Jimmy Ruffin
Jimmy Ruffin | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Birth name | Jimmy Lee Ruffin |
Born | [1][2] Collinsville, Mississippi, U.S. | May 7, 1936
Died | November 17, 2014 Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. | (aged 78)
Genres | |
Occupation(s) | Vocals |
Years active | 1955-2014 |
Labels |
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
Career
In 1966, he heard a song about unrequited love written for
Ruffin's second album, Ruff 'n' Ready, was released in 1969. It contained the song "
As Ruffin found success in the United States difficult to sustain, he began to concentrate instead on the British market. In 1970, "Farewell Is a Lonely Sound", "I'll Say Forever My Love" and "It's Wonderful (To Be Loved by You)" each made the UK Top Ten, and he was voted the world's top singer in one British poll.[4] He also teamed up with brother David to record the album I Am My Brother's Keeper, a modestly successful 1970 album for Motown that included the songs "When The Love Hand Comes Down", "Your Love Was Worth Waiting For" and a cover of Ben E. King's "Stand by Me".[6] His third solo album for the label, The Groove Governor, was released in 1970, and did not fare as well as his previous two albums.
Following the success of his initial hits, Ruffin found it hard to maintain an identity, as most of his songs were later covered by other Motown artists, most prominently "Everybody Needs Love", a hit when covered by Gladys Knight & the Pips for their 1967 debut album of the same name, "Maria (You Were The Only One)", a hit for Michael Jackson and "If You Let Me," a minor hit for Eddie Kendricks. In addition, he had recorded the first version of The Temptations hit "Beauty Is Only Skin Deep".[6]
He then left Motown, and recorded for the Polydor and Chess labels,[7] where he recorded "Tell Me What You Want." In 1980, Robin Gibb of the Bee Gees produced his album Sunrise and the hit single "Hold On To My Love", which reached #10 in the US and #7 in the UK, on the RSO label.[2][6]
In the 1980s, Ruffin moved to live in Great Britain, where he continued to perform successfully. In December 1984 he collaborated with
In 1986 he collaborated with the
Later life and death
Following the 2010 release - on CD for the first time - of his 1970 album I Am My Brother's Keeper, Ruffin had been writing and recording songs for a new album that he had planned to release during 2013. It was not finished at the time of his death.
In 2012, a compilation album titled There Will Never Be Another You, including his hit songs "What Becomes of the Brokenhearted", and "Hold On To My Love", had been released.[11]
Ruffin lived in the area of
Ruffin is buried at Palm Memorial Park Northwest Cemetery, Las Vegas, Clark County, Nevada in the Garden of Eternal Life Section.
Family
His siblings were Davis Eli (David), Reada May (Marie), Rosine, and Quincy B (all deceased). His children are Arlet, Philicia, Jimmie Ray (deceased), Jimmy Jr., Ophelia, Camilla and Jimmie Ray Vaughn.[1]
Discography
- Sunrise (1980)
References
- ^ a b c Sweeting, Adam (20 November 2014). "Jimmy Ruffin obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 November 2014.
- ^ a b c Dahl, Bill. "Artist Biography". AllMusic.
- ISBN 978-0-470-26117-0.
- ^ a b c d e "Jimmy Ruffin Biography". OLDIES.com.
- ^ a b "Biography by Kefauver Inge". Mississippi Writers and Musicians. Archived from the original on 18 January 2008. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
- ^ a b c d e "Biography of Jimmy Ruffin". SoulTracks.com. 23 May 2007. Retrieved 14 November 2014.
- ^ a b c "Searching for Light - Biographical article". SoullyOldies.com.
- ^ "20 Greatest Motown Songs, Ranked". MSN. Archived from the original on 20 February 2018. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
- ^ Grow, Kory (20 November 2014). "Jimmy Ruffin, Motown Hitmaker, Dead at 78". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 20 November 2014.
- ^ "Discogs". Discogs. March 2024.
- ^ "Jimmy Ruffin, Motown singer, dies aged 78". BBC News. 20 November 2014. Retrieved 20 November 2014.
- ^ "Motown Legend Jimmy Ruffin In Intensive Care In Vegas Hospital". Noise11.com. 17 October 2014. Retrieved 2 November 2014.