The Temptations - Why Did David Ruffin Get Fired From the Temptations? 

Yall remember when Eddie said, " if Paul is not on that stage, I'm not on that stage "

“I wasn’t Fired, I Quit” -David Ruffin

Leon portrayed him spectacularly on the '98 TV miniseries!

Leon play that role extremely well

When I was in elementary school I was in the school's talent shot with four other kids singing one of their hit songs, this was when I was in the 3rd or 5th grade. I never seen the temptation in person just on TV. Fast forward to the mid to late 80's while a rookie police officer in Oakland California. I was dispatched to the Oakland Airport Hilton. for a disturbance. That's when I met Ruffin and Kendricks. Eddie was as cool as people said he was and spoke to me. Ruffin was highly unset and under the influence of something. Eddie then went to his room and Ruffin went to his and left.I felt blessed to have met them before they past.

David was the man, also his own worst enemy the same time.. the best singer in the group... But no one man is bigger than the group.. simply put they had hits ... Without a songwriter it don't matter how good you can sing..

I’ve seen the Temptations 5x in concert. Each time was fantastic!

Paul was like a brother to Eddie they come a long ways .

Fame is a heck of a drug

I loved David, but he got too head strong and it was his downfall. ..loved his voice. Some people dont know how to take being successful ...that was David. The drugs didnt help, but made his life worse. He was one of my favorite Temptations.

If it wasn't for Berry , Smokey, David Ruffin and Marvin Gaye Motown wouldn't have been nearly as iconic. Their work was the lifeblood of that company.

David Ruffin's Temptations are my favorite line up 1964-1968. David Ruffin and Marvin Gaye set the standards at Motown. Both of them sounding soulful.

Mr David Eli Ruffin, Mr Motown. He was, definitely, the Man. Love ❤️ Love ❤️David Ruffin.♥️ My favorite , Temptation ♥️ That Voice was Mesmerizing and Hypnotizing, and all the accolades he received, were well deserved, ❤️ Great video of David and his time as, a, Temptation .♥️ Mr Motown ♥️

RIP David, Dennis Edwards, Ali Ollie Woodson, Eddie Kendricks Larger than Life

Imagine performing night after night not knowing if David gone jump from behind the curtains! 😂😂😂🤦🏽‍♀️ He was wilding! 😩

“Ain’t nobody coming to see you, Otis” Loved the movie. He had some serious demons. Such a talented man. Very sad he died the way he did.

Following his dismissal from the Temptations. David Ruffin performed "My Whole World Ended" on American Bandstand" where he broke down in tears halfway through. Dick Clark had to call for a commercial following his performance.

David was also vocal about royalties and how gordy handled business

My heart goes out to David Ruffin, he was the Temptation, His voice says it all! Its too bad so many people confuse Confidence with Arrogance.

Another reason for David's firing, one that is seldom addressed, is that David was insisting that Motown be audited. Similar to boxing promoter Don King, Berry Gordy was a brilliant impresario and a shrewd businessman, but he was also very manipulative and exploitative of those who worked for him. I suppose he knew that if the label was audited, all of his artists would have found out that he had the capacity to pay them much more than they were making.

I just happen to listen to why David Ruffin was no more part of the Temptations. I admired David's voice and would listen to the songs he'd sing. I would sing his songs until my throat was sore. The I could sound like him. But in order to be like someone it has to be that someone. Man are created equal but to the matter that we are not the same.

This goes to show that Otis was right all along, NO ONE IS BIGGER THAN THE GROUP.

Nice video (p.s. some sections got drowned out a bit by the loud music though... needs better balance)

Excellent story telling. Kinda nice to see behind the stardust of so many icons. One thing is for sure: unlike today, these folks were quite talented, worked hard and their creativity impacted decades following. Honestly, I can’t expect the same for most of today’s pop music culture producers, unless standards continue to fall.

Because of his drug addictions made the whole entire band fall down but the group remained on going

Interesting video. I grew up listening to Motown & these guys. It really was sad about David Ruffin. We All got demons. He just let his get the best of him. Bless him for his tremendous talent. ✌️

The reason he was fired "ain't nobody come to see you Otis."

Excellent vid! You confirmed many of the topics from the movie and gave some new insights I was unaware of. Great Job!

