Saturday, November 22, 2014

Jimmy Ruffin, Great Singer

 


Hello, my friends!  Richard and I have not had much time for fun lately but we did get to Stone Mountain last weekend on a very cloudy day.  The leaves would have been better in bright sunshine but hey, they were still nice anyway.  I took the above photo of the Gristmill there. You can always tell my photos: they are always slightly crooked and most of the time, out of  focus!

I texted my son this week with this..."Did you see Jimmy Ruffin died?".  It occurred to me that not too many of his age would recognize the name but of course, Christopher does! (Christopher even did a guest post about the music from the summer of '66.)  Jimmy Ruffin  was one of the great Motown singers...he had a big hit in the summer of 1966 with "What Becomes of the Broken Hearted".  It has been covered by many singers...I remember Paul Young's version.  And as much as I love Paul Young,  you just cannot beat Jimmy Ruffin singing it...


If you click on his highlighted name above, that will take you to his link on Wikipedia and you will read  that it was difficult for him since his younger brother, David Ruffin had such popularity with The Temptations. ("My Girl" And "Ain't Too Proud To Beg"  were some of the big hits with David Ruffin as lead singer.)  This makes me think of how it must have been for him...not only because his brother was so successful but also since in that same time period the market was absolutely swamped with so much great music!  Look it up! It will amaze you!

 Jimmy Ruffin moved to England in the 80's and performed there with great success. He died this past week in Las Vegas, Nevada.  May his soul rest in peace.

My son and I loved a TV movie made about The Temptations simply entitled "The Temptations", it was made in 1998.  If you ever get the chance, make sure and see it, it is excellent. (I've told you this before, but hey, not everybody listens to me, but the SMART ones do!)

 Have a great weekend and for my American friends, hope you do not have too much snow and are looking forward to a happy Thanksgiving! 

39 comments:

  1. That photo is stunning!!! I saw that Jimmy Ruffian had passed away, but didn't recognize the name and didn't read the story. :-( thanks for sharing. I'm now looking for the movie about the Temptations.

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    1. Found it and have it set to record.

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    2. I hope you will like the movie made about The Temptations as much as my son and I did. You listened to me, you must be so smart! :-)

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  2. Lovely photo. I like to take pictures too, but I usually don't have such a beautiful background to photograph.

    I recognized the music but not the singer. Thank you for sharing.

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    1. Hey Janice!
      You are a great photographer! Stone Mountain is an amazing place in Georgia and sometimes at certain times of the year, there are many people taking wedding or family portraits there because of the great backgrounds!

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  3. The picture is beautiful with the mill and the leaves; it doesn't always have to be sunny for a great picture, does it!

    Once again, your blog is the first place I ever learn about someone; Jimmy Ruffin in this case. I have never heard the song before, but I do know The Temptations and am sure I'd love the movie.

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    1. Frustrating thing...it had been sunny all week when we were at WORK but the one day we could get to Stone Mountain...dang, there went the sun! Oh well, that's life!
      If you look up any of the other videos of The Temptations, you will see and hear his brother, David Ruffin. If you ever get to see the movie, think of us! You know me, I love any true story but one that involves music that I enjoy, makes it even better!

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  4. Kay, I love that picture. It's awesome. I heard about Jimmy Ruffin. It's sad. I love that Motown sound and sure miss good music like that. Blessings, xoxo,Susie

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    1. We had such great music in the 60's. It was the music from my childhood but I am surprised at much I remember of it! Blessings to you!!

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  5. The grist mill is a relic of a past time. It is beautiful. The death of Jimmy Ruffin reminds me that I am not getting any younger. He was a part of the Motown greats that dominated music.

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    1. There is also a covered bridge that is just a short walk away from the Grist Mill, another relic from a past time! Both are lovely.
      Another one of the Motown greats gone, but we can still enjoy the music.

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  6. As you say, that was an era of so much great music! I'm so glad I shared those times when I was young and oh so alive. How lucky were we who grew to maturity with such wonderful music around us. Jimmy Ruffin's passing is just another reminder that we are growing old.

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    1. My sister was born in 1966 so I have very fond memories of listening to the music from that year and rocking my baby sister to that beat!

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  7. Hey, I must be smart, 'cause I listen to you!
    Like Janice, I knew the music but not Jimmy Ruffin's name.
    Love the grist mill.

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    1. Yes! Someone who listens to me!! You are smart and that just proves it!
      :-)

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  8. That mill picture is lovely, i think you take better pictures than you give yourself credit for.

