Every life has a story and a dream. David Ruffin�s story and dream were both tied up in music. It started when he was a young boy in Whynot, Mississippi. Music played a big part in his family life. Of course, at this time it was strictly Gospel music because his father was a strict Baptist minister.
David lived in Mississippi at a time when there were few opportunities for blacks. The Ruffins lived a very simple and humble lifestyle. Sadly, his mother died when he was only months old and his father later remarried. The young David sang and toured with his father Eli, his brothers Jimmy and Quincy, and his sister Rita Mae. They even opened shows for the great Mahalia Jackson.
He left home at the age of 14 under the guardianship of a minister. At 15 years of age he went to Arkansas with Phineas Newborn Senior, who was a great jazz musician, and with him David Ruffin played at the Fifty Grand ballroom/casino. David sang in talent shows, worked with horses and eventually became a member of a gospel group called The Dixie Nightingales. It was in these travels as a teenager that he met such later popular personalities as, Elvis Presly, Little Richard, Bobby Womack, The Staple Singers,and the Swan Silvertones.
After some of his adored singing idols like Sam Cooke and Jackie Wilson had left gospel music and gone secular David also turned in that direction. He met and came under the guardianship of a Mr. Eddie Bush whom took David to Detroit and introduced him To Gwen Gordy and Billy Davis. On the StreetGold video David explained how he went to Detroit and began to record a different kind of music. He said that he met Berry Gordy in 1957. At this time David was only 16 years old. He had just come to Detroit from Hotsprings, Arkansas singing Gospel. He smilingly stated that, he and Marvin Gaye use to pack records for Anna records and he(David) at one time lived with Berry Gordy�s father (who was a contractor) and worked with him in the building construction of Motown. He went on to explain that Billy Davis and Anna Gordy were over Anna Records and it was at Anna/Chess Records that he as a teenager made solo recordings.
The next phase in the realization of David�s dream of music stardom began in 1964 when he was invited to join "The Temptations". The once five man group was now four(Paul Williams, Eddie Kendricks, Melvin Franklin, and Otis Williams). David Ruffin became a member of this group and they became the Classic Five Temptations. They were absolutely fabulous. At first David was not used as a lead singer. But, his awesome voice and talents could not long be ignored. Smokey said that David was like a �Sleeping Giant� and that he just had to write a song for that great voice. History was made when Smokey wrote My Girl and said this song is meant for David's voice. The song �My Girl� and David Ruffin are synonymous to me. When I hear that song today I automatically think of David Ruffin. No one will ever sing it like he did.
David�s voice and stage persona were AWESOME and he began to get most of the leads with The Temptations. Some say that his ego began to grow, but I say that he looked around Motown and saw that most lead singers were given top billing so why not me he questioned? That is only human nature. If you think not, then think about when someone on your job gets a promotion when you are out there working just as hard if not harder and you do not get the same recognition. David Saw Diana Ross and other lead singers get top billings. Why was his desire �to have top billing� any worse than others?
There had been tension and disagreements within the ranks of The Temptaions before David became a member and it would continue long after his exit. With David�s desire to have top billing and questions about Motown bookkeeping policies verbally made known, it was decided that he no longer was a part of a democratic union. A democratic union I must add that usually did what Otis Williams wanted. No one denies that David had problems (some say he had drug problems). But with quite a number of leads on hit records for the Tempts under his belt David was too quickly out of the group that once called him �brother�.
So begins the second solo phase in David�s life of Music. David was no longer with The Temptations and now wanted out of Motown. He had made noise questioning the bookkeeping practices of the company. He even spoke out boldly against these pratices to the boss, Mr. Berry Gordy. By this time, the atmosphere at Motown had to be quite uncomfortable for David, and he tried to leave. He contracted with another record company but he and the record company were both sued by Motown. He received offers from other recording companies but was held in an ironclad contract by Motown. Who can say what anger, frustrations, and feelings of helplessness he experienced. But as usual, with that natural gift David Ruffin made beautiful music. As a solo artist at Motown he was allowed one album a year. Some of his singles did go to top of the chart but as a whole his songs did not receive the recognition they deserved. Although David was not always given the best material and promotion his singing deserve, his songs has stood the test of time.
Continuing, In the mid 70�s David recorded for Warner Bros. and in the 80�s he and fellow ex-Tempt Eddie Kendricks recorded for RCA. David also rejoined the Tempts in 82 for a reunion tour. He had a very successful tour in 85 with Hall and Oates and Eddie Kendricks. With the Tempts, David was inducted into The Rock N� Roll Hall of Fame in 89. In the late 80�s and until his death he toured the US and UK with fellow ex- Tempts Eddie Kendricks and Dennis Edwards. The man that started making music as a child continued to make it through his entire life. He past this life on June 1, 1991. He left behind Children, grandchildren, brothers and other family members who cherish private and personal ties to him. There are others also who loved and appreciated him and his gift of song that have been touched in various ways by him. We will always remember David what you gave of yourself, and today when we listen to his songs he leaves us just as emotionally charged as he did in years past.
It�s not possible to tell the many intricate and daily struggles of a person�s life as he tries to make his dreams come true. No, it�s not possible to do so in a in a few paragraphs. And who knows the whole story of the mind and heart of a person but himself and God. But I do know this, the man David Ruffin DEEPLY touched many people and left behind a legacy of SOUL music that is indeed UNIQUE.
