Post by Platypus on Nov 27, 2021 12:12:38 GMT
David Eli Ruffin (18.01.1941 Month 01.06.1991)
Associated Acts: The Temptations
Years Active: 1956 - 1991
Vocal Range: E2 - G♯6
My Whole World Ended (1969): C3 - C♯5 - F6
Feelin' Good (1969): A2 - C5 - F6
I Am My Brother's Keeper (1970): B♭2 - B4 - F♯6
David Ruffin (1973): G♯2 - D5 - E6
Me 'n Rock 'n Roll Are Here to Stay (1974): G2 - C3 - C5 - F♯6
Who I Am (1975): C3 - C♯5 - G6
Everything's Coming Up Love (1976): F3 - D5 - C6 - E6
In My Stride (1977): C3 - C5 - C6
So Soon We Change (1979): A2 - C5 - D6
Gentleman Ruffin (1980): C3 - C5 - E5
Ruffin & Kendrick (1988): G2 - D5
David (2004): E2 - C5 - F♯6
Significant High Notes:
G♯6 ("Bring Her Back")
G6 ("Can't Get Over Losing You", "Heavy Love")
F♯6 ("Each Day Is A Lifetime", "Get Away Heartbreak (Keep On Moving)", "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother", "Me and Rock 'N Roll (Are Here To Stay)", "You're What I Need (Not What I Want)")
F6 ("Can't Get Over Losing You", "The Double Cross", "I Let Love Slip Away", "I'm So Glad I Fell for You", "It Takes All Kinds Of People", "Loving You (Is Hurting Me)", "Make My Water Boil (Loving You Has Been So Wonderful)", "Wild Honey", "World Of Darkness")
E6 ("Common Man", "A Day in the Life of a Working Man", "Dinah", "Go On With Your Bad Self", "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother", "Heaven Help Us All", "I Could Never Love Another (After Loving You)", "(If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don't Want to Be Right" live 1973, "I'm So Glad I Fell for You", "Message From Maria", "My Girl" live, "Rainy Night In Georgia", "Stand By Me" Brothers Mix, "Until We Said Goodbye")
E♭6 ("Blackmail", "Blood Donors Needed (Give All You Can)", "Everlasting Love", "I Can't Be Hurt Anymore", "I Don't Know Why I Love You", "I Miss You (Part 1)", "I've Got A Need For You", "Love Can Be Hazardous To Your Health", "Make My Water Boil (Loving You Has Been So Wonderful)", "Me and Rock 'N Roll (Are Here To Stay)", "Mountain Of Memories", "One Lucky Day I Found You", "One More Hurt", "Put a Little Love in Your Heart", "Set 'Em Up (Move In for the Thrill)", "Superstar (Remember How You Got Where You Are)", "When My Love Hand Comes Down")
D6 ("Anything That You Ask For", "Blood Donors Needed (Give All You Can)", "Bring Her Back", "Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time)", "Don't Stop Lovin' Me", "The Forgotten Man", "Go On With Your Bad Self", "Heavy Love", "I Could Never Be President", "I Get Excited", "I Know She's Not A Mannequin", "I Pray Everyday You Won't Regret Loving Me", "I Want Her To Say It Again", "I'm Just a Mortal Man", "I've Lost Everything I've Ever Loved", "Let Somebody Love Me", "Loving You (Is Hurting Me)", "My Girl" live, "That World I Lived In", "True Love Can Be Beautiful", "We'll Have A Good Thing Going On", "You Can Come Right Back To Me", "You Make Me Do Things I Don't Want To Do")
C♯6 ("Common Man", "I Just Want To Celebrate", "Put a Little Love in Your Heart", "Show Her in Another Way", "The Things We Have to Do")
C6 ("Bad, Bad Weather (Til You Come Home)", "Crime In The Street", "Everything's Coming Up Love", "Feeling Alright", "I Can't Stop the Rain", "I Could Never Be President", "I Pray Everyday You Won't Regret Loving Me", "I Want You Back", "It's Gonna Take A Whole Lot Of Doin'", "The Letter", "My Love Is Growing Stronger", "So Soon We Change", "Turn Back the Hands of Time", "Walk Away from Love", "We'll Have A Good Thing Going On", "What You Gave Me", "Which Way To My Baby")
