But it wasn't long before he was back on the scene again, after making a guest appearence with ex-Supreme Mary Wilson at a show in Detroit ~~ this time with David, as a duo! Daryl Hall, of the popular blue-eyed soul duo, Hall and Oates, had contacted Eddie not long after that and asked him would he mind joining him on stage for a series of concerts. Eddie agreed, but only if David could join them. Of course, Hall being a huge admirer of Ruffin and the Tempts for years, ecstastically approved. In 1985, Eddie and David appeared with Daryl Hall and John Oates for a series of successful concert dates, and that jumpstarted their careers again. One of the shows was captured on an LP, LIVE AT THE APOLLO, which made the Pop Top 20, and a single from the album, "Apollo Medley", was later nominated for a Grammy. They then hooked up with Hall and Oates again and the Rolling Stones in the classic LIVE AID benefit concert later that year which was broadcast all over the world and got rave reviews. After that, they were everywhere.
Daryl Hall and John Oates grew up as huge fans of the Temptations, Ruffin and Kendrick especially. To work with them was a dream come true for the rock & soul duo.
The two of them appeared on the "Sun City" project as part of an all-star group called Artists United Against Apartheid, protesting the South African's government policy of discriminating against the country's majority population of 22 million blacks, denying them basic human rights and the unjust imprisonment of freedom fighter Nelson Mandela. The hit single from the group was a dance tune called "[I Ain't Gonna Play] Sun City" and they also appeared in the promotional video, trading off verses with rocker Bruce Springsteen. They were on all the talk shows and even participated in a storyline on the popular ABC-TV daytime soap, "Ryan's Hope", where they not only got a chance to do a little acting, but to promote their upcoming project: a new album. They were able to secure a record deal with RCA, thanks to Hall and Oates and guidance from future Sony Music CEO Tommy Mottola. They cut the underpromoted RUFFIN AND KENDRICK CD, and a single, "I Couldn't Believe It", began to rise on the R&B charts (#14) . Working with members of Kool and the Gang and the then-hot Club Nouveau ("Lean On Me","Why You Treat Me So Bad", "Jealousy"), the CD boasted danceable funk/pop tunes and smooth ballads. Its follow-up, the wretchingly sad "One More For The Lonely Hearts Club" (which Eddie co-wrote) was also popular and the video was in constant rotation on Black Entertainment Television (BET). Suddenly they were in demand all over again, and those who had missed their rise to fame the first time around got the chance to see just what was so special about them. Yes, Eddie was BACK!!
A promotional shot for the RUFFIN & KENDRICK album, 1987.
PART 4: MORE THAN JUST "ONE TEAR"
Loss of a legend
Loss of a legend
Eddie Kendrick, Martha Reeves, David Ruffin, late 1980s.
After a successful tour with Martha Reeves and Mary Wells in the late '80s, David and Eddie hooked up with Dennis Edwards, who had left and returned to the Temptations several times over the years and launched a solo career of his own. Right before he departed from the group for the last time, The Tempts had been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in January, 1989, naming Otis, Melvin, Eddie, David, Dennis, and posthumously, Paul, with that honor. Eddie accepted on Paul's behalf. After this event, the three of them reestablished ties. They became very close and toured as "The Former Leads of The Temptations" for a couple of years. During that period, Eddie and Dennis cut a dance single called "Get It While It's Hot" co-written by Jermaine Jackson on a small independent label. (Don't know where David was that he didn't appear with them on this recording.)
The guys put together a stage show that traveled all over the world and thrilled audiences from 1989 to 1991.
Touring as "Ruffin, Kendrick and Edwards" with a full road crew, a nine piece band, and three background singers took the guys all over the world, and they performed in front of the elite as well as regular folks. Their show was well put together, although David missed some performances. All seemed to be going well until after a trip overseas in late spring of 1991. Tragedy struck after the guys returned to America after completing their European tour in Great Britain. David had died under mysterious circumstances of a crack cocaine overdose June 1, 1991 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, shocking the music world. He was only 50 years old. David's addiction was a constant source of contention between he and Eddie for a long time, but they truly loved one another, like brothers. His death was a tremendous loss to the industry, not to mention his family, friends and fans. Superstar Michael Jackson, who had been a longtime admirer of David's and had befriended him when he was a boy still singing with the Jackson Five, was deeply touched by the tragedy and stepped in to handle all the funeral and burial expenses for the Ruffin family. Eddie was devastated by losing yet another one of his closest friends so horribly, and a video that he, Ruffin and Edwards were putting together for their fans now would be a tribute to his fallen pal.
