IT'S YOUR THING
DO WHAT YOU WANNA DO
I CAN'T TELL YOU
WHO TO SOCK IT TO
I NEED IT (I NEED IT)
WHEN THE MOON IS BRIGHT
I NEED IT (I NEED IT)
WHEN YOU HOLD ME TIGHT
I NEED IT (I NEED IT)
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT
I NEED YOUR HONEY LOVE
OH-OH, YES
I'M THE GREAT PRETENDER
PRETENDING THAT
I'M DOING WELL
MY NEED IS SUCH,
I PRETEND TOO MUCH
I'M LONELY
BUT NO ONE CAN TELL
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
(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.
Fellow Motown
recording artist
Marvin Gaye
once said
admiringly of Ruffin that,
"I heard
[in his voice]
a strength my
own voice lacked.