All About David Ruffin: Wife, Net Worth, Children, Kids, Daughter

Known for movies

Short Info

Net Worth	$2 million
Date Of Birth	January 18, 1941
Died	June 1, 1991, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Spouse	Sandra Ruffin
Mark	His black rimmed glasses
Fact	Joined The Temptations in mid-January 1964, when he replaced Elbridge "Al" Bryant (aka Albridge Bryant), one of the group's three starring leads. In July 1968, he was replaced by Dennis Edwards, while he started a solo career.

David Ruffin was born on January 18, 1941, in Meridian, Mississippi. His parents, both musicians, divorced when he was young, and he was raised by his mother and stepfather. Ruffin began singing in church and local talent shows as a child. He dropped out of high school in the 11th grade to pursue a career in music.

Ruffin’s big break came when he was recruited to join The Temptations in 1964. He was the lead singer on some of the group’s most successful songs, including “My Girl” and “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg.” Ruffin left The Temptations in 1968 amid creative differences.

He embarked on a solo career, releasing his self-titled debut album in 1969. Ruffin scored several hit singles, including “My Whole World Ended (The Moment You Left Me)” and “Walk Away from Love.” His career stalled in the late 1970s, but he made a comeback in the 1980s with the album David Ruffin – The Man Who Made The Temptations Great Again.

Ruffin was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of The Temptations in 1989. He died of a drug overdose in 1991 at the age of 50.

At the time of his death, Ruffin had a net worth of $5 million.

General Info

Full Name	David Ruffin
Net Worth	$2 million
Date Of Birth	January 18, 1941
Died	June 1, 1991, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Height	1.91 m
Profession	Singer
Nationality	American

Family

Spouse	Sandra Ruffin
Children	Kimberly Ruffin, Nedra Ruffin, Cheryl Ruffin, David Ruffin Junior, My Girl, Ain't Too Proud to Beg, Papa Was a Rolling Stone
Parents	Eli Ruffin, Ophelia Ruffin, My Girl, Ain't Too Proud to Beg, Papa Was a Rolling Stone
Siblings	Jimmy Ruffin, Quincy B Ruffin, Rita Mae Ruffin, My Girl, Ain't Too Proud to Beg, Papa Was a Rolling Stone

Accomplishments

Nominations	Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals
Movies	Dancin' in the Street

Social profile links

IMDB	http://imdb.com/name/nm0749278

Marks

#	Marks / Signs
1	His signature move during his performances was to spin around, tossing the microphone from one hand to the other, drop to the floor with a leg split, and then rise back up.
2	His black rimmed glasses
3	Raspy tenor/baritone singing voice

Quotes

#	Quote
1	I don't know what kind of voice I have, I really don't. It's just about "the feeling I get for the song.
2	Most of my life, I've been on my own, trying to do my thing. Everybody has to go out and face the reality of life. That's what everybody's got to do, do you own thing. Strength is your own thing.
3	At the beginning of the first couple of shows by myself, I'd be singing and then make a move as if to go into the background, but there wasn't any background. In the first couple of shows, that was missed. Now when I walk on . . . I have more room to walk.
4	But they're just cheating the public now. People still expect Eddie [Eddie Kendricks], Paul [Paul Williams] and me when they see The Temptations. They are the voices they know although, in all honesty, Dennis Edwards can be considered a true Temptation.
5	[Talking about his three-year absence following the 1982 The Temptations reunion tour] Sometimes an artist is lost and needs to find a new direction for himself or his music.

