MovieChat Forums > The Temptations (1998) Discussion > Should the group's name been changed to...

Should the group's name been changed to David Ruffin + the Temps?


Part of the reason David Ruffin was fired by the Temps was because he started to demand that the group's name be changed to David Ruffin and the Temptations.

Does anyone out there think that his demand was justified? He did, after all, sang lead on most of the group's hit records during the 60s.

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No. Not only did the Temptations have several strong lead singers, Otis held the group together with his discipline and vision.

David Ruffin was too selfish and unfocused to deserve the group to be named after him.



No two persons ever watch the same movie.

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Nope it was not justified. If that's the case, then the group should have been called Eddie Kendricks and The Temptations when he was singing lead. They all took turns singing lead so changing the name was not justified despite David singing lead on their hits. Like Melvin told Eddie, Ain't no one man bigger than this group. There was no need to single out David and change the group name just because he sang on their hits. Granted at that time, it was popular for instance like Jr. Walker and All Stars, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, but they differed from the Tempts. Jr lead ALL of the songs. Martha lead ALL of the songs. Smokey lead ALL of the songs. David didn't lead ALL of the songs. They took turns. So no he did not deserve to have the name changed to David Ruffin and the Temptations.

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