B5 ("Message From Maria", "Morning Sun Looks Blue", "One Lucky Day I Found You", "Who Do You Love" live Tokyo 1988)
B♭5 ("Anything That You Ask For", "Bring Her Back", "The Double Cross", "First Round Knock Out", "Heavy Love", "Knock You Out (With Love)", "Out In The Country", "That World I Lived In", "There Will Always Be Another Song To Sing", "Walk Away from Love", "What You Gave Me", "You're What I Need (Not What I Want)")
A5 ("Everlasting Love", "I Know She's Not A Mannequin", "I Let Love Slip Away", "(If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don't Want to Be Right", "I've Got To Find Myself A Brand New Baby", "Loving You (Is Hurting Me)", "Mr. Bus Driver (Please Hurry)", "World Of Darkness")
G♯5 ("Somebody Stole My Dream", "Who Do You Love" live Tokyo 1988)
G5 ("Action Speaks Louder Than Words", "Anything That You Ask For", "Blackmail", "Break My Heart", "A Day in the Life of a Working Man", "Don't Stop Lovin' Me", "Hurt The One You Love", "I Let Love Slip Away", "I Miss You (Part 1)", "I Want You Back", "I've Got A Need For You", "Let's Say Goodbye Tomorrow", "Lo and Behold", "My Love Is Growing Stronger", "My Whole World Ended (The Moment You Left Me)", "Steppin' on a Dream", "Walk Away from Love", "You Ought To Know Me")
F♯5 ("Born to Love You", "Let Somebody Love Me", "Me and Rock 'N Roll (Are Here To Stay)", "Morning Sun Looks Blue", "Mr. Bus Driver (Please Hurry)", "Set 'Em Up (Move In for the Thrill)", "Until We Said Goodbye")
F5 ("Dinah", "Discover Me", "Everything's Coming Up Love", "Flower Child", "He Who Picks a Rose", "I Don't Know Why I Love You", "I Pray Everyday You Won't Regret Loving Me", "I Want Her To Say It Again", "Make My Water Boil (Loving You Has Been So Wonderful)", "Show Her in Another Way", "Why Did You Leave Me Darling", "World Of Darkness")
E5 ("Don't You Go Home", "Heaven Help Us All", "I Can't Stop the Rain", "I Could Never Love Another (After Loving You)", "I'm So Glad I Fell for You", "It's Gonna Take A Whole Lot Of Doin'", "Just Let Me Hold You For a Night", "The Letter", "My Love Is Growing Stronger", "Nightmare", "Pieces of a Man", "Put a Little Love in Your Heart", "Rode By The Place (Where We Used To Stay)", "Stand By Me", "You Can Come Right Back To Me", "Your Love Was Worth Waiting For")
E♭5 ("Ain't No Sun Since You've Been Gone", "Break My Heart", "Can We Make Love One More Time", "I'm Jealous", "Knock You Out (With Love)", "No Matter Where", "One Lucky Day I Found You", "One More Hurt", "Slow Dance", "Smiling Faces Sometimes", "Take Me Clear From Here", "When My Love Hand Comes Down", "You'll Lose a Precious Love")
D5 ("Ain't Too Proud to Beg", "Beauty Is Only Skin Deep", "Don't Know Why You're Dreaming", "Fan the Flame", "Go On With Your Bad Self", "I Saw You When You Met Her", "I Wish It Would Rain", "Let Somebody Love Me", "(Loneliness Made Me Realize) It's You That I Need", "Morning Sun Looks Blue", "My Baby", "One Last Kiss", "Only a Lonely Man Would Know", "Ordinary Girl", "Out In The Country", "Questions", "There Will Always Be Another Song To Sing", "Until We Said Goodbye", "What You Gave Me", "You Can Come Right Back To Me", "You Make Me Do Things I Don't Want To Do", "You Only Get What You Put Out")
C♯5 ("City Stars", "Love Can Be Hazardous To Your Health", "My Whole World Ended (The Moment You Left Me)", "So Soon We Change", "That'll Be the Day", "Wild Honey", "You Can't Get What I Got")
