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).
The Heaven I Need
Jimmy Ruffin Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'The Heaven I Need' by these artists:
Big Fun Come on, open up and let me in Life is short…
Teddy Pendergrass Oh, love I'll never find the words on my own This loneliness…
The Three Degrees And I can't control this feeling Gonna put my arms around…
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…
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…
Do I Love You Girl I can't believe my ears, are you really tellin'…
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…
Donât You Miss Me A Little Bit Baby I hear youâČre telling everybody That you're glad IâČm 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…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
More Genres
No Artists Found
More Artists
Load All
No Albums Found
More Albums
Load All
No Tracks Found
Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Search results not found
Song not found
Jonathon Singleton
Thanks DoctorRewind,
You might be interested to know in Australia "Foolish Thing To Do" was 100% off the radio/music television radar in 1986. I bought "Teddy Bear" in '88, but Glenn Gregory's version aint the same.  It wasn't until 2006, and the Greatest Hits/+DVD compilation, that I first experienced the collaborative masterpiece of Jimmy Ruffin's performance of the song.
I blame the international music press for their collective nastiness regarding both BEF and Martyn Ware production work. The elitist silliness of this mainly British criticism has very obviously stopped average punters from hearing music classics.Â
And Jimmy Ruffin's "Foolish Thing To Do" is a classic...
Not since Tina Turner's collaboration with the British Heaven 17/B.E.F. production team in 1983 with their release of Al Green's "Let's Stay Together", have I been so utterly moved and transported into melancholic explanations of adult affairs -- so what do you know about "love" anyway!?!
DoctorRewind
Thank you very much taking time to comment and compliment. It'sï»ż nice when someone appreciates :) I love this song and Jimmy Ruffin's performance so much. Glad you enjoyed it too! Please feel free to share the link.
DoctorRewind
Underrated is the word! Thank you for your comment. Please share great music :)
DoctorRewind
Thank you to everyone who has commented on this clip. I had no idea this many people would stop and listen...let alone love it like I do! Please feel free to share it with your friends. Good music should be heard and known to everyone. Much love, Doctor Rewind :-)
DimitriusMann
You won't believe this but I didn't just come across this clip here. I remembered of it and wanting to hear it again after so many years I looked it up and found your clip. So for the ones like you who like the old days' real music you are not alone out there. More of us are out there too... Thanks so much for putting so much time into this creating such a great quality clip wich makes justice to both the music and the clip....
DoctorRewind
Thank you for your comment and compliment! Real music...always and forever :)
Jonathan Clary
RIP Jimmy Ruffin (1936-2014)â€đ”
The UK'S Greatest Singer of all time
carl hubbard
I probably already gushed about this before somewhere in the comments but here I am, years later, still enthralled by the majesty of this criminally overlooked beauty...magic
Belle Star
Thank you for this - it's wonderful... real musicians and a superb song, plus your amazingly good audio... Well done!
PrismProcess
This is a quite super and sublime song. The vocals are exquisite. You know the world is a much worse place without Jimmy Ruffin and this arrangement by Heaven 17 is seminal. An absolutely uplifting version. On their album Teddy Bear, Duke & Psycho there is the original version which while very good does not even come close to this. This is a super super song...... you would need to be completely deaf not to realise that.
lee carvey
hey dude thank you so much for this song...i well remember it coming out..i went out and broughtthe 45 single which i still have..told all my mates how great it was..sadly so underated and never was a hit...you have done an outstanding job on this video..the sound very crisp.. bloody well done mate!..such a great song,,,ruffins vocal so powerful..fantastic arrangement..top production..excellent. well done.give .say goodbye to hollywood by ronnie spector and the e street band a listen.awesome:)