SINGER
David Ruffin
1941 - 1991

David Ruffin
David Eli Ruffin (born Davis Eli Ruffin; January 18, 1941 – June 1, 1991) was an American soul singer most famous for his work as one of the lead singers of the Temptations (1964–1968) during the group's "Classic Five" period as it was later known. Ruffin was the lead voice on such famous songs as "My Girl" and "Ain't Too Proud to Beg." He later scored two top 10 singles as a solo artist, "My Whole World Ended (The Moment You Left Me)" and "Walk Away from Love." Known for his unique raspy and anguished tenor vocals, Ruffin was ranked as one of the 100 Greatest Singers of All Time by Rolling Stone magazine in 2008 and again in 2023. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989 for his work with the Temptations. Read more on Wikipedia
His biography is available in different languages on Wikipedia. David Ruffin is the 2,219th most popular singer (down from 2,062nd in 2019), the 12,256th most popular biography from United States (down from 11,056th in 2019) and the 626th most popular American Singer.
Memorability Metrics
Page views of David Ruffin by language
Among SINGERS
Among singers, David Ruffin ranks 2,219 out of 4,381. Before him are Camille, René Pape, Jerry Vale, Don Toliver, Chou Tzu-yu, and Hwasa. After him are Svetlana Loboda, Iggy Azalea, Soko, Dani Filth, Marco Borsato, and Patrick Ouchène.
Most Popular Singers in Wikipedia
Go to all RankingsCamille
1978 - Present
HPI: 50.25
Rank: 2,213
René Pape
1964 - Present
HPI: 50.24
Rank: 2,214
Jerry Vale
1930 - 2014
HPI: 50.24
Rank: 2,215
Don Toliver
1994 - Present
HPI: 50.24
Rank: 2,216
Chou Tzu-yu
1999 - Present
HPI: 50.24
Rank: 2,217
Hwasa
1995 - Present
HPI: 50.23
Rank: 2,218
David Ruffin
1941 - 1991
HPI: 50.23
Rank: 2,219
Svetlana Loboda
1982 - Present
HPI: 50.22
Rank: 2,220
Iggy Azalea
1990 - Present
HPI: 50.21
Rank: 2,221
Soko
1985 - Present
HPI: 50.20
Rank: 2,222
Dani Filth
1973 - Present
HPI: 50.19
Rank: 2,223
Marco Borsato
1966 - Present
HPI: 50.18
Rank: 2,224
Patrick Ouchène
1966 - Present
HPI: 50.18
Rank: 2,225
Contemporaries
Among people born in 1941, David Ruffin ranks 601. Before him are Edward Ferry, Teodor Meleșcanu, Ellen Geer, Twyla Tharp, Cliff Drysdale, and Ellen Willis. After him are Barry Otto, Bjørn Hasløv, Ali Khalif Galaydh, Reg Presley, Bobby Goldsboro, and Trent Lott. Among people deceased in 1991, David Ruffin ranks 266. Before him are John Hoyt, George Lott, Angus Wilson, Richard Maibaum, Aldo Ghira, and William Penney, Baron Penney. After him are Coral Browne, Eleanor Audley, Lilian Bond, Charlie Barnet, Yanka Dyagileva, and Roger Revelle.
