David Ruffin Jr.
Gig Seeker Pro

David Ruffin Jr.

| SELF

| SELF
Band R&B Blues

Calendar

Music

Press


"Day of The Dre"

There are Hugg and Nate Dogg and Kurupt around Dre, and a rapper who calls himself That Nigga Daz, also preteen Lil' Malik, a peculiarly coifed woman named Rage and Dre's younger brother Warren G, who just signed a solo deal with Def Jam. Over there on the couch, playing Nintendo, that's D Ruff: David Ruffin Jr., the Detroit-born son of the late Temptations singer, who's come to California to make himself a star. D Ruff's friend Tony Green is Dre's bass player, a world-class R&B pro.
Suge Knight, it is known, is a first among equals, the soft-spoken CEO of Death Row, a former professional football player who looks every bit the part. Suge partially subsidized the Chronic album with monies he received from his ownership of certain publishing rights to the 14-million-selling Vanilla Ice LP, which would mark that artist's sole contribution to the art of hardcore rap.

http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/drdre/articles/story/5937496/day_of_the_dre - Rolling Stone Magazine


"Gospel Music Revives Marriage"

http://media.www.commonwealthtimes.com/media/storage/paper634/news/2003/03/31/Spectrum/Gospel.Musical.Revives.Marriage-403975.shtml

The play follows the deteriorating relationship between a married couple, Tim (Carl Payne of "Martin") and Lisa (Regina Belle) Johnson. Their marriage was so turbulent that the couple constantly fought. To add further complication, two fallen angels, Strife (David Ruffin Jr.) and Erotica took up residence in the Johnsons' home to try to ensnare the two in webs of mistrust, adultery and drinking. Luckily for the couple, three rather cowardly, doubting, but nevertheless energetic, angels were there to fight for the Lord against the two evil spirits. - Common Wealth Times


"8 Mile Rapper Strike"

http://entertainmentworld.us/EW1/templates/urban.aspx?articleid=9020&zoneid=31

Strike has worked with producers such as White Mike (Fire 4 Hire), Butter (Crazy Noise Productions) and new comer Big Slim, also toiling with artists Short Dawg (Russell Simmons- RSMG/So So Def) and Detroit’s hit maker K-Doe a/k/a K-Deezy. The rapper and his crew the “Mountain Climbaz” released the compilation album, THE FREE WORLD (United Vision Entertainment) in 2005, which sold nearly 10,000 units independently. The album featured hit tracks such as “Celebration”, a club banger paying tribute to some of Detroit’s legends with its heavy-bass “gangsta groove”. Other highlight tracks included, “Family Ties” featuring Miz Korona, produced by Butter, and “Hold Up” featuring Animal Chef and Platinum Artist, Method Man of the legendary Wu-Tang Clan. Other guests on the album included David Ruffin Jr. (The son of the Temptation’s legend), Wesley Valentine, A1 (YNOTS), Journalist 103, Brando, Ox, Bilal, and Reggae artist Derrick Irie. - Entertainment World


"Cash Advance & T-Money Green"

http://www.northernexpress.com/editorial/music.asp?id=2232.

FUNK ROOTS
Now 50, Green got his start as a teenager in Detroit, experimenting with drums and guitar before settling on bass. “I played bass in a talent show at Mumford High School in 1969 and that’s the one that grabbed me,” he says.
While still in high school, he was offered a job playing with The Dramatics, the legendary soul/R&B group with a long list of top-10 hits to its credit, such as “What You See Is What You Get” and “In the Rain.”
“I wasn’t doing that good in school,” Green recalls. “I was good in band and singing, but bad in subjects like history. So when The Dramatics came along and asked me to play, I was 17 -- just ready to turn 18 -- and my parents said I might as well give it a try.”
Green spent the next 18 years touring with The Dramatics, and wrote their last top-10 hit, “Welcome Back Home.”
But eventually, things started to go south with the band.
“There were too many drugs,” he says. “The Dramatics’ biggest downfall was that the dope would be backstage after the show instead of the fans. I ended things on a sour note with them and went to California to try something new.”
At the time, Green had taken David Ruffin, Jr. under his wing and feared that the son of the legendary soul singer from The Temptations was getting too close to the drug scene. “He wasn’t as soulful as his dad, but he had a beautiful voice and I didn’t want him around the drugs,” Green recalls. “We used to do a show where we’d do a moment of silence for his dad, and that went over real good.”

