Jimmy Ruffin (born 7 May 1936 in Collinsville, Mississippi; died 17 Novembe… Read Full Bio ↴Jimmy Ruffin (born 7 May 1936 in Collinsville, Mississippi; died 17 November 2014 in Las Vegas, Nevada) was an American soul singer. His 1966 hit "What Becomes of the Brokenhearted" was a major success and his most well-known song. He was offered a chance to sing with The Temptations, but he politely declined in favor of his younger brother, David Ruffin (born 1941; died 1991).
After the success of "What Becomes of the Brokenhearted", the intended follow-up, "East Side West Side", was released only in Australia due to an argument with Motown head Berry Gordy. The song was written by Ron Welser and Flamingos' member Terry Johnson.
With his brother David Ruffin, Jimmy Ruffin released a popular cover version of "Stand By Me" (by Ben E. King), taken from The Ruffin Brothers' album, I Am My Brother's Keeper.
Jimmy Ruffin's other hits include "I've Passed This Way Before", "Gonna Give Her All The Love I've Got", "Don't You Miss Me A Little Bit Baby", "I'll Say Forever My Love", "It's Wonderful To Be Loved By You" and "Tell Me What You Want".
In 1980 he collaborated with the Bee Gees' musician Robin Gibb, who produced his album Sunrise. From it came the single which would be his last Top 10 UK and U.S. hit: "Hold On To My Love". In 1986 Jimmy Ruffin collaborated with the British pop group Heaven 17, singing "A Foolish Thing To Do" and "My Sensitivity" on a 12" EP record.
In the 1980s, Ruffin moved to live in Britain, where he continued to perform successfully. In December 1984 he collaborated with Paul Weller of The Style Council for his benefit single "Soul Deep." This went under the name of The Council Collective.
Following the 2010 release of his album I Am My Brother's Keeper, Ruffin began writing and recording songs for a new album that was never issued.
In 2012, a compilation album entitled, "There Will Never Be Another You", including his hit songs "What Becomes of The Broken Hearted", and "Hold On To My Love" had been released.
In addition to his brother David Ruffin (deceased), Jimmy Ruffin had three other siblings: Quincy, Rita Mae (deceased) and Rosa (deceased).
After the success of "What Becomes of the Brokenhearted", the intended follow-up, "East Side West Side", was released only in Australia due to an argument with Motown head Berry Gordy. The song was written by Ron Welser and Flamingos' member Terry Johnson.
With his brother David Ruffin, Jimmy Ruffin released a popular cover version of "Stand By Me" (by Ben E. King), taken from The Ruffin Brothers' album, I Am My Brother's Keeper.
Jimmy Ruffin's other hits include "I've Passed This Way Before", "Gonna Give Her All The Love I've Got", "Don't You Miss Me A Little Bit Baby", "I'll Say Forever My Love", "It's Wonderful To Be Loved By You" and "Tell Me What You Want".
In 1980 he collaborated with the Bee Gees' musician Robin Gibb, who produced his album Sunrise. From it came the single which would be his last Top 10 UK and U.S. hit: "Hold On To My Love". In 1986 Jimmy Ruffin collaborated with the British pop group Heaven 17, singing "A Foolish Thing To Do" and "My Sensitivity" on a 12" EP record.
In the 1980s, Ruffin moved to live in Britain, where he continued to perform successfully. In December 1984 he collaborated with Paul Weller of The Style Council for his benefit single "Soul Deep." This went under the name of The Council Collective.
Following the 2010 release of his album I Am My Brother's Keeper, Ruffin began writing and recording songs for a new album that was never issued.
In 2012, a compilation album entitled, "There Will Never Be Another You", including his hit songs "What Becomes of The Broken Hearted", and "Hold On To My Love" had been released.
In addition to his brother David Ruffin (deceased), Jimmy Ruffin had three other siblings: Quincy, Rita Mae (deceased) and Rosa (deceased).
