The late singer's children, Philicia and Jimmy Lee Ruffin Jr., confirmed their father's death on Wednesday but did not reveal the cause. Ruffin was the older brother of Temptations lead singer David Ruffin, who died of a drugs overdose in 1991 aged 50. Scroll down for video. Motown star: Jimmy Ruffin died Monday in a Las Vegas hospital at 78. 'Jimmy Ruffin was a rare type of man who left his mark on the music industry.