity to join the Temptations to replace
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Jimmy Ruffin
Jimmy Ruffin proves that hard work pays off. After Motown executive Raynoma Gordy Singleton spotted him at the Ebony Club in Muskegon, Michigan, she encouraged him to audition for Motown. During the audition process, he gained the support of Mary Wells and Marv Johnson, two of the label’s biggest stars. With three Motown powerhouses in Ruffin’s corner, Berry Gordy had no choice but to sign him in 1960. His first release in 1961, “Don’t Feel Sorry For Me,” signaled a bright career ahead. That future was put on pause when he was drafted into the Army. In 1964, he returned to Motown to re-sign and found that the small label had become a dominant force in the music industry.
While trying to regain his footing in the company, Ruffin heard a demo of a ballad dedicated to those who have had their heart broken. Written by William Weatherspoon, Paul Riser, and James Dean, “What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted” was designated for recording by the Spinners until Jimmy Ruffin told the trio the lyrics spoke to him. Ruffin successfully convinced them to give him the first shot
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David Ruffin
American singer (1941–1991)
Musical artist
David Eli Ruffin (born Davis Eli Ruffin;[1] January 18, 1941 – June 1, 1991) was an American 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" 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[2] and again in 2023.[3] He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989 for his work with the Temptations.[4] Fellow Motown recording artist Marvin Gaye once said admiringly of Ruffin that, "I heard [in his voice] a strength my own voice lacked."[2]
Early life
Ruffin was born Davis Eli Ruffin on January 18, 1941, in the ru
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