C5 ("All I Need", "Bad, Bad Weather (Til You Come Home)", "Chain on the Brain", "Cindy", "Crime In The Street", "Don't Know Why You're Dreaming", "Fan the Flame", "Feeling Alright", "Hurt The One You Love", "I Could Never Be President", "I Could Never Love Another (After Loving You)", "(I Know) I'm Losing You", "I Saw You When You Met Her", "I Wanna Be With You", "I Want You Back", "I'm Just a Mortal Man", "It Takes All Kinds Of People", "It's Growing", "I've Got A Need For You", "Just Let Me Hold You For a Night", "Let Your Love Rain Down on Me", "Little Miss Sweetness", "My Whole World Ended (The Moment You Left Me)", "Now That You've Won Me", "One More for the Lonely Hearts Club", "Questions", "Rode By The Place (Where We Used To Stay)", "Since I Lost My Baby", "Somebody Stole My Dream", "Statue of a Fool", "Who's Lovin' You", "You'll Lose a Precious Love", "Your Heartaches I Can Surely Heal", "You're the One I Need", "You're What I Need (Not What I Want)")
B4 ("Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time)", "Everlasting Love", "Flower Child", "The Forgotten Man", "Go On With Your Bad Self", "Good Good Times", "Heaven Help Us All", "(If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don't Want to Be Right", "I've Lost Everything I've Ever Loved", "Love Supply", "Message From Maria", "My Girl", "One Lucky Day I Found You", "Say You", "Until We Said Goodbye", "What Am I Gonna Do Without You")
B♭4 ("All I Need", "Blackmail", "Break My Heart", "Bring Her Back", "Can We Make Love One More Time", "Can't Get Over Losing You", "Cindy", "Crime In The Street", "A Day in the Life of a Working Man", "Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time)", "Discover Me", "Don't Stop Lovin' Me", "The Double Cross", "Fan the Flame", "First Round Knock Out", "Flower Child", "He Who Picks a Rose", "Heavy Love", "Hey Woman", "Hurt The One You Love", "I Don't Know Why I Love You", "I Got a Thing for You", "I Know She's Not a Mannequin" Temptations version, "I Miss You (Part 1)", "I Saw You When You Met Her", "I Wish It Would Rain", "It Takes All Kinds Of People", "I've Lost Everything I've Ever Loved", "A Little More Trust", "Love Can Be Hazardous To Your Health", "Make My Water Boil (Loving You Has Been So Wonderful)", "Me and Rock 'N Roll (Are Here To Stay)", "My Whole World Ended (The Moment You Left Me)", "No Matter Where", "Questions", "Ready Willing and Able", "Show Her in Another Way", "Since I Lost My Baby", "Superstar (Remember How You Got Where You Are)", "Take Me Clear From Here", "That World I Lived In", "That'll Be the Day", "There Will Always Be Another Song To Sing", "There's More To Love", "True Love Can Be Beautiful", "Walk Away from Love", "What You Gave Me", "When My Love Hand Comes Down", "Which Way To My Baby", "You Make Me Do Things I Don't Want To Do", "Your Heartaches I Can Surely Heal", "You're What I Need (Not What I Want)")
A4 ("Ain't Too Proud to Beg", "Bad, Bad Weather (Til You Come Home)", "Blood Donors Needed (Give All You Can)", "Born to Love You", "Break My Heart", "City Stars", "Dinah", "Don't Know Why You're Dreaming", "Don't You Go Home", "Each Day Is A Lifetime", "Everlasting Love", "Everything's Coming Up Love", "Family Affair", "First Round Knock Out", "The Forgotten Man", "Get Away Heartbreak (Keep On Moving)", "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother", "Hey Woman", "I Could Never Love Another (After Loving You)", "I Couldn't Believe It", "I Got Heaven Right Here on Earth", "(I Know) I'm Losing You", "I Know She's Not A Mannequin", "I Pray Everyday You Won't Regret Loving Me", "I Let