Music
David Ruffin
1941–1991 · singer
The raspy lead voice of the Temptations' “My Girl,” who helped build Hitsville U.S.A. as a teenager and is buried at Detroit's Woodlawn Cemetery.
- Born
Whynot, Mississippi- Died
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
aged 50- Birth name
- Davis Eli Ruffin
- Detroit years
- 1957–1991
- Field
- Music
01 / The Detroit story
The Detroit story
David Ruffin came to Detroit from Mississippi at about 16, joining his older brother Jimmy, who was working at Ford and chasing a music career. He cut his first single for a small local label in 1958 and, for a time, lived with Berry Gordy's father, “Pops” Gordy, helping with construction on the house that became Hitsville U.S.A. He sang and drummed with the Voice Masters, a group that included future Motown producer Lamont Dozier, and recorded for Anna Records. In January 1964 he joined the Temptations, and his raw, pleading tenor led “My Girl,” “Ain't Too Proud to Beg” and “(I Know) I'm Losing You.” He was fired in 1968, sued Motown, and began a solo career with “My Whole World Ended.” Drug addiction later took a heavy toll. After his death in 1991, his funeral was held at New Bethel Baptist Church and he was buried at Woodlawn Cemetery. In 2019 Detroit named part of Parkside Street, where he once lived, David Ruffin Avenue.
Highlights
- Helped “Pops” Gordy with construction work on Hitsville U.S.A.
- Lead singer of the Temptations, 1964–1968
- Sang lead on “My Girl” and “Ain't Too Proud to Beg”
- Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with the Temptations, 1989
- Honorary David Ruffin Avenue unveiled in Detroit in 2019
02 / Their Detroit places
Their Detroit places 4
Where they lived, worked, performed and liked to hang out. Closed and demolished places stay here too, because they are part of the city's history.
Worked here · 1959, 1964–1968
Motown Museum
As a teenager he helped “Pops” Gordy with construction work on the house that became Motown's headquarters; he later recorded his Temptations hits here. Now the Motown Museum.
Related place · 1991
New Bethel Baptist Church
The Reverend C. L. Franklin's historic church, where his funeral was held in June 1991.
Buried here · 1991–
Woodlawn Cemetery
Detroit's historic cemetery on Woodward Avenue; he is buried in section three.
Memorial · 2019–
David Ruffin Avenue (Parkside Street)
Honorary secondary street name unveiled in June 2019 on the stretch of Parkside where he once lived.