The bespectacled Ruffin initially sang backgrounds, while the role of lead singer mostly alternated between Eddie Kendricks and Paul Williams. He did sing a few lead parts both on stage and in the studio during his first year with the group, but his leads on these studio tracks would not be released for over a year, as they were considered not good enough to showcase Ruffin's vocals. Songwriter/Producer Smokey Robinson saw Ruffin during this period as a "sleeping giant" in the group with a unique voice that was, "mellow," yet, "gruff."[6] Robinson thought that if he could write just the perfect song for Ruffin's voice, then he could have a smash hit.[6] The song was to be something that Ruffin could "belt out" yet something that was also "melodic and sweet".[6] That song, "My Girl" recorded in November 1964 and released a month later, became the group's first #1 single and its signature song and elevated Ruffin to the role of lead singer and front man.
The follow-ups to "My Girl" were also extremely successful singles, including "It's Growing" (1965), "Since I Lost My Baby" (1965), "My Baby" (1965), "Ain't Too Proud to Beg" (1966), "Beauty Is Only Skin Deep" (1966), "(I Know) I'm Losing You" (1966), "All I Need" (1967), "(Loneliness Made Me Realize) It's You That I Need" (1967), "I Wish It Would Rain" (1967), and "I Could Never Love Another (After Loving You)" (1968). Ruffin also shared lead vocals on the 1967 hit single "You're My Everything" with Eddie Kendricks. The tall, 6'3", Ruffin's passionate and dramatic performances endeared him to the Temptations' audiences and fans. According to Otis Williams, Ruffin (playfully nicknamed "Ruff" by the group) was initially a natural comedian and a hard-working singer when he first joined the group. Ruffin's most notable non-vocal contribution to the Temptations was the masterminding of their trademark four-headed microphone stand.
David Ruffin (center) with the Temptations 1967.
By 1967, however, ego problems with Ruffin became an issue for the group. He became addicted to cocaine and began missing rehearsals and performances. Refusing to travel with the other Temptations, Ruffin and his then-girlfriend Tammi Terrell traveled in a custom limo (with the image of his trademark black rimmed glasses painted on the door). After The Supremes had their name changed to Diana Ross & the Supremes in early 1967, Ruffin felt that he should become the focal point of the Temptations, just as Diana Ross was for her group and began demanding that the group name be changed to David Ruffin & the Temptations. This led to a number of fights between Ruffin and the group's de facto leader, Otis Williams. In addition to the group's problems with Ruffin's ego, he began inquiring into the Temptations' financial records, demanding an accounting of the group's money. This caused friction between Ruffin and Gordy.
In mid-1968, the Temptations agreed that Ruffin had finally crossed the line when he missed a 1968 concert, to instead attend a concert being performed by his new girlfriend, Barbara Martin. Ruffin was replaced with former Contour Dennis Edwards, who had been a friend of Ruffin and the group as a whole, beforehand. Despondent that he had been fired from the group that he felt he had single-handedly brought to success, Ruffin began turning up at and crashing Temptations' concerts. When the group started to perform a Ruffin-era song such as "My Girl" or "Ain't Too Proud to Beg", Ruffin himself would suddenly walk on to the stage, take the microphone from Edwards' hands, and steal the show, embarrassing the band but delighting the fans. The Temptations resorted to hiring extra security to prevent Ruffin from attending their shows.[citation needed]
Meanwhile, Ruffin filed suit against Motown Records, seeking a release from the label and an accounting of his money. Motown countersued to keep the singer from leaving the label and eventually the case was settled. The settlement required Ruffin to remain with Motown to finish out his initial contract (Ruffin joined Motown as a solo artist and always had a separate contract from the other Temptations, which some felt caused a lot of the in-fighting within the group).
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David Hollister (Blackstreet)
Hollister is cousin of musical artists act K-Ci & JoJo, Fantasia Barrino. He started developing fame as a musician in the early 1990s. Some of his biggest early appearances were with 2Pac on tracks like "Brenda's Got A Baby" and "Keep Ya Head Up" where he was credited on both as "The Black Angel" as well as the original version of "Don't You Trust Me." The remake of which was released on Loyal to the Game.
His next big move was when he was signed to Teddy Riley's R&B group Blackstreet in 1994. He worked with the group on their first album and then left the group to pursue his own solo career. He was signed to DreamWorks Records and began working on an album.
In 1999, Hollister released his first album, Ghetto Hymns. The album was successful, going gold, and creating one hit single, "My Favorite Girl". "My Favorite Girl" reached #10 on the R&B charts.
Hollister's follow-up album, Chicago '85... The Movie was released in 2000. The album was an autobiographical work and went gold. "One Woman Man" the album's biggest single, reached #8 on the R&B charts. Also in 2000, Dave Hollister collaborated on "He Say, She Say" with Keith Sweat and T-Boz of TLC (written and produced by Andrew Lane).
For his third effort, Hollister moved to Motown Records. He hoped the new label would instill new energy into his music. The album, Things In the Game Done Changed was released in 2002 and fared poorly on the charts and radio.
As a result of the album's shortcomings, Hollister returned to DreamWorks where he released Real Talk in 2003. Following the album's release, Hollister moved to Gospo Centric.
Hollister is reportedly wrapping up his fifth album in the industry, The Book of David: Vol. 1 The Transition. The album will be coming out on September 26, 2006 from Gospo Centric.
He currently serves as Assistant Minister of Music for New Direction Christian Church satellite location in Collierville, Tennessee.
Dave has also reunited with his former group Blackstreet and will be performing with them on their upcoming reunion tour along with Guy Blackstreet's founder Teddy Riley's other group. In addition to Riley Blackstreet members Chauncey Hannibal, Mark Middleton, and Eric Williams will be a part of the reunion. Guy members in addition to Riley will include brothers Aaron Hall and Damion Hall. Teddy Riley has decided to only focus on Blackstreet and Mark Middleton and Eric Williams are no longer a part of the reunion. Blackstreet's lineup has tweeked again and now Mark Middleton & Eric Williams are back along with Teddy Riley & Dave Hollister. Chauncey Hannibal was there but is no longer with the group anymore as he's pursuing a solo career in Sydney, Australia. Teddy, Dave, Mark, & Eric will be on the New Jack Swing Tour in January 2011 along with Guy who Teddy has decided to give another shot and New Edition's spinoff group Heads Of State with members Bobby Brown. Ralph Tresvant, & [[Johnny Gill]. In addition to the Blackstreet reunion Dave is working on his 7th solo album overall and 5th R&B album Chicago Winds: The Saga Continues looking to be released 1st quarter 2011. He's working with Eric Dawkins, Steven Russell of R&B Group Troop, Stevie J., Mike City and others.
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