Facts

#	Fact
1	Ex-brother-in-law of Clara Jackson.
2	Was romantically linked to Tammi Terrell.
3	The Temptations were awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 7060 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California.
4	One of the first Motown artists who demanded regular accounting of the group's financial status, so as to know how the money was being handled, which caused friction between him and Motown founder Berry Gordy.
5	His first solo song, "My Whole World Ended (The Moment You Left Me)," was originally intended for The Temptations when he was still the group's front man.
6	Worked up such a sweat recording the song "Ain't Too Proud to Beg" that, according to Otis Williams, his glasses were falling off his face.
7	Before he was fired from The Temptations, one of his requests was that the band's name be changed to "David Ruffin & The Temptations," in light of how The Supremes had their name changed to Diana Ross & The Supremes and, similarly, how The Miracles were known as Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, placing more emphasis on the lead singers. This was reportedly one of the reasons he was eventually fired from the group.
8	Angry and embittered at being fired from The Temptations, who he felt owed their success to him, he tried to sabotage the career of his replacement, Dennis Edwards, by showing up at the group's concerts and, whenever they started to perform one of the songs Ruffin himself had once sang lead on, he would jump onto the stage, steal the microphone away from Edwards and start singing, much to the embarrassment of the group but to the delight of the fans. The group later hired more security guards to keep him from entering their concerts.
9	His older brother, singer Jimmy Ruffin, was offered the chance to sing with The Temptations, but he politely declined in favor of David, who went on to sing many of the classic 1960s Temptations songs, including "Beauty Is Only Skin Deep," "Ain't Too Proud to Beg," and the immortal "My Girl".
10	Despite the ego and attitude problems he developed towards the end of his tenure with The Temptations -- which stayed with him for the remainder of his life despite his attempts to change -- he always remained good friends with fellow Temptations singer Eddie Kendricks, who toured with Ruffin in the 1980s.
11	Is portrayed by Leon in The Temptations biographical miniseries The Temptations (1998).
12	According to Otis Williams, the founder and only surviving member of The Temptations original group, Ruffin was a very funny, colorful, good-natured and hard-working man when he first joined the group, but fame gave him serious ego and attitude problems and drug addiction made him a very erratic worker, which eventually led to him being fired from the group.
13	The Temptations were voted the 67th Greatest Rock 'n' Roll Artists of all time by Rolling Stone.
14	Member of The Temptations famous 'Classic 5' line-up.
15	Joined The Temptations in mid-January 1964, when he replaced Elbridge "Al" Bryant (aka Albridge Bryant), one of the group's three starring leads. In July 1968, he was replaced by Dennis Edwards, while he started a solo career.
16	Distant cousin of Melvin Franklin.
17	Younger brother of Jimmy Ruffin.
18	Had four children Cheryl, Nedra, David jr, and Mone.
19	Favorite actor was Richard Burton.
20	His father was a Baptist Minister.
21	Favorite actress was Sophia Loren.
22	Created the four-headed microphone.

Movies

Soundtrack

Title	Year	Status
Misfits	2010	TV Series performer - 1 episode
Skeppsholmen	2002	TV Series performer - 1 episode
The Addiction	1995	performer: "Addiction"

Actor

Title	Year	Status	Character
The Temptations	1998	TV Series	Man in Coppa Cabana

Self

Title	Year	Status	Character
Grammy Legends	1990	TV Special	Himself (as The Temptations)
Soul Train	1973-1988	TV Series documentary	Guest / Himself
Dancin' in the Street	1987	Video documentary	Himself
Sun City: Artists United Against Apartheid	1986	Video documentary	Himself
Artists United Against Apartheid: Sun City	1985	Video short	Himself (uncredited)
MTV Video Music Awards 1985	1985	TV Special	Himself - Performer (as The Temptations)
Live Aid	1985	TV Special documentary	Himself
New American Bandstand 1965	1970-1975	TV Series	Himself
Della	1970	TV Series	Himself
Laugh-In	1968	TV Series	Himself - Guest Performer
The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour	1967	TV Series	Himself
The Ed Sullivan Show	1967	TV Series	Singer
The Lloyd Thaxton Show	1966	TV Series	Himself
It's What's Happening, Baby!	1965	TV Special	Himself (as The Temptations)
Ready, Steady, Go!	1965	TV Series	Himself
Thank Your Lucky Stars	1965	TV Series	Himself

Archive Footage

Title	Year	Status	Character
Unsung	2012	TV Series documentary	Himself
TV in Black: The First Fifty Years	2004	Video documentary	Himself
The Temptations	1998	TV Series	Man in Coppa Cabana (as The Temptations)
Motown 40: The Music Is Forever	1998	TV Movie documentary	Himself
The Original Leads of the Temptations	1992	Video documentary	Himself
Smokey Robinson: The Quiet Legend	1990	TV Movie documentary	Himself
Hittimittari	1985	TV Series	Himself
Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever	1983	TV Movie documentary	Himself (Temptations member / solo artist)
Say Brother	1969	TV Series	Himself