Love Slip Away", "I Wanna Be With You", "I Want Her To Say It Again", "I Want You Back", "(If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don't Want to Be Right", "I'm Jealous", "I'm Just a Mortal Man", "I'm So Glad I Fell for You", "I've Got Nothing But Time", "I've Got To Find Myself A Brand New Baby", "Just Let Me Hold You For a Night", "Let Somebody Love Me", "Let's Get Into Something", "Let's Say Goodbye Tomorrow", "Let's Stay Together", "The Letter", "Little Miss Sweetness", "A Little More Trust", "(Loneliness Made Me Realize) It's You That I Need", "Love Supply", "Loving You (Is Hurting Me)", "Message From Maria", "Morning Sun Looks Blue", "My Baby", "My Girl", "My Love Is Growing Stronger", "Nightmare", "On and Off", "One More for the Lonely Hearts Club", "Only a Lonely Man Would Know", "Ordinary Girl", "Out In The Country", "Pieces of a Man", "Rode By The Place (Where We Used To Stay)", "The Rovin' Kind", "Sexy Dancer", "Show Her in Another Way", "Smiling Faces Sometimes", "So Soon We Change", "Somebody Stole My Dream", "Sorry is a Sorry Word", "Stand By Me", "Steppin' on a Dream", "Still in Love with You", "There's More To Love", "Turn Back the Hands of Time", "Until We Said Goodbye", "Whatever You Got", "Why Did You Leave Me Darling", "World Of Darkness", "You Can Come Right Back To Me", "You Make Me Do Things I Don't Want To Do", "You Only Get What You Put Out", "You're My Everything", "You've Really Got a Hold on Me", "Your Love Was Worth Waiting For", "You're My Peace of Mind")
G♯4 ("Action Speaks Louder Than Words", "Ain't No Sun Since You've Been Gone", "Angel Doll", "Can We Make Love One More Time", "Can't Get Over Losing You", "Common Man", "Discover Me", "Don't Stop Lovin' Me", "The Finger Pointers", "Flower Child", "Get Away Heartbreak (Keep On Moving)", "Good Good Times", "Heaven Help Us All", "Hey Bo Diddley" live Tokyo 1988, "I Just Want To Celebrate", "I Miss You (Part 1)", "It Takes All Kinds Of People", "Just One Last Look", "Knock You Out (With Love)", "Let Your Love Rain Down on Me", "Love Can Be Hazardous To Your Health", "Love Supply", "One Lucky Day I Found You", "Put a Little Love in Your Heart", "Rainy Night In Georgia", "Say You", "Slow Dance", "Somebody Stole My Dream", "Sorry is a Sorry Word", "The Things We Have to Do", "True Love Can Be Beautiful", "Who Do You Love" live Tokyo 1988, "Who's Lovin' You", "Why Did You Leave Me Darling", "Wild Honey", "You Ought To Know Me", "Your Heartaches I Can Surely Heal")
G4 ("Anything That You Ask For", "Beauty Is Only Skin Deep", "Blackmail", "Bring Her Back", "Chain on the Brain", "Crime In The Street", "A Day in the Life of a Working Man", "Didn't I (Blow Your Mind This Time)", "Don't You Go Home", "The Double Cross", "Each Day Is A Lifetime", "Everything's Coming Up Love", "Family Affair", "Fan the Flame", "Feeling Alright", "First Round Knock Out", "The Forgotten Man", "Got To See If I Can't Get Mommy (To Come Back Home)", "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother", "He Who Picks a Rose", "Hey Woman", "I Can't Be Hurt Anymore", "I Can't Stop the Rain", "I Could Never Be President", "I Got a Thing for You", "I Got Heaven Right Here on Earth", "(I Know) I'm Losing You", "I Miss You (Part 1)", "I Wanna Be With You", "I Want You Back", "I Wish It Would Rain", "I'm In Love", "I'm Jealous", "I'm So Glad I Fell for You", "It's Growing", "I've Got A Need For You", "I've Got Nothing But Time", "I've Passed This Way Before", "Just Let Me Hold You For a Night", "Just One Last