Others Born in 1941
Go to all RankingsEdward Ferry
ATHLETE
1941 - 2023
HPI: 50.57
Rank: 595
Teodor Meleșcanu
POLITICIAN
1941 - Present
HPI: 50.39
Rank: 596
Ellen Geer
ACTOR
1941 - Present
HPI: 50.35
Rank: 597
Twyla Tharp
DANCER
1941 - Present
HPI: 50.27
Rank: 598
Cliff Drysdale
TENNIS PLAYER
1941 - Present
HPI: 50.25
Rank: 599
Ellen Willis
WRITER
1941 - 2006
HPI: 50.25
Rank: 600
David Ruffin
SINGER
1941 - 1991
HPI: 50.23
Rank: 601
Barry Otto
ACTOR
1941 - Present
HPI: 50.23
Rank: 602
Bjørn Hasløv
ATHLETE
1941 - Present
HPI: 50.08
Rank: 603
Ali Khalif Galaydh
POLITICIAN
1941 - 2020
HPI: 50.03
Rank: 604
Reg Presley
SINGER
1941 - 2013
HPI: 49.99
Rank: 605
Bobby Goldsboro
SINGER
1941 - Present
HPI: 49.82
Rank: 606
Trent Lott
POLITICIAN
1941 - Present
HPI: 49.53
Rank: 607
Others Deceased in 1991
Go to all RankingsJohn Hoyt
ACTOR
1905 - 1991
HPI: 50.99
Rank: 260
George Lott
TENNIS PLAYER
1906 - 1991
HPI: 50.95
Rank: 261
Angus Wilson
WRITER
1913 - 1991
HPI: 50.81
Rank: 262
Richard Maibaum
PRODUCER
1909 - 1991
HPI: 50.81
Rank: 263
Aldo Ghira
ATHLETE
1920 - 1991
HPI: 50.57
Rank: 264
William Penney, Baron Penney
PHYSICIST
1909 - 1991
HPI: 50.47
Rank: 265
David Ruffin
SINGER
1941 - 1991
HPI: 50.23
Rank: 266
Coral Browne
ACTOR
1913 - 1991
HPI: 49.77
Rank: 267
Eleanor Audley
ACTOR
1905 - 1991
HPI: 49.74
Rank: 268
Lilian Bond
ACTOR
1908 - 1991
HPI: 49.70
Rank: 269
Charlie Barnet
MUSICIAN
1913 - 1991
HPI: 49.69
Rank: 270
Yanka Dyagileva
SINGER
1966 - 1991
HPI: 49.62
Rank: 271
Roger Revelle
BIOLOGIST
1909 - 1991
HPI: 49.57
Rank: 272
In United States
Among people born in United States, David Ruffin ranks 12,259 out of 20,380. Before him are Don Toliver (1994), Johnny Sheffield (1931), Paul Feig (1962), Jewel De'Nyle (1976), Kamasi Washington (1981), and Cara Williams (1925). After him are Matt Vogel (1957), Nathaniel P. Banks (1816), Ralph Ince (1887), Eric Millegan (1974), Branford Marsalis (1960), and Janelle Monáe (1985).
Others born in United States
Go to all RankingsDon Toliver
SINGER
1994 - Present
HPI: 50.24
Rank: 12,253
Johnny Sheffield
ACTOR
1931 - Present
HPI: 50.24
Rank: 12,254
Paul Feig
ACTOR
1962 - Present
HPI: 50.24
Rank: 12,255
Jewel De'Nyle
PORNOGRAPHIC ACTOR
1976 - Present
HPI: 50.24
Rank: 12,256
Kamasi Washington
MUSICIAN
1981 - Present
HPI: 50.24
Rank: 12,257
Cara Williams
ACTOR
1925 - 2021
HPI: 50.23
Rank: 12,258
David Ruffin
SINGER
1941 - 1991
HPI: 50.23
Rank: 12,259
Matt Vogel
SWIMMER
1957 - Present
HPI: 50.23
Rank: 12,260
Nathaniel P. Banks
POLITICIAN
1816 - 1894
HPI: 50.23
Rank: 12,261
Ralph Ince
ACTOR
1887 - 1937
HPI: 50.23
Rank: 12,262
Eric Millegan
ACTOR
1974 - Present
HPI: 50.23
Rank: 12,263
Branford Marsalis
MUSICIAN
1960 - Present
HPI: 50.23
Rank: 12,264
Janelle Monáe
ACTOR
1985 - Present
HPI: 50.22
Rank: 12,265
Among SINGERS In United States
Among singers born in United States, David Ruffin ranks 626. Before him are Kitty Wells (1919), Chris Fehn (1973), Jimmy Witherspoon (1920), Lydia Lunch (1959), Jerry Vale (1930), and Don Toliver (1994). After him are Mary Wells (1943), Redfoo (1975), Roy Clark (1933), Beth Ditto (1981), Warren G (1970), and Guy Mitchell (1927).
Kitty Wells
1919 - 2012
HPI: 50.28
Rank: 620
Chris Fehn
1973 - Present
HPI: 50.28
Rank: 621
Jimmy Witherspoon
1920 - 1997
HPI: 50.28
Rank: 622
Lydia Lunch
1959 - Present
HPI: 50.26
Rank: 623
Jerry Vale
1930 - 2014
HPI: 50.24
Rank: 624
Don Toliver
1994 - Present
HPI: 50.24
Rank: 625
David Ruffin
1941 - 1991
HPI: 50.23
Rank: 626
Mary Wells
1943 - 1992
HPI: 50.17
Rank: 627
Redfoo
1975 - Present
HPI: 50.16
Rank: 628
Roy Clark
1933 - 2018
HPI: 50.16
Rank: 629
Beth Ditto
1981 - Present
HPI: 50.14
Rank: 630
Warren G
1970 - Present
HPI: 50.13
Rank: 631
Guy Mitchell
1927 - 1999
HPI: 50.11
Rank: 632