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Jimmy Ruffin Lyrics
We have lyrics for these tracks by Jimmy Ruffin:
15. As Long As There Is L-O-V-E Love You've told me lots times there's another on your mind And…
A Love Like Yours Baby, baby, baby, baby, baby You don't have to tell…
All Your Love There's a train leaving here tomorrow. (Leaving here) And…
And There You Were Maria hey hey eh eh hey Maria Maria don't you…
AS LONG AS THERE IS L-O-V-E LOVE You've told me lots times there's another on your mind And…
Baby Listen to me people I ain't got time to think about…
Beauty Is Only Skin Deep So in love, sad as could be 'Cause a pretty face…
Black Is Black Black is black, I want my baby back It's grey, it's…
Bless You Ev'ry time I faced the world I just had to cry I…
Don't Let Him Take Your Love From Me Baby, baby, baby, baby, baby You don't have to tell…
Don't You Miss Me a Little Bit Baby I hear you're telling everybody That you're glad I'm gone Do…
Don`t Let Him Take Your Love From Me Baby, baby, baby, baby, baby You don't have to…
Don’t You Miss Me A Little Bit Baby I hear you′re telling everybody That you're glad I′m gone Do…
Falling In Love With You You see this girl, this girl's in love with you Yes,…
Farewell Is a Lonely Sound (Farewell farewell my love, farewell farewell my love) Fare…
Gonna Give Her All The Love I There's a train leaving here tomorrow. (Leaving here) And…
Gonna Keep On Tryin Till I Win Your Love GONNA KEEP ON TRYIN' TILL I WIN YOUR LOVE WRITERS NORMAN…
Half Of Your Love Baby, baby, baby, baby, baby You don't have to tell…
Halfway To Paradise I want to be your lover But your friend is…
Hold on to Love Today, you came by, to tell me you are leaving…
I Maria hey hey eh eh hey Maria Maria don't you…
I Could Never Love Another Girl I can't believe my ears, are you really tellin'…
I Got A Feeling There's a train leaving here tomorrow. (Leaving here) And…
I Got You You don't drive a big fine car You don't look like…
I Want Her Love There's a train leaving here tomorrow. (Leaving here) And…
I'll Say Forever My Love You Have Come To Me And You Ask Me How Much…
I've Passed This Way Before Life lands a freshing blow. And once again our…
It There must be a word that says how much I…
It Takes Two You don't drive a big fine car You don't look like…
It's Wonderful There must be a word that says how much I…
Let's Say Goodbye Tomorrow You've come to tell me girl, that I must walk…
Lonely Lonely Man Am I It happened once before, it could happen again Do you spend…
Love Love Love It's not that I don't love you,you know how much…
Love Me Baby, baby, baby, baby, baby You don't have to tell…
Maria Maria hey hey eh eh hey Maria Maria don't you…
Maria (You Were the Only One) Maria hey hey eh eh hey Maria Maria don't you hear…
My Baby's Gone Listen to me people I ain't got time to think about…
Rurn Back the Hands of Time Oh darling I'm so lonely without you Can't sleep at night…
Se Decidi Cosi As I walk this land with broken dreams I have visions…
Stand By Me When the night has come And the land is dark…
Take A Letter Maria Last night as I got home about a half past…
That's You Girl You see this girl, this girl's in love with you Yes,…
Too Busy Thinking About My Baby Listen to me people I ain't got time to think about…
Turn Back The Hands Of Time Oh darling I'm so lonely without you Can't sleep at night…
What Become...Broken Hearted As I walk this land with broken dreams I have visions…
What Becomes of the Broken Hearted (Re-Recorded Version) What becomes of the broken-hearted jimmy ruffin As i walk th…
What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted-Drum As I walk this land with broken dreams I have visions…
What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted - Single Version ooooooooooo As I walk this land of broken dreams I have visi…
What Becomes Of The Brokenhra As I walk this land with broken dreams I have visions…
Where Were You Maria hey hey eh eh hey Maria Maria don't you…
You Last week my life had meaning, it was beautiful and…
You Got What It Takes You don't drive a big fine car You don't look like…
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Jamaal Jamaal
They really didnt explore on him in The Temptations Movie its about time for a David Ruffin movie to be made
Jonathan Clary
If anyone should have movie made it should be Jimmy cause he's an Underrated Motown Singer that deserves his own movie more.
Captain Keyboard
Jimmy Ruffin continued to sing very well, just like when he was with The Temptations. My favorite song of his that was not on the Motown record labor was "Tell Me What You Want," which I heard on the seven-inch single. I am appalled that all these Temptations singers are dead.
