Motown singer Jimmy Ruffin dies, aged 78 Jimmy Ruffin, the Motown singer whose hits include What Becomes of the Brokenhearted and Hold on to My Love, died on Monday in a Las Vegas hospital. He was 78. Philicia Ruffin and Jimmy Lee Ruffin Jr, the singer's children, confirmed on Wednesday Ruffin had died. There were no details of the cause of death. Ruffin was the older brother of Temptations lead singer David Ruffin, who died in 1991, aged 50. Jimmy Ruffin was a rare type of man who left his mark on the music industry. My family in its entirety is extremely upset over his death. He will truly be missed," a statement from Philicia Ruffin and the Ruffin family said. We will treasure the many fond and wonderful memories we all have of him. Ruffin was born in 1936, in Collinsville, Mississippi. He was signed to Berry Gordy's Motown Records, and had a string of hits in the 1960s, including What Becomes of the Brokenhearted, which reached the top 10. Jimmy Ruffin - Hold on to My Love He had continued success with songs such as I've Passed This Way Before and Gonna Give Her All the Love I've Got, but Ruffin marked a comeback in 1980 with his second top 10 hit, Hold on to My Love. The song was produced by Robin Gibb of the Bee Gees, who died in 2012. Ruffin worked with his brother David in the 1970s on the album I Am My Brother's Keeper. He also lived in the UK for many years.