*Motown legend Jimmy Ruffin, whose hits include “What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted” and “Hold On To My Love,” has died at the age of 78, reports the AP.
His children, Philicia Ruffin and Jimmy Lee Ruffin Jr., confirmed that Ruffin died in a Las Vegas hospital on Monday. There were no details about the cause of death.
Ruffin was the older brother of Temptations lead singer David Ruffin, who died in 1991 at the age of 50.
Jimmy Lee Ruffin was born on May 7 1936 in Collinsville, Mississippi. He was signed to Berry Gordy’s Motown Records, and had a string of hits in the 1960s, including “What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted,” which became a top 10 hit.
Here’s what Motown founder Berry Gordy had to say about Ruffin’s passing:
Jimmy Ruffin was a phenomenal singer. He was truly underrated because we were also fortunate to have his brother, David, as the lead singer of the Temptations, who got so much acclaim. Jimmy, as a solo artist, had “What Becomes of the Broken Hearted,” one of the greatest songs put out by Motown and also one of my personal favorites. He was a wonderful human being, quiet and unassuming, who touched many lives with his music, not just here in the states, but overseas, as well.
Jimmy Ruffin will always be a part of the Motown legacy, and I extend my sincere condolences to his family, friends and fans.
Read more at https://www.eurweb.com/2014/11/motown-singer-jimmy-ruffin-dies-at-78/#8l1IiEaXIVoGzYVv.99