It's a sad day for Motown as it's announced 'What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted' singer Jimmy Ruffin passed away in hospital aged 78 on Monday (November 17th 2014), as confirmed in a statement by his family.

Jimmy Ruffin promo
Jimmy Ruffin has died aged 78

A month before his death, reports arose that the crooner had been rushed to intensive care in a Las Vegas hospital seriously ill, though details are as yet unknown. While Ruffin was never lauded as one of the great Motown artists of his time, with his talents overshadowed by his late brother David Ruffin of The Temptations, his 1966 single 'What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted' became a worldwide sensation, with his next big break coming in the form of 'Hold On (To My Love)' fourteen years later.

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'Jimmy Ruffin was a rare type of man who left his mark on the music industry', his children Philicia Ruffin and Jimmy Lee Ruffin, Jr. announced in a statement. 'My family in its entirety is extremely upset over his death. He will truly be missed.'

Born in Collinsville, Mississippi, Ruffin entered into the music industry early on in his life but found it difficult to match the success of his younger brother. By 1970, he had become popular in the UK, and he left the Motown label, releasing 'Hold On (To My Love)' on the RSO label and eventually moving to Britain to continue his success.

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'Jimmy Ruffin was a phenomenal singer', Motown creator Berry Gordy told Rolling Stone. 'He was a wonderful human being, quiet and unassuming, who touched many lives with his music, not just here in the states, but overseas, as well. Jimmy Ruffin will always be a part of the Motown legacy.'