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Jimmy Ruffin's Death

Jimmy Ruffin

The life and death of Jimmy Ruffin:

He was one of many singers who had a hit record on the Motown label and was the older brother of one of the record company's major stars.

Jimmy adn David Ruffin album cover

Jimmy Lee Ruffin, the older brother of Temptations lead singer David Ruffin, was born in Collinsville, Mississippi. He signed with Berry Gordy's Motown Label and had his biggest hit in 1965 with "What Becomes of the Brokenhearted."

IN 1980, Jimmy had another top ten hit with "Hold on to My Love", written by Robin Gibb of the Bee Gees.

Ruffin moved to Britain in the 1980's and continued performing there. He hosted a radio show in the U.K. and became an anti-drug advocate when his brother David overdosed in 1991.

Jimmy spent his later years in Las Vegas and in October 2014 he was seriously ill and rushed to a local hospital with an undisclosed illness.

His children Philicia and Jimmy Jr. confirmed his death at the age of 78, but did not announce the cause.

Singers