His firing can be summed up on one line. “Ain’t nobody coming to see you Otis.”

Great video dude!! Absolutely love the stories behind the scenes. Great job 👏

Mr Ruffin had a good voice he was a great lead singer but Mr.Gaye had a great voice no comparison this man made music make you fall in love a great solos artist Apostle Dr Matthews much love and respect ❤️ 😊

Damn shame Ruffins ego mixed with that coke, liquor, homeboys and kittens. What a great time to be Ruff. My favorite Temp.

loved the history, please keep it coming PLEASE.

Great narration only suggestion lower the back round music track its almost louder the your voice at times.

Thank you for such a great video

Absolutely Love hearing The Temptations

David Ruffin became a coke head in the late 60s that got him kicked out of the Temptations. He became so arrogant that he wanted to create David Ruffin and the Temptations that pissed off Otis and David Ruffin was missing rehearsals

Eddie Kendrick and David Ruffin were the voices......PERIOD.

Gotta hand it to Otis. Took his place on stage and banked his money. Still with us thank God, and living well.

Great job on this video

Thank you for sharing!

Fascinating story! Excellent job explaining the details of the entire situation.

i seen an interview of nedra ruffin sadly before she passed away, she spoke about how she was the last person to talk to her father and she and eddie kendricks said david was sober. she believes david was set up by his younger gf because he had a money belt on him(which was missing when david got to the hospital) and she believes that someone gave him a hot shot to end his life. two weeks before his passing, farrakhan was supposed to meet with david to "help him get out of something". it's even more scarier to me that he was taken away from us on the first of the month. also sad that he and eddie kendricks said they would tell their own stories of the shady things that happened to them in the industry but unfortunately never got a chance to.💔i wish someone would make an ACCURATE film about the tempts! paul, david, and dennis all had suspicious passings may they get justice and rip and nedra🕊 Interview link> ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-rgDVR1sFckM.html

His son David Jr...Looks Absolutely like him and Can Sing! Sounds just like his dad...

He wanted to be the head of the group David Ruffin and the temptation Instead of just the Temptation

" The Temptations" means All for One and One for All. Something " David" overlooked. Yet my " Temptations" playlist is mostly the Original Temptations. RIP David, Eddie,Paul, and Melvin.

Sad that people can be their own sabotage. They take their own blessings away.

Eddie Kendrick was my favorite singer and nobody could sing like him he had a beautiful smooth voice he put the temptations. on the map with the number one hit the way. you do the things you do

David Ruffin! The Greatest Singer of All Time. Period!!;

Yea, i heard that several years ago. Also, he was found OD'd in an alley. Who knows...Ruffin was the king but his replacement was just as good...and on time.

Would have loved this so much more without the music playing in background

Excellent video.

He was the instrument of is own destruction.

I loved the "Classic Five" but David Ruffin read too many of his own headlines. He was good but I really loved Paul Williams. I do understand David better now but the Temptations are the Temptations and no other group had their class. They and the O'Jays were my favorites.

Walk away from love, DR.. I did it all for u Eddie Kendricks my jams!! & I'm 50... Good stuff 🥃

I wish the Temptations with David Ruffin would have worked out their issues and stayed together. They could have been GREAT and solidified the ultimate statue plus highest level all musical groups in the future want to try to achieve. Instead of being just another dope up black musical group that was popular for a minute. It personally hurts my Heart.

in a quote from the liner notes of the Temptations' "Anthology" CD, Otis Williams said Jimmy Ruffin was actually their first choice to replace Bryant but they soon realized Jimmy "had 2 left feet"

I met Ruffin a couple of times in the 60s and I formed an almost instant opinion. He was arrogant and brash. He was a singer that KNEW he was good, and never missed an opportunity to tell everyone else he was good. You briefly touched on his relationship with Tammi Terrell. She was a person who I can't prove, but I would suspect either James Brown or Ruffin with being the reason she ended up with that brain tumor. Brown was very physically abusive with her I had heard, but I actually saw Ruffin hit her in the head several times. One project I would suggest that may have good results is that you do a piece on all the old R+B singers [besides Sam Cooke aka Dale Cook] who started out in Gospel Quartet and went to the other side... Guys like Bobby Womack, Lou Rawls, Wilson Pickett, and many others.

