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Post by BeesNVMe on Sept 20, 2010 20:08:56 GMT -5
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Common
Ultimate Ruffness
You Got To Feel It!
Posts: 7,442
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Post by Common on Sept 21, 2010 19:54:00 GMT -5
I spent an hour, wasting valuable brain cells, reading and skimming through the copy & paste job called a Tempts biography at Border books. This Tempts book makes Tony Turner’s Tempts’ tome look like Toni Morrison’s ‘Beloved’. This explains how this so-called ‘author’ was able to mow down 3 books (The Supremes, Stevie Wonder & The Temptations) in a short space of time. I saved myself the trouble by just reading the parts about Ruffin and frankly, it all sounded too familiar. The ‘author’ himself lets the reader know that he’s not about objectivity but more about being scandalous, titillating and despicable in trashing people who are no longer around to defend themselves. Like Duchess said, it’s obvious that he is kissing O’s ass to get the ‘goods’ on Ruffin. The little bit that I read on Eddie, didn’t make Eddie sound too hot either. As it pertains to Ruffin’s early life, which the author characterized as ‘weirdness boarding on the mysterious’ ( ?) or some crap like that, he totally relied on genna’s book. So you know where I’m going with this right? *Rant alert, rant alert* See next post...
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Common
Ultimate Ruffness
You Got To Feel It!
Posts: 7,442
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Post by Common on Sept 21, 2010 19:57:56 GMT -5
Here are the ‘low’ lights:
*Billy Wilson – Anybody who co-signs genna’s ‘junk’ memoir, is suspect. I’ve stated time and time again, I believe Ruffin beat the crap outta of genna. But to co-sign what genna said about Ruffin’s father, WITHOUT any other proof except hearsay, leaves a lot to be desired. He claims that genna told the truth about David’s father (he claims Ruffin told him that his father was a ‘pervert’ is quite different than what genna stating ‘rumors’ that Ruffin was sexually abused). Billy would be have been quite believable had he just said (despite this being told in ‘confidence’) that David & Jimmy told him about. But if David’s family have yet to collaborate this story, why I should I believe either one of these people? If David did not even tell this secret to his own wife (s) (and that’s understandable), why should I believe Billy Wilson? I do believe Ruffin was severely abused but the way Billy and the author tells it, it’s done in a way where its more about revealing a shameful secret for the hell of it than elicited genuine empathy. From what I read, left me cold and pretty much disgusted.
*The author’s ‘description’ of David’s childhood- clearly this man must have been a gossip columnist because the way he described Ruffin as having ‘bugged out eyes….which resembled Diana Ross’ left me disgusted. Its one thing to talk about color discrimination (which I’m not surprised that David went through that as a child) but to describe a black child like that, along with having ‘thick lips’ (and what’s wrong with that???) just conjures up all kinds of negative connotations for me. From what I read, there is no historical background to let the reader know why this kind of behavior went on in black families during the time period that David lived. Honestly, I don’t think the author gave a damn as he seem more interested in being salacious then provide a solid and coherent historical background. But this is the way Black singers are treated: as objects, not a human beings who had feelings and hurts.
Next post....
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Common
Ultimate Ruffness
You Got To Feel It!
Posts: 7,442
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Post by Common on Sept 21, 2010 20:00:11 GMT -5
*Tammi Terrell – Even if Tammi did the things that the author alleged (through the eyes of genna and Billy Wilson, no doubt), she does not deserve to be trashed in this manner. Again, he repeats some of genna’s crap without ANY SUBSTANTIATION in order to collaborate Billy’s ‘anecdotes’ about wild ass Tammi. It’s obvious that James Brown turned Tammi out but again, Tammi comes across as this ‘thing’ that enjoys being beaten or a better term, enjoys her ‘sadomachistic relationship’ with Ruffin. WTF? Even though, my views have changed considerable about David Ritz’s Marvin book, at least, he had the sense to make Marvin and the women in his life, human despite his issues. David, from what I read, & Tammi, for little that’s talked about her, come across as two cartoon characters ala ‘Itchy & Scratchy’. Two dysfunctional people who fought each other, turned each other out with drugs and promiscuity.
Duchess, I can understand why stated in other thread about David not being ‘humble or appreciative’ for what he had. But if I read what this author wrote, I would come with the same impression. However, with the amount of craziness, chaos and drugs that David surrounded himself with, he didn’t even have time to smell the roses. It was like he was living on borrowed time and he knew it.
I can’t even say anymore about this book because it’s too messy and I’m not going to waste money on information that’s already been put in other books. From what I read, this author was lazy and didn’t bother to do any kind of objective journalism when he decided to write this so-called book. I don’t even want to know what he said about Paul. Paul is probably the only one who came out looking ‘sane’ despite his problems and that’s saying a lot.
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Common
Ultimate Ruffness
You Got To Feel It!
Posts: 7,442
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Post by Common on Sept 21, 2010 20:01:55 GMT -5
I read this article a long time ago. This the last interview that Tammi did several months before she succumbed to Brain Cancer. Very sad. I've read some comments on SDF about Tammi's segment. Very interesting to say the least. I can't wait to read your views on Tammi's segment and what your impression was of the people who starred in it.
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