Post by Rob Durkee on Oct 17, 2008 18:28:55 GMT -5
By ROCKIN' ROBIN
Levi Stubbs, who as the lead singer of the Four Tops helped the Motown label chalk up more #1 pop hits than any other record label in the 1960's, died today (Friday, October 17, 2008) at his Detroit home. He was 72 and had been suffering from illnesses such as a stroke and cancer. He had been unable to perform with the Four Tops since 2000. He was also the voice of the human-eating plant in the 1986 remake movie, "Little Shop Of Horrors."
It took Stubbs' group 11 years to explode onto the pop music scene. In their fabulous 24-year Cash Box pop chart career (1964-88), the Four Tops had three #1's, 10 Top 10's and 27 top 40's. Their chart-toppers were 1965's "I Can't Help Myself" (a/k/a "Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch"), 1966's "Reach Out (I'll Be there)" and 1973's "Ain't No Woman (Like The One I've Got)."
At least 10 of the Four Tops hits were written by the most successful American song-writing team ever--Eddie Holland, Lamont Dozier and Brian Holland (a/k/a Holland-Dozier-Holland). The Four Tops hits were part of the 1960's Motown success that also included acts like the Supremes, the Temptations, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, Stevie Wonder, the Marvelettes, Martha and the Vandellas and Mary Wells.
After failing to come up with a key hit single for four labels, the Four Tops joined the Motown label in 1963 and the next year first hit big with the #15 peaking, "Baby I Need Your Loving." That song proved to be so strong that Johnny Rivers hit with it as a remake in 1967. Over the years, their hits included "Ask The Lonely," "I'll Turn To Stone," "Standing In The Shadows Of Love," "Bernadette" and "Keeper Of The Castle." Their remake hits included "River Deep, Mountain High" (with the Supremes), "MacArthur Park (Part 2)," "Walk Away Renee" and "If I Were A Carpenter." Their last top tenner was 1981's "When She Was My Girl." While many Motown fans will remember the 1983 "Motown 25" show for Michael Jackson's moonwalking dance exploits, they also point to the nearly seven-minute-long "Four Tops Vs. The Temptations" live medley as the performance that brought the house down.
The Four Aims formed in Detroit in 1953 and changed their name to the Four Tops a year later. They made the name change because they worried that they'd be confused for the vocal group the Ames Brothers. For years, the Four Tops were the answer to a music trivia question by Casey Kasem on "American Top 40." They were the group that had been around the longest with no change in membership. Sadly, Abdul "Duke" Fakir is the only surviving member of the Four Tops. Lawrence Payton died on June 20, 1997 and Renaldo "Obie" Benson passed away on July 1, 2005.
Today, Fakir is the lead singer of the current Four Tops, whose lineup includes Payton's son, Roquel.
In 1987 interview with the Washington Post, Stubbs credited the group members' long-time friend for staying together so long. "We were all born in the same neighborhood, so we really grew up together," Stubbs pointed out, "So we've known each other all our lives. And we're still good friends." When asked why the group never seemed to disband, Stubbs replied, "Once you try to figure it out, it might all apart. What what I'm saying?"
Stubbs is survived by his wife of 48 years, Clineice, and five children.
Levi Stubbs, who as the lead singer of the Four Tops helped the Motown label chalk up more #1 pop hits than any other record label in the 1960's, died today (Friday, October 17, 2008) at his Detroit home. He was 72 and had been suffering from illnesses such as a stroke and cancer. He had been unable to perform with the Four Tops since 2000. He was also the voice of the human-eating plant in the 1986 remake movie, "Little Shop Of Horrors."
It took Stubbs' group 11 years to explode onto the pop music scene. In their fabulous 24-year Cash Box pop chart career (1964-88), the Four Tops had three #1's, 10 Top 10's and 27 top 40's. Their chart-toppers were 1965's "I Can't Help Myself" (a/k/a "Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch"), 1966's "Reach Out (I'll Be there)" and 1973's "Ain't No Woman (Like The One I've Got)."
At least 10 of the Four Tops hits were written by the most successful American song-writing team ever--Eddie Holland, Lamont Dozier and Brian Holland (a/k/a Holland-Dozier-Holland). The Four Tops hits were part of the 1960's Motown success that also included acts like the Supremes, the Temptations, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, Stevie Wonder, the Marvelettes, Martha and the Vandellas and Mary Wells.
After failing to come up with a key hit single for four labels, the Four Tops joined the Motown label in 1963 and the next year first hit big with the #15 peaking, "Baby I Need Your Loving." That song proved to be so strong that Johnny Rivers hit with it as a remake in 1967. Over the years, their hits included "Ask The Lonely," "I'll Turn To Stone," "Standing In The Shadows Of Love," "Bernadette" and "Keeper Of The Castle." Their remake hits included "River Deep, Mountain High" (with the Supremes), "MacArthur Park (Part 2)," "Walk Away Renee" and "If I Were A Carpenter." Their last top tenner was 1981's "When She Was My Girl." While many Motown fans will remember the 1983 "Motown 25" show for Michael Jackson's moonwalking dance exploits, they also point to the nearly seven-minute-long "Four Tops Vs. The Temptations" live medley as the performance that brought the house down.
The Four Aims formed in Detroit in 1953 and changed their name to the Four Tops a year later. They made the name change because they worried that they'd be confused for the vocal group the Ames Brothers. For years, the Four Tops were the answer to a music trivia question by Casey Kasem on "American Top 40." They were the group that had been around the longest with no change in membership. Sadly, Abdul "Duke" Fakir is the only surviving member of the Four Tops. Lawrence Payton died on June 20, 1997 and Renaldo "Obie" Benson passed away on July 1, 2005.
Today, Fakir is the lead singer of the current Four Tops, whose lineup includes Payton's son, Roquel.
In 1987 interview with the Washington Post, Stubbs credited the group members' long-time friend for staying together so long. "We were all born in the same neighborhood, so we really grew up together," Stubbs pointed out, "So we've known each other all our lives. And we're still good friends." When asked why the group never seemed to disband, Stubbs replied, "Once you try to figure it out, it might all apart. What what I'm saying?"
Stubbs is survived by his wife of 48 years, Clineice, and five children.
