The Encyclopedia of Dead Rock Stars (141 page)

The great Temptations - Ruffin, Franklin, P Williams, O Williams and Kendricks. Of this line-up, Otis Williams is the only member still alive.

JUNE

Saturday 1

David Ruffin

(Davis Eli Ruffin - Meridian, Mississippi, 19 January 1941)

The Temptations

(Various acts)

Early failure proved the catalyst to turn budding gospel talent David Ruffin into a major soul star, leader of Motown’s hottest male property, The Temptations. Having left for Detroit at the age of fourteen, Ruffin both sang and played percussion in a good number of acts (including The Dixie Nightingales) before Harvey Fuqua made the perhaps regrettable decision to turn him down as frontman for his new Moonglows in 1960. But the smart, diligent vocalist knuckled down after this setback, finding work first as a session drummer, then recording a well-received solo single, ‘Mr Bus Driver Hurry’, on Checkmate (1961). Ruffin had good family connections: his older brother was Jimmy Ruffin – soon to be a big-name singer himself – and his cousin Melvin Franklin was a member of Berry Gordy’s fledgling Temptations. This link was to prove crucial. Replacing the seemingly unmanageable Elbridge ‘Al’ Bryant, Ruffin and his punchy baritone assumed lead position in a band that, over the next few years, set the standard for black vocal groups across America. Under the initial guidance of songwriter Smokey Robinson, The Temps proceeded to clean up with sixteen hits during Ruffin’s tenure (most featuring his lead vocals), including the number one ‘My Girl’ (1965). Although the classic roster also boasted Franklin, Eddie Kendricks, Otis Williams and Paul Williams, Ruffin was the focal point, promoted to the position of soul royalty when he and singer Tammi Terrell became an item.

Ruffin’s departure from The Temptations in July 1968 was officially put down to his desire to pursue a solo career, though it is widely known that he was dissatisfied with the label’s payment policies and work demands on its artists. Put simply, Ruffin became resentful of the salary paid him and his colleagues when The Temps were pulling in tens of thousands of dollars per show. With this in mind, he bowed out (replaced by Dennis Edwards) that September, suing Motown for a reported $5 million. As a solo singer under the care of Fuqua, Ruffin enjoyed an early hit with 1969’s ‘My Whole World Ended (The Moment You Left Me)’ – possibly written about Terrell – but otherwise only saw ‘Walk away from Love’ (1975, also a Top Ten hit in Britain) cross over to pop success. By now, Jimmy was the Ruffin scoring the greater hits.

In 1982 – after a spell in prison for tax evasion – David Ruffin returned to The Temptations for those hard-to-resist nostalgia tours, but his interests clearly now lay elsewhere. Juggling businesses outside music, Ruffin spent much of his cash on hard drugs and was arrested for possession of crack, which led to enforced detoxification. Tragically – though perhaps predictably – the singer could not overcome his addiction to the highprofile substance. Dropped anonymously by limo at the University of Pennsylvania Hospital, an unconscious Ruffin was discovered to have overdosed on the drug at a well-known crack house the previous night. He died in care at 3.45 am – tagged ‘John Doe’ until his identity was confirmed three days later. With the singer apparently near destitute, his friend Michael Jackson stepped in to cover funeral expenses. Despite this, it is also rumoured that he was checked into hospital holding a briefcase containing $40K in cash and cheques. The case later reappeared, minus the money …

See also
Tammi Terrell (
March 1970); Paul Williams (
August 1973); Elbridge ‘Al’ Bryant (
October 1975); Eddie Kendrick(s) (
October 1992); Melvin Franklin (
February 1995); Raymond Davis (
Golden Oldies #27); Ali ‘Ollie’ Woodson (
May 2010). Later Temptations Ricky Owens (d 1996) and Harry McGilberry (d 2006) have also passed on.

AUGUST

Thursday 1

Vaughn Toulouse

(Vaughn Cotillard - St Helier, Jersey, 30 July 1959)

Department S (Guns For Hire)