This one really hits home as the Four Tops and Temptations were two of my favorite groups from the sixties.
LEVI STUBBS 1936-2008
From Mike Householder, AP
"Four Tops lead singer Levi Stubbs, who possessed one of the most dynamic and emotive voices of all the Motown singers, died Friday at 72."
That was him singing lead on such million-selling 4 Tops songs as "Baby I Need Your Loving," "Reach Out (I'll Be There)" and "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)."
Even more remarkable, the Four Tops performed for more than 40 years with all the original members. His death leaves just one remaining original member, Abdul "Duke" Fakir.
The Four Tops began singing in 1953 as the Four Aims and signed with Chess Records. They later changed their name to the Four Tops so as not to be confused with the Ames Brothers. Motown signed them in 1963 and they scored 20 Top Forty hits until 1973.
Their biggest hits were from 1964 to 1967 and written by Holland-Dozier-Holland. "I Can't Help Myself" and "Standing in the Shadows of Love" went to #1. They joined the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990.
Levi Stubbs was born in Detroit in 1936. Original Tops Lawrence Payton and Renaldo "Obie" Benson died in 1997 and 2005.
My fraternity, Delta Sigma Phi only played four albums at our parties, and one of them was the Four Tops Greatest Hits. I really enjoyed him as the man-eating plant on "Little Shop of Horrors."
A Great Performer.
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