The older brother of <a href="spotify:artist:3RwQ26hR2tJtA8F9p2n7jG">the Temptations</a>' lead singer <a href="spotify:artist:3FZn8Z2B7mfaSOU8NE62KR">David Ruffin</a>, Jimmy enjoyed several huge hits himself in the mid-'60s for <a href="spotify:artist:4xRLKAf96K6YdGDWjY6ra8">Berry Gordy</a>'s Soul label. Ruffin first signed with another <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Motown%22">Motown</a> subsidiary, the short-lived Miracle, in 1961, but it was his convincing vocal on "What Becomes of the Brokenhearted" that made him a star in 1966. He encored with "I've Passed This Way Before" and "Gonna Give Her All the Love I've Got." In 1970 he briefly teamed with <a href="spotify:artist:1Gry6ykWqX2STPKHNDbMyl">David</a> (by then a solo artist) as the Ruffin Brothers and cut a duet remake of <a href="spotify:artist:3plJVWt88EqjvtuB4ZDRV3">Ben E. King</a>'s "Stand by Me." He staged an impressive comeback in 1980 on <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22RSO+Records%22">RSO Records</a> with a major pop hit, "Hold on to My Love," produced by <a href="spotify:artist:4vZduJO8Uukqzx64de5JxV">Robin Gibb</a> of <a href="spotify:artist:1LZEQNv7sE11VDY3SdxQeN">the Bee Gees</a>. A stint living in England during the 1980s resulted in collaborations with <a href="spotify:artist:5PYuBRQMHh7nWmdV076sH9">Heaven 17</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:7Lf3LOZp3U3u2f6cWMd3AH">Paul Weller</a>, the latter for a benefit cover single of "Soul Deep." ~ Bill Dahl
