Trivia

His older brother, singer Jimmy Ruffin, was offered the chance to sing with The Temptations, but 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".

One of the first Motown artists to demand regular accounting of the group's financial status, in order to know how the money was being handled, which caused friction between he and Motown founder Berry Gordy.

Created the four-headed microphone.

Member of The Temptations famous "Classic 5" line-up.

The Temptations were voted the 67th Greatest Rock 'n' Roll Artists of all time by "Rolling Stone".

Before 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.

Worked up such a sweat recording "Ain't Too Proud to Beg" that, according to Otis Williams, his glasses were falling off his face.

His 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.

Joined 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.

According 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 his being fired from the group.

Despite 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.

Angry 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.

The Temptations were awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 7060 Hollywood Blvd.

Favorite actress was Sophia Loren.

His father was a Baptist minister.

Had four children" Cheryl, Nedra, David Jr. and Mone.

Distant cousin of The Temptations.

Portrayed by Leon in The Temptations biographical miniseries The Temptations (1998).

Had four siblings and was the fifth child of Ophelia Davis Ruffin Quincy, Jimmie Lee, Rita Mae and Rosa (who died within one year of life).

Younger brother of Jimmy Ruffin.

Ex-brother-in-law of Clara Jackson.

Favorite actor was Richard Burton.