My whole world ended the day that you left me. Was a good one

I NEVER KNEW THAT DAVID RUFFIN WAS A DAMN FOOL

I really enjoyed learning about the Temptations and David Ruffin, however it was really difficult trying to hear all that was being said because of the loud music. I didn’t find the volume of the music to pleasant because the information that was being said was getting lost. I’m from Detroit I still live in the area and like following this station to learn about the groups and people I’ve heard on the radio for …………all my life (60) + years please continue you soft voice makes listening very nice.

Thank you great video

Luv yr video! It was indepth and showed things we as a public didn't know! BTW, the background music was a little too loud!

The music is a bit too loud

Their last song with Dennis Edward's was Silent Night .Leon played David Ruffin in the movie The Five Heart Beats, even though I love every one of Their songs. Dennis Edward's and Otis and Eddie and Melvin and Paul. with or without David there up in Heaven except Melvin singing Silent Night ❤. ❤😊

Great voices

The Five Heart Beats

He that has the son hath life he that hath not the son shall not see life but the wrath of God abideth on him

The crazy thing is the way David ended up with the tempts is not truth Richard street who was always around them stated David was referred just like he referred when they needed to replace David so Otis came to him and asked him he referred David the stage thing never happened the fight happened but not that night.

#TemptationsForever #MotownForever

Lower the background music a little bit brah....✌🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

I just found your channel and I love it Your dignified demeanor separates you from the wannabes and your narrative skills are fantastic thanks Bill Feilhauer.

She had those headaches before her relationships with them. I watched more than one doc that even tho brought them up stated they weren't the cause

This was great 👍🏽💯

Great video

I been thinking just like my cousin Davin. We should name the group "Joey Ruffin & The Temptations"!

David Ruffin having a motorcycle made me think of him hitting Tammi Terell in her head with his motorcycle helmet.🤬

David never showed up for rehearsal and he was on drugs he thought he was the temptation himself he got outta control and being late for rehearsal I was a maid at Motown

That's right Otis, whatever you say Otis.

The real reason why David Ruffin was fired from the temptations is: Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, Junior Walker and the All Stars, David Ruffin and the " i forget their names "

Great post! You did a wonderful job. I grew up listening to the Temptations. I'm from the Detroit area. Thanks again for the post---

The blood of Jesus Christ can set you free from all kinds of things harm danger everything once we put our faith and trust in Jesus to save you and it's ask him to forgive your sins and believe in your heart God Rose Jesus from the dead you will be

Great ❤story and it was on point Music great but add something about Eddie and why he left

The Temptations were never the same after David Ruffin departed

Wait. So his momma didn't sell him for drugs? Come on I love the damn movie and I'm starting to learn that so much of it wasn't true😭 especially the AIN'T NOBODY COMING TO SEE YOU OTIS💀. And wait AL wanted to sing and Paul didn't?? Lord this all is killing me😭😭

The movie says it different. It shows Paul wanted to go back onto the stage and Al didn’t want to. The total opposite. Crazy how you can look at people differently depending on what story that you hear

Why was Cloud Nine with his vocals were never saved? Is there any recording of him singing it?

Why is RU-vid playing with my notifications?! 😡 I keep signing up for ALL notifications, but it keeps unsubscribing me and I have to come look for your videos.

Good story about a great artist, but the only complaint about this story sound, is that I had to strain to hear the narrator under the music, because the music is louder than the narrative. I wish you could re-record the narrative part over the music 🎶🎵

Wow

I would love to hear this without the background music....

If I may, volume needs adjusted way higher. My tv is on 100 and I can barely hear you but great vid

Firing him with getting rid of the icing on the cake. They shouldn’t have done that.😮 That man had the best vocals I’ve ever heard😊

WOW!👏👏👏👏👏👏👍👍👍👍👍💖💖💖💖💖

Great artists are usually very troubled souls. You name them.

You hear so many stories about David Ruffin you don't know what to believe and you never really get the facts some of it heresay some of it a fake movie who knows? any way my prayers go to the Ruffin Family and that I loved his music I saw an account of Dennis Edwards and he never said many negative things about RUFFIN.

Do one on why Asron Smith left the Temptations.

Sadly Ego and Drugs

David wanted to be ahead of the group. Called David Ruffen and the Temptation.

Thanks for this video...one thing your background music overpower your voice , might need to turn it down a little...