"What Becomes of the Brokenhearted" and "Hold on to My Love" were two of the most well-known hits by Motown singer Jimmy Ruffin, who the Associated Press said died Monday at a Las Vegas hospital. Ruffin was 78.

"Philicia Ruffin and Jimmy Lee Ruffin Jr., the late singer's children, confirmed Wednesday that Ruffin had died," the news service detailed. "There were no details about the cause of death."

"The son of a minister ... Ruffin abandoned his gospel background to become a session singer in the early 60s, joining the Motown Records stable in 1961 for a one-off single before he was drafted for national service," according to Oldies.com.

The website noted that Ruffin turned down an offer to become part of the Temptations and instead recommended his brother David.

"His commercial breakthrough came in 1966 with the major U.S. and U.K. hit 'What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted', which displayed his emotional, if rather static, vocals," Oldies.com noted.

"Brokenhearted" was originally written for the Spinners, also with Motown, Entertainment Weekly recounted.

"But (Ruffin) convinced the label's in-house songwriters to give it to him instead," the magazine detailed. "In 1966, he sent the song into the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100, the only song of his career to chart that high."

After teaming up with his brother in 1970, Ruffin had "the second big hit of his career with the Robin Gibbs-produced 'Hold On to My Love,'" Entertainment Weekly continued.

However, "Ruffin found success in the (United States) hard to sustain, concentrating instead on the British market," Oldies.com said. "'I'll Say Forever My Love' and 'It's Wonderful' consolidated his position in the U.K., and in 1970 he was voted the world's top singer in one British poll."

The singer "lived in England for many years," the Associated Press said.

Throughout his carreer, Ruffin released a total of 11 albums, including the 1967 "Jimmy Ruffin Sings Top Ten," 1974 "I've Passed This Way Before" and 2012 "There Will Never Be Another You." The collaboration with David, titled "I Am My Brother's Keeper," came out in 1970.

Jimmy Lee Ruffin was born on May 7, 1936, in Collinsville, Mississippi, according to the AP. Funeral arrangements are pending, the family told the news service.