Look", "Let's Get Into Something", "Let's Say Goodbye Tomorrow", "Let's Stay Together", "The Letter", "A Little More Trust", "Lo and Behold", "(Loneliness Made Me Realize) It's You That I Need", "Love Is What You Make It", "Message From Maria", "Mountain Of Memories", "Mr. Bus Driver (Please Hurry)", "My Baby", "My Whole World Ended (The Moment You Left Me)", "Nightmare", "Now That You've Won Me", "One Last Kiss", "One More for the Lonely Hearts Club", "One More Hurt", "One Of These Days", "Ordinary Girl", "Out In The Country", "Pieces of a Man", "Put a Little Love in Your Heart", "Questions", "Ready Willing and Able", "The Rovin' Kind", "Set 'Em Up (Move In for the Thrill)", "Since I Lost My Baby", "Stand By Me", "Statue of a Fool", "Steppin' on a Dream", "Still in Love with You", "Take Me Clear From Here", "That World I Lived In", "There Will Always Be Another Song To Sing", "There's More To Love", "Turn Back the Hands of Time", "Walk Away from Love", "We'll Be Satisfied", "We'll Have A Good Thing Going On", "What Am I Gonna Do Without You", "What You Gave Me", "Whatever You Got", "Which Way To My Baby", "Who I Am", "You and I", "You Can Come Right Back To Me", "You Only Get What You Put Out", "You Ought To Know Me", "You'll Lose a Precious Love", "You're the One I Need")
Significant Low Notes:
F3 ("Can We Make Love One More Time", "Don't Stop Lovin' Me", "Feeling Alright", "Get Away Heartbreak (Keep On Moving)", "Heavy Love", "I Know She's Not A Mannequin", "I Let Love Slip Away", "I Pray Everyday You Won't Regret Loving Me", "I Saw You When You Met Her", "I Want Her To Say It Again", "It Takes All Kinds Of People", "I've Lost Everything I've Ever Loved", "Just One Last Look", "Let Your Love Rain Down on Me", "Let's Get Into Something", "Let's Say Goodbye Tomorrow", "Little Miss Sweetness", "A Little More Trust", "Love Is What You Make It", "My Baby", "No Matter Where", "One Last Kiss", "Out In The Country", "Questions", "The Rovin' Kind", "Superstar (Remember How You Got Where You Are)", "There's More To Love", "True Love Can Be Beautiful", "We'll Be Satisfied", "We'll Have A Good Thing Going On", "Who's Lovin' You", "World Of Darkness", "You Make Me Do Things I Don't Want To Do", "You're My Peace of Mind")
E3 ("Action Speaks Louder Than Words", "Blood Donors Needed (Give All You Can)", "Cindy", "A Day in the Life of a Working Man", "Each Day Is A Lifetime", "For The Shelter Of Your Love", "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother", "I Can't Stop the Rain", "I Couldn't Believe It", "I Wanna Be With You", "(If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don't Want to Be Right", "It's Gonna Take A Whole Lot Of Doin'", "I've Got Nothing But Time", "Let's Stay Together", "Love Supply", "Message From Maria", "Put a Little Love in Your Heart", "Rode By The Place (Where We Used To Stay)", "Smiling Faces Sometimes", "Sorry is a Sorry Word", "Statue of a Fool", "Turn Back the Hands of Time", "What Am I Gonna Do Without You", "Whatever You Got", "Your Love Was Worth Waiting For")
E♭3 ("Can't Get Over Losing You", "Crime In The Street", "The Double Cross", "Got To See If I Can't Get Mommy (To Come Back Home)", "Heaven Help Us All", "I Got a Thing for You", "I'm In Love", "I've Got A Need For You", "Loving You (Is Hurting Me)", "Make My Water Boil (Loving You Has Been So Wonderful)", "Me and Rock 'N Roll (Are Here To Stay)", "Now That You've Won Me", "Since I Lost My Baby", "Somebody Stole My Dream", "Who's Lovin' You", "You Can't Get What I Got", "You're What I Need (Not What I Want)")
