Biography
David Ruffin was an American soul singer and lead vocalist. Born Davis Eli Ruffin on 18 January 1941 in Whynot, Mississippi, he joined the Temptations in 1964 and sang lead on many of the group's early hits, including "My Girl" (1965), "Ain't Too Proud to Beg" (1966) and "I Wish It Would Rain" (1967). He left the group in 1968 and pursued a solo career, releasing albums on Motown and later labels.
Ruffin appeared in archival footage as Self in the 2021 documentary Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised), performing at the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival. He also performed as Self at Live Aid in 1985. He died on 1 June 1991 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