RAP REVELATION
With a background in R&B and the rock influence of Jimi Hendrix, Green was not a fan of rap music. But on the drive out to California in 1992, Ruffin brought along Dr. Dre’s “The Chronic” album. “We played that tape all the way to California, just turning it over and playing it again for 17 hours straight,” he says. “Two months later, I was Dr. Dre’s music director and bass player and I didn’t even know anything about rap.”
But Green was a quick learner.
“We got to California and I met Dr. Dre and he asked me if I could play the parts on his album,” he recalls. “And I said I didn’t know them, but could learn them. Then he asked me how I’d play the parts if I was writing the music myself, and I was so hungry for a job and quick, that I played about 90 bass lines for him right then.”
Green walked away from the meeting with a job offer of $700 per week, and also managed to land David Ruffin Jr. a job singing with Dr. Dre’s team of artists.
For several years, Green performed on the top rap albums of the day, including Snoop Dogg’s hits and Bone Thugs-N-Harmony. He introduced Dr. Dre to his friend George Clinton and also met the likes of Tupac Shakur before the rapper/actor was murdered.
- Northern Express


"Miguel Mig's Nude Tempo one"

From "Love Yourself", Migs travels into cheesier terrain, laying down Fusion Groove Orchestra's overly discofied "The Dream (Deep Dreamer Dub)" and then really going cornball with "Show You My Love", with an over-emotive David Ruffin Jr. (yes, son of the famous Temptation) snarling over a falsetto male chorus. Both tracks have great funky basslines and that classic four-on-the-floor house sound that keeps dance floors hopping, but those vocals are just a little too silly for all but the most dedicated old-schooler to stand. The Discorados' "Get Down" is a little more bearable, but it's still as steeped in old disco sounds as its title would suggest. - http://www.popmatters.com/music/reviews/m/migsmiguel-nude.shtml


Discography

Gin & Juice with Snoop Dog, 8 Mile with Eminem streaming and radio play.
Date Label Format Number Comments
2008 Ruffin-It-Muzik Mono EP Album titled: "All My Life!" Again? also includes "'Muthaphuckawerk —
On the cover, and heading the linear notes on the back cover, I am listed as "David Ruffin Jr.

Photos

Bio

Since he was five-years old, this powerful R&B crooner grew up standing in the shadows of the Detroit and St. Clair Rivers, an area known for a musical style which combined elements of blues, gospel, swing, and pop – thumping beats which created a new dance that was instantly recognized. These sounds of Lake Erie and Lake Huron, which had enough energy to power a diesel engine and the unmistakable sound of soul music masters The Temptations and the Four Tops. David grew up watching the Gemini Twins’ (his Father’s and Eddie Kendrick’s) impeccable choreography, perfect harmony, and stylish suits become an avalanche of hits. Those were the sound tracks of his life. It set ablaze a web of fire and emotion in a small doe-eyed boy and gave birth to Ruffinism, David’s signature sound.
With his full throat vocals, David cranked out “All My Life,” a collaboration with Jason, “Fingers” Dees (Bass), David Cochran (Keys), Demetrius Martin (Drums), and Jazz Soul (spits). This hybrid sound shattered the Hollywood sign. Ruffin’s vocals pack a seismic punch with enough power to knock any fan off their feet. Listen to his full length song, “All My Life,” and you will be equally impressed by David’s superb song writing skills. His spirited melodies and insightful lyrics will stir the emotion of any audience.
The websites Airspun and Garageband have spotlighted David’s songs, “All My Life” and “The Y Song (Better Keep the Faith), which demonstrates his R&B sensibilities and showcase his brand of R&B bluesy soul. His live shows in Cali have won the hearts of both fans and critics. He has opened for such greats as The Temptations and the Dramatics. The fans will get a kick out of hearing his creations and collaboration on his Grammy Award-winning hooks such as “Gin & Juice” and “8 Mile.”
With his intense live shows in places such as Club Rain (Jacksonville, FLA), Club Live (CA), The Strand (CA), Beacon Theater (NYC), and others, David continues to be a top draw, leaving fans clamoring for more! David is sure to continue igniting the rest of the country soon.