D3 ("Believe Me", "Break My Heart", "A Day in the Life of a Working Man", "Don't Know Why You're Dreaming", "Family Affair", "The Forgotten Man", "Hey Woman", "Hurt The One You Love", "I Can't Be Hurt Anymore", "I Pray Everyday You Won't Regret Loving Me", "I Saw You When You Met Her", "(If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don't Want to Be Right", "Knock You Out (With Love)", "Let Somebody Love Me", "Message From Maria", "Morning Sun Looks Blue", "Mr. Bus Driver (Please Hurry)", "Sexy Dancer", "Stand By Me", "Still in Love with You", "Who I Am", "World Of Darkness")
C♯3 ("Action Speaks Louder Than Words", "Ain't No Sun Since You've Been Gone", "Angel Doll", "City Stars", "Common Man", "The Finger Pointers", "I Don't Know Why I Love You", "No Matter Where", "Whatever You Got", "You Can't Get What I Got")
C3 ("All I Need", "Believe Me", "Blood Donors Needed (Give All You Can)", "Dinah", "Family Affair", "Hurt The One You Love", "I Can't Stop the Rain", "I Miss You (Part 1)", "It's Growing", "I've Got To Find Myself A Brand New Baby", "The Letter", "A Little More Trust", "Lo and Behold", "Nightmare", "One More for the Lonely Hearts Club", "One Of These Days", "Smiling Faces Sometimes", "Statue of a Fool", "Take Me Clear From Here", "You Only Get What You Put Out", "You Ought To Know Me", "You're My Peace of Mind")
B2 ("Go On With Your Bad Self", "I Couldn't Believe It", "I Get Excited", "One Lucky Day I Found You", "Rainy Night In Georgia", "Say You", "Who's Lovin' You", "You and I")
B♭2 ("Crime In The Street", "Heaven Help Us All", "I Wish It Would Rain", "Lo and Behold", "Mountain Of Memories", "You Make Me Do Things I Don't Want To Do")
A2 ("I Can't Be Hurt Anymore", "I Get Excited", "I'm Just a Mortal Man", "The Letter", "Rainy Night In Georgia")
G♯2 ("Common Man")
G2 ("Family Affair", "Smiling Faces Sometimes", "You and I")
F2 ("You Can Come Right Back To Me")
E2 ("Rainy Night In Georgia")
A6 ("You're What I Need (Not What I Want)" [5])
G♯6 ("Bring Her Back" [5])
F6 ("On and Off" [3])
.......................................................
[1] marks yelps and short trills in high range or anacrusis and short dips in low range.
[2] marks notes of questionable identity that cannot be confirmed to be the singer in question.
[3] marks non-melodic notes that don't have a significant enough pitch to warrant inclusion.
[4] marks notes that possess uncertain pitch or have been pitch-shifted.
[5] marks notes that do not fit the previous criteria but are not of a substantial enough quality to warrant counting towards the singer's range.
.......................................................G♯6 ("Bring Her Back" [5])
F6 ("On and Off" [3])
.......................................................
[1] marks yelps and short trills in high range or anacrusis and short dips in low range.
[2] marks notes of questionable identity that cannot be confirmed to be the singer in question.
[3] marks non-melodic notes that don't have a significant enough pitch to warrant inclusion.
[4] marks notes that possess uncertain pitch or have been pitch-shifted.
[5] marks notes that do not fit the previous criteria but are not of a substantial enough quality to warrant counting towards the singer's range.
Blue marks falsetto or whistle notes.
Underlines mark notes that are obscured in the song mix.
Italics mark non-melodic notes.
Boldface marks notes that are considered to be particularly notable examples of this person's vocal capabilities.
