In another sad music industry story, singer, songwriter and producer David Ruffin Jr. has been arrested in California for felony domestic abuse charges. From a young age, David Jr. recognized his father, David Ruffin Sr., was famous and he loved seeing him perform on stage as lead vocalist of The Temptations on many of their biggest hits. What he didn’t love was the constant traveling – his father spent weeks months at a time on the road and away from his family…or the way he mistreated his mother when he did come home.
Glenn Leonard got to know Ruffin when he joined the Temptations line-up in 1975, sang alongside David Sr. in the Temptations during the band’s massive “Reunion” tour and spent lots of time with David Jr. from the time he was a teen, as the band members often took their children on tour with them.
After leaving the Temptations in the mid 80’s, Glenn Leonard joined the ministry full time and has counseled dozens of victims of domestic abuse. He’s now performing again full time alongside his childhood friends Joe Coleman (former lead vocalist of the Platters) and Joe Blunt (formerly of The Drifters) as Leonard, Coleman & Blunt, singing all the biggest hits from all three legendary groups. Glenn was recently inducted into the R&B Hall of Fame.
Ask Glenn Leonard:
– Did he ever personally witness any violent tendencies Ruffin Sr. displayed that Ruffin Jr. might have picked up on?
– Were women on the tour ever treated poorly? (girlfriends, groupies, wives)
– What was David Ruffin Sr. really like? He’s been portrayed as a really troubled guy in books and movies.
-What advice will you give David Ruffin Jr. when you talk with him?
– How did Leonard, Coleman & Blunt come to be…you singing with vocalists from the Platters and Drifters?
– During your time with the Tempts, you sang with all the Motown greats; any memories really stand out from that time?
About the Artist: Glenn Leonard and his sweet tenor voice joined Motown’s legendary Temptations, recording ten hit albums, touring the world, appearing on dozens of national television programs and singing lead on many of their 1970s and 1980s R&B hits. One of his most lasting contributions is as lead vocalist on the Temptations classic version of “Silent Night”, which was a huge hit for the group and is still played every holiday by radio stations around the world. He is a member of the R&B Hall of Fame.
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