David Ruffin Net Worth

Publish date: 2024-06-11

David Ruffin net worth is
$2 Million

David Ruffin Wiki Biography

Davis Eli Ruffin was born on 18 January 1941, in Meridian, Mississippi USA, and was a musician and singer, best known to have been one of the lead singers of The Temptations during the “Classic Five” period. He was responsible for songs such as “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg” and “My Girl”. All of his efforts helped put his net worth to where it is today. He passed away in 1991.

How rich was David Ruffin? As of mid-2016, sources inform us of a net worth that is at $2 million, mostly earned through a successful career in the music industry. He’s part of the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame, and is ranked as one of the 100 Greatest Singers of All Time by Rolling Stone magazine. All of these achievements ensured the position of his wealth.

David Ruffin Net Worth $2 million

Ruffin’s mother died just 10 months after his birth, and later on he along with his family would travel as a family gospel group. They opened for artists such as Mahalia Jackson and The Five Blind Boys of Mississippi, but David also sang in choirs and in talent shows whenever he had an opportunity. At the age of 14, he left home to try and pursue a ministry, and then met jazz musician Phineas Newborn, Sr., and became part of The Dixie Nightingales and sang with The Soul Stirrers. During his travels, he would meet many of the big names in music at the time, including Elvis Presley and Little Richard. He eventually left gospel music to pursue more secular music.

He moved to Detroit and recorded two songs under the name “Little David Bush” – “You and I” and “Believe Me”. He then worked with Marvin Gaye and started creating music as part of the Voice Masters. He worked at Anna Records and recorded a few songs with members of The Originals. Despite having work as a solo artist here, he was unsuccessful, but eventually, he met an up-and-coming group called The Temptations, and started touring with them. He became an official member of the group in 1964. His net worth was beginning to grow.

He initially sang background, with the lead role given to Paul Williams or Eddie Kendricks. Eventually, he was noticed in the group and was given the opportunity to lead vocals, including on the record of the song “My Girl” in 1964, and it would become the group’s first number one single. They then they released other songs that became big hits, including “Since I Lost My Baby”, “I Wish it Would Rain”, and “Beauty is Only Skin Deep”. His success continued until 1967, when he was having problems with the group because of his addiction to cocaine. His ego was also inflating, and after missing a few performances, he was fired and replaced by Dennis Edwards. Despite being fired, he would suddenly appear on stage to steal some of the performances from the group.

With his personal issues, he asked to be a solo artist, and it led to his single “My Whole World Ended (The Moment You Left Me)” from the album “My Whole World Ended”. The song reached the top ten charts and it was followed by a second album called “Feelin’ Good”. During this time he recorded a few notable songs, including “Walk Away from Love” and “Statue of a Fool”, although some of his work during this time was shelved until a later date. Despite initially having a good run in his solo career, it then declined due to his continued addiction.

He left Motown to become a part of Warner Bros and released a few more albums. A Temptations reunion was attempted during 1982 but it was short lived due to Ruffin’s addiction. He would tour a few more times after that, one of which was alongside Hall & Oates.

For his personal life, it is known that Ruffin married Sandra Barnes in 1961 and they have three daughters but their marriage eventually ended. In 1976, he married Joy Hamilton and he also had a son with girlfriend Genna Sapia who lived with him until his death. David passed away in 1991 after a reaction to cocaine, though speculation was that there was foul play involved due to money missing from his person.


Full NameDavid Ruffin
Net Worth$2 Million
Date Of BirthJanuary 18, 1941
DiedJune 1, 1991, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Place Of BirthPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Height1.91 m
ProfessionSinger
NationalityAmerican
SpouseSandra Ruffin (m. 1978–1984)
ChildrenKimberly Ruffin, Cheryl Ruffin, Nedra Ruffin, David Ruffin Junior
ParentsEli Ruffin, Ophelia Ruffin
SiblingsJimmy Ruffin, Quincy B Ruffin, Rita Mae Ruffin
NicknamesDavis Eli Ruffin , Ruffin, David , The Ruffin Brothers
IMDBhttp://www.imdb.com/name/nm0749278/
Allmusichttp://www.allmusic.com/artist/david-ruffin-mn0000811598
Music GroupsThe Temptations, Ollie & The Nightingales
NominationsGrammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals
MoviesDancin' in the Street
#Trademark
1His 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.
2His black rimmed glasses
3Raspy tenor/baritone singing voice
#Quote
1I don't know what kind of voice I have, I really don't. It's just about "the feeling I get for the song.
2Most 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.
3At 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.
4But 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.
#Fact
1Ex-brother-in-law of Clara Jackson.
2Was romantically linked to Tammi Terrell.
3The Temptations were awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 7060 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California.
4One 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.
5His 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.
6Worked 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.
7Before 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.
8Angry 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.
9His 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".
10Despite 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.
11Is portrayed by Leon in The Temptations biographical miniseries The Temptations (1998).
12According 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.
13The Temptations were voted the 67th Greatest Rock 'n' Roll Artists of all time by Rolling Stone.
14Member of The Temptations famous 'Classic 5' line-up.
15Joined 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.
16Distant cousin of Melvin Franklin.
17Younger brother of Jimmy Ruffin.
18Had four children Cheryl, Nedra, David jr, and Mone.
19Favorite actor was Richard Burton.
20His father was a Baptist Minister.
21Favorite actress was Sophia Loren.
22Created the four-headed microphone.

Soundtrack

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Misfits2010TV Series performer - 1 episode
Skeppsholmen2002TV Series performer - 1 episode
The Addiction1995performer: "Addiction"

Actor

TitleYearStatusCharacter
The Temptations1998TV SeriesMan in Coppa Cabana

Self

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Grammy Legends1990TV SpecialHimself (as The Temptations)
Soul Train1973-1988TV Series documentaryGuest / Himself
Dancin' in the Street1987Video documentaryHimself
Sun City: Artists United Against Apartheid1986Video documentaryHimself
Artists United Against Apartheid: Sun City1985Video shortHimself (uncredited)
MTV Video Music Awards 19851985TV SpecialHimself - Performer (as The Temptations)
Live Aid1985TV Special documentaryHimself
New American Bandstand 19651970-1975TV SeriesHimself
Della1970TV SeriesHimself
Laugh-In1968TV SeriesHimself - Guest Performer
The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour1967TV SeriesHimself
The Ed Sullivan Show1967TV SeriesSinger
The Lloyd Thaxton Show1966TV SeriesHimself
It's What's Happening, Baby!1965TV SpecialHimself (as The Temptations)
Ready, Steady, Go!1965TV SeriesHimself
Thank Your Lucky Stars1965TV SeriesHimself

Archive Footage

Known for movies


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