    It's so sad when classic performers are gone, and i was sorry to read about Mr. Ruffin's passing.

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    1. Thank you! I was just being honest though, I do notice that mine are always slightly off...still, if the subject matter is beautiful enough, you don't notice as much!
      I felt saddened to hear of his passing...so many of those mentioned in The Temptations movie have passed away.

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  9. The photo of the gristmill is truly stunning and reminds me again just how much I love American architecture and your landscape.x

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    1. Thank you, Julie! Our fall foliage was quite late this year but it has been truly spectacular, really lovely!

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  10. That is a lovely picture. Here are trees are pretty bare. No more color left. We had snow and then rain and now it's all gone. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours !

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    1. We still have quite a bit of color, and it has been gorgeous!
      Happy Thanksgiving to you too!

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  11. What a lovely photo of the grist mill, Kay. You shouldn't do your skills down! Anyone would be happy with that.

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    1. Hey John!
      What skills? Ha! I was quite happy to capture just a bit of that color from those trees along with the gray of the grist mill. You wouldn't believe how many people we saw posing for photos with professional photographers...they do that and then have the photos on their Christmas cards!

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  12. I loved the grist mill pic and I love your leaves...ours have faded and fallen and snow has replaced the landscape..except for today as the rain and warm up melt it all into mud! Lovely tribute to Jimmy Ruffn...love that song and his version the best. Have a Happy Thanksgiving also!

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    1. Our leaves have been really pretty. I know you didn't want to see it so early but your snow photos were beautiful! Just keep it there, okay?
      Thanks but I wish I could have had a better tribute to this man but I am sincere in my admiration.
      Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!

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  13. Thought I had commented yesterday, but apparently not! Sorry. I certainly remember this song from my long ago youth! But I didn't remember the name of the musician and thank you for setting that straight.

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    1. Hey Kristi!
      I do the same thing, think I have commented when I have not!
      I doubt I would have remembered the name had I not seen that movie about The Temptations. Watch it if you ever get the chance! :-)

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  14. I didn't realise he moved to England. I watched a documentary recently about Dusty Springfield inviting many of the Motown greats over here on an early British tour in the 1960's? and they played to half empty halls at first as most folk only knew them as voices on the radio then and didn't have a clue what they looked like in person.

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    1. That's interesting. I would love to see that documentary! I think that Dusty Springfield was an amazing artist so I would like to see what else they had to say about her too.

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  15. Now I have his song playing in my head ... I never knew the name of the singer until now. I listened to you and I learned something. :)

    All our snow is gone now; the temps climbed into the 40s and it rained all day today. A rainy Sunday is made for knitting!

    Have a great week, Kay. :)

    P.S. Beautiful photo of the grist mill!

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    1. For me, a rainy Sunday is made for crocheting! I made my nephew a hat!
      I am so happy that you listen to me, you are one smart cookie!
      Hope you have a great week ahead and a wonderful Thanksgiving.
      The grist mill is beautiful and anyone can get a good shot of it, but thanks anyway!

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  16. I'm not familiar with Jimmy Ruffin, but it is always sad when someone whose music or acting or so on that you admire dies isn't it. Your picture of the mill is beautiful, well composed and in perfect focus too! xx

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    1. I know, Amy, it saddens me since I can't let that performer know how much I like them!
      Hope you have a great week ahead!

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  17. Great post, Kay. The Temptations had such a wonderful sound. I will keep my eye out for the TV movie...who knows...it might be re-run again...I've not seen it and I'm sure I would like it.

    I didn't hear that Jimmy Ruffin had passed away. So much wonderful music (and artists) came out of Motown.

    I agree...your photo of the gristmill is absolutely stunning. Thanks for sharing. :)

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    1. Yes, be sure and look out for it! And if you happen to see it, just leave me a comment on whatever post I have at the moment...it will please me very much!
      Love the Motown sound! And there is so much about Motown in that movie, I think it was an excellent film depicting that era.

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  18. Hi Kay! I always loved this song, even though I probably couldn't have thought of the artist's name. The photo of the grist mill is lovely. I can't wait to see the movie "Unbroken." I certainly enjoyed the book. Have a Happy Thanksgiving with Richard and Christopher!

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    1. Hey Louise!
      Happy Thanksgiving to you too! My sister is visiting from Colorado! xx

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  19. Most beautiful color in that tree!:-)

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  20. Ooooh, that is such a nice photo! I don't know Jimmy Ruffin but I'll check him out....

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