Eddie, along with Dennis (and ex-Tempt Damon Harris for a while), continued to tour and wow audiences, but he began to notice that he was tiring more easily during his performances. Even before David passed away, he knew something was not quite right. It got to the point where he'd have to lie down between shows, and eventually he discontinued dancing in his act altogether. He'd sit on a stool instead, crooning to the audience, who was unaware that anything was wrong. He was always an energetic person, but now he was becoming more and more lethargic, experiencing pain, and was losing weight ~~ very noticable since he was always very slim, weighing in at 150 pounds on the average but being almost 6' 2"~~ and he began to worry. Other people noticed it too, and wild rumors began to fly as to what was going on with him. He finally went to the doctor, where he received a bombshell ~~ he was suffering from advanced lung cancer. He had been a chain smoker for nearly 30 years and it took its toll. Upon learning of his illness, he immediately quit. Only a few of the famous folks who had died from the disease in the past were Duke Ellington, Nat "King" Cole and Sarah Vaughan. "I was shocked," Eddie said in a TV interview out of his then home in Atlanta, Georgia. "I didn't have any symptoms." As a result, he had one lung removed in late 1991 in a last ditch effort to save his life. He seemed to be on the mend, so then he resumed performing. He thought he had beaten the cancer, but it had returned. Still continuing to make appearances throughout the country, he encouraged kids not to smoke and shared his story with them. Then at the end of September of 1992, Eddie returned home. He checked himself into Baptist Medical Center-Princeton in his hometown of Ensley, Alabama. The cancer had spread to the other lung, and Eddie began chemotherapy treatments. But at this point, not much more could be done to save him. Eddie had made his peace with God, and left us the evening of Monday, October 5, 1992. He was only 52 years of age. The music world would never again see someone with the style, the finesse and the talent of an Eddie James Kendrick, for he was truly an original.
In his wake, he left behind a loving family, friends, and fans who all loved him dearly. He is survived by two sons, Parris and Paul, a daughter, Aika; his mother, Lee Bell Kendrick, his sister Patricia, and brothers Clarence, Robert, and Charles. We still love you so very much, Eddie. And we miss you terribly. But we know you are at peace. You will continue to live on in our hearts, our minds and memories. And most of all your music continues to inspire lives, just as it has mine. Keep on truckin', baby. ((((((((EJK ALWAYS AND FOREVER)))))))
With love,
Blackprincess
Eddie, along with Dennis (and ex-Tempt Damon Harris for a while), continued to tour and wow audiences, but he began to notice that he was tiring more easily during his performances. Even before David passed away, he knew something was not quite right. It got to the point where he'd have to lie down between shows, and eventually he discontinued dancing in his act altogether. He'd sit on a stool instead, crooning to the audience, who was unaware that anything was wrong. He was always an energetic person, but now he was becoming more and more lethargic, experiencing pain, and was losing weight ~~ very noticable since he was always very slim, weighing in at 150 pounds on the average but being almost 6' 2"~~ and he began to worry. Other people noticed it too, and wild rumors began to fly as to what was going on with him. He finally went to the doctor, where he received a bombshell ~~ he was suffering from advanced lung cancer. He had been a chain smoker for nearly 30 years and it took its toll. Upon learning of his illness, he immediately quit. Only a few of the famous folks who had died from the disease in the past were Duke Ellington, Nat "King" Cole and Sarah Vaughan. "I was shocked," Eddie said in a TV interview out of his then home in Atlanta, Georgia. "I didn't have any symptoms." As a result, he had one lung removed in late 1991 in a last ditch effort to save his life. He seemed to be on the mend, so then he resumed performing. He thought he had beaten the cancer, but it had returned. Still continuing to make appearances throughout the country, he encouraged kids not to smoke and shared his story with them. Then at the end of September of 1992, Eddie returned home. He checked himself into Baptist Medical Center-Princeton in his hometown of Ensley, Alabama. The cancer had spread to the other lung, and Eddie began chemotherapy treatments. But at this point, not much more could be done to save him. Eddie had made his peace with God, and left us the evening of Monday, October 5, 1992. He was only 52 years of age. The music world would never again see someone with the style, the finesse and the talent of an Eddie James Kendrick, for he was truly an original.
In his wake, he left behind a loving family, friends, and fans who all loved him dearly. He is survived by two sons, Parris and Paul, a daughter, Aika; his mother, Lee Bell Kendrick, his sister Patricia, and brothers Clarence, Robert, and Charles. We still love you so very much, Eddie. And we miss you terribly. But we know you are at peace. You will continue to live on in our hearts, our minds and memories. And most of all your music continues to inspire lives, just as it has mine. Keep on truckin', baby. ((((((((EJK ALWAYS AND FOREVER)))))))
With love,
Blackprincess
Someday you'll be looking back
And know I'm not so bad
When you think about all the joy and happiness we've had
The times I made you happy, darling,
Though I was feeling sad and blue
I did it all
Yes, I did it all for you.
" I Did It All For You" from ALL BY MYSELF, 1971
Eddie J. Kendrick
December 17, 1939 ~ October 5, 1992
You were the melody of OUR lives.
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