Abdul Fakir, right, known as Duke, the last surviving original member of the Four Tops, greeted guests at the funeral for Levi Stubbs at the Greater Grace Temple in Detroit on Monday. (Carlos Osorio/Associated Press)If you grew up in the 70s and never heard of Motown, you must be living in some kind of woods. Motown, to me, is not a fairy tale. It's an empire founded by Berry Gordy which brought the best musical cast of all time. For Levi Stubbs who died October 17 and buried yesterday in Detroit his was a magic. Growing up in the 70s and listening to the Four Tops I have fond memories, though most of their hits were released in the mid to late 60s.
They had a string of soul hits beginning with "Baby I need Your Loving" which caught the eyes of the hippies and funksters of the day. "I Can't Help Myself" which vibrates with a follow up "Sugar Pie Honey Bunch" made methink "Sugar Pie Honey Bunch" was the real track.
Stubbs, Renaldo "Obie" Benson, Duke Fakir and Lawrence Payton formed the Four Aims in 1956 in Detroit and later on would change the band's name to the Four Tops after signing a contract with Chess Records. At Chess Records, nothing much happened in terms of producing a successful album which led the band to team up with Berry Gordy Jr, the founder of Motown. At Motown, everything the legendary baritone voice of Stubbs and the Four Tops touched was gold. Hits upon hits were made. Stubbs vocals made Four Tops a world famous group.
Adios Stubbs, your voice is still alive.
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