Died On This Date (November 17, 2014) Jimmy Ruffin / Motown Great
themusicsover Jimmy Ruffin
May 7, 1936 – November 17, 2014
Jimmy Ruffin was an American soul singer who, through much of the late ’60s, ’70s, and early ’80s, released several hit records. Born in Mississippi to a family that would later would include brother and future Temptation, David Ruffin, Ruffin began singing at a very young age. His first group of note was Gospel music’s, the Dixie Nightingales. By the early ’60s, Ruffin was singing background sessions for Motown subsidiary, Miracle Records. After serving in the US Army, Ruffin launched his solo career in 1964. What followed was a succession of hits that included his signature song, “What Becomes of the Brokenhearted,” which reached #7 on the Billboard charts. The ’70s were less kind to Ruffin, but he still scored some lesser hits while discovering a new audience in the UK. In the ’80s, he relocated to England where he did well along the Northern Soul circuit. He also collaborated with Paul Weller, Heaven 17, Maxine Nightingale, and Brenda Holloway, to name a few. Ruffin eventually moved back to the US, settling in Las Vegas, Nevada. He continued to record and release albums as recently as 2010’s I Am My Brother’s Keeper. Jimmy Ruffin was 78 when he passed away on November 17, 2014.
What You Should Own
Wayne Static was the lead singer and multi-instrumentalist for the Los Angeles based industrial metal band, Static-X. Formed in 1994, the band built a legion of followers thanks to a sound that co-mingled industrial metal, groove metal and nu-metal. Over the course of the band’s 16 year run, they released six albums including their Platinum-selling debut, Wisconsin Death Trip. Static was the only original member of the band throughout its entire lifespan. Seemingly musically gifted at an early age, Static’s parents bought him his first guitar at the age of seven, and by the time he was 12, he was in his first band. He eventually moved from Chicago to Los Angeles where Static-X was born. After a very successful run, the band went on hiatus in 2009 during which time Static released his solo debut, 2011’s Pighammer, which peaked at #97 on the US Album Charts. He formed a new version of Static-X in 2012, but disbanded it for good the following year. Outside of Static-X, Static collaborated with the likes of Skinny Puppy, Godhead, Soil, and Run DMC. He was scheduled to tour with Powerman 5000 and American Head Charge in November of 2014. Wayne Static was 48 when he passed away on November 1, 2014. Cause of death was not immediately released.