Jonathan Clary
@Captain Keyboard Your welcome
Captain Keyboard
@Jonathan Clary I sit corrected. I should have stated that "Tell Me What You Want" was not recorded at Motown. It was on another record label that I cannot remember off the top of my head. Thank you for tapping or typing to me.
Jonathan Clary
Tell me what you want wasn't for Motown it was for Polydor records In the early 70's Jimmy lefted Motown and got sign to work at Polydor records where he teamed up with Producer Jimmy Roach at the same time Ruffin started Writing and Producing his own music unfortunately most of his written music never became Hits but by (1974) Jimmy's first Hit Song What Becomes of the Brokenhearted became from (1966) became a Hit again that very same year of (74) Tell me what you want became such a huge Hit in the UK Charts. But around (1970) Jimmy was Voted World's Top Singer in the British Polls and three his Hit Songs from the Album Ruff N Ready. Farewell is a Lonely sound, I'll say forever my love and It's wonderful to be loved by you all Reached Top 10 in the UK Charts. Oh and during that 70's Jimmy had started up his own music company called Ruff N Ready music inc he named that company after his second Album Ruff N Ready. During his career he sang duets with other Singers especially with his Temptations brother David but his first duet was with Singer Dusty Springfield, then his brother David, then with Singer Marcy Levy, then with Maxine Nightingale, then with Jackson Moore, then he sang a song with Heaven 17 called it's a foolish thing to do and then he sung Luther Vandross feat My Sensitivity, he sang a song with Paul Weller of the Council Collective called Soul deep
Then he did a duet with Singer Brenda Holloway called on the rebound. He sang three other songs called Easy just to say i love you, That's when my loving begins, Wake me up when it's over he sang other songs like There will never be another you, Backstabbers the feat, Falling in love with you, we finally found out, leading lady, take my hand, boy from Mississippi, Mother's love, ain't that cold, Layin it down, Tears of Joy, Songbird, and Night of love. Around (1980) Jimmy met Robin Gibb of the Bee Gees and blue Weaver they helped Jimmy with his next album called Sunrise including his next Hit Song Hold On To My Love the song Reached number 7# in the UK Charts. Jimmy moved from the UK back to America to be closer to his family around (2013) Jimmy worked his last Album called the Soul sound of Jimmy Ruffin where he sung all his Songs for the final time including his last Song called One in a Million. By (2014) Jimmy became Gravely ill and was rushed to Las Vegas hospital into intensive care for a few months till November 17th Jimmy Ruffin passed away at age 78 at the same his family was so sad for losing a Legendary Motown Artist. Ruffin's children Philicia and Ray Ruffin Aka Jimmy Ruffin Jr reported their Father's death to the news media Jimmy's family had a funeral for him and he was buried in Las Vegas cemetery. The world lost another Great Singer and the Ruffin family lost a great Father, Husband, Brother, and Grandfather. Jimmy Ruffin will always be the Greatest Singer of all time and music will never be the same again without him. We love you Jimmy will always love you.
RIP Jimmy Ruffin (1936-2014)❤🎵
The UK'S Greatest Singer of all time
Robert Steve
He also sung the first version of the song Beauty Is Only Skin Deep by The Temptations
TAvorus Peele
@Linda hines he didn’t try out he turned that down to be solo made most his success in the uk
Captain Keyboard
That song is one of my favorites. On the 7" single disc, the song on the reverse side is "You're Not an Ordinary Girl," another dulcet favorite of mine.
Jonathan Clary
@Linda hines Jimmy Ruffin went to Philadelphia and recorded two Songs both are called Falling In Love With You and We Finally Found Out.
Those we're for Soul Junction Records. By the one Song i really liked that he Sung was called The Entertainer he sang that for Hayley Records in (2004) by (1984) Ruffin relocated to the UK also around that time he did a Duet with Singer Jackson Moore and Sang the song I'm Gonna love you Forever. They recorded for E.R.C Records in the Netherlands it was Released in France same year it was very popular. Another song i really like that Jimmy did was called on the Rebound he did another Duet with Singer Brenda Holloway that was a true Classic song. Jimmy Ruffin definitely delivered the goods when it came to Singing good wholesome Songs cause he was famous for Singing Soul, Disco, Pop, and R&B
Jimmy Ruffin's Legacy will always continue to touch People's hearts and Souls with his smooth voice.
And he will never be forgotten.