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    Four Tops Singer Levi Stubbs Dies at 72

    • Posted on Oct 17th 2008 1:00PM by Gaylord Fields
    • Comments (198)
    Print |  Email More
    Levi Stubbs, the gruff-voiced yet exceedingly expressive frontman of soul music giants the Four Tops, has passed away at age 72 in his Detroit home. The powerful lead singer on hit singles including 'I Can't Help Myself,' 'It's the Same Old Song,' 'Reach Out I'll Be There,' 'Standing in the Shadows of Love' and 'Bernadette' in the 1960s, Stubbs had been ill in recent years, having recently been debilitated by a stroke and cancer that forced his retirement in 2000.

    The Four Tops began their career around 1953 in Detroit as the Four Aims and, after a name change, signed to Berry Gordy's Motown label in 1963. After a commercially and creatively fertile career at the legendary hitmaking factory, in which they were under the care of the acclaimed songwriting and production team of Holland-Dozier-Holland, the Tops' hit string continued in the '70s on ABC-Dunhill with songs such as 'Keeper of the Castle' and 'Ain't No Woman (Like the One I've Got).' The original quartet remained together for an astounding 44 years, until the death of Lawrence Payton in 1997. The group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990.

    The Four Tops Pictures

      The Four Tops

      Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images

      The Four Tops in the mid 1960s.

      Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images

      The Four Tops pose at Heathrow airport in London on Nov. 16, 1966 en route to the United States. From left to right are: Abdul Fakir, Levi Stubbs, Lawrence Payton and Renaldo Benson.

      AP

      The Four Tops in the 1970s.

      Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images

      The Four Tops -- Abdul "Duke" Fakir (left), Levi Stubbs (center) and Renaldo "Obie" Benson (right) -- are shown as their star was unveiled on the Hollywood Walk of Fame Wednesday, April. 23, 1997 in Hollywood. Lawrence Payton, the fourth member, did not attend due to illness.

      Nick Ut, AP

      **FILE** In this Wednesday, May 26, 2004 file photo, Four Tops member Levi Stubbs, seated, is introduced by Michigan state Sen. Irma Clark-Coleman, foreground left, to a session of the state Senate in Lansing, Mich. Four Tops frontman Levi Stubbs died Friday, Oct. 17, 2008, at his home in Detroit. He was 72. Also pictured , from the left, are Stubbs' wife, Clineice Stubbs; fellow Four Tops member, Abdul Fakir; Yone Payton, the wife of deceased member, Lawrence Payton, and fellow Four Tops member, Renaldo Benson. (AP Photo/Kevin W. Fowler, File)

      AP

      ** FILE ** The late Lawrence Payton, shown at far right poses with the rest of the Four Tops, from left, Renaldo "Obie" Benson, Abdul "Duke" Fakir and Levi Stubbs in this January, 1990 file photo. Four Tops frontman Levi Stubbs died Friday, Oct. 17, 2008, at his home in Detroit. He was 72. (AP Photo/Ron Frehm, File)

      AP

      **FILE** In a in March 1986 file photo, The Four Tops are shown during a recording session in New York. Standing from left to right are, Lawrence Payton, Levi Stubbs, Abdul "Duke" Fakir, and seated is Renaldo "Obie" Benson. Four Tops frontman Levi Stubbs died Friday, Oct. 17, 2008, at his home in Detroit. He was 72. (AP Photo/David Bookstaver, File)

      AP


    Stubbs also put his distinctive vocal talents to good use as the voice of the killer plant Audrey II in the 1986 film 'Little Shop of Horrors.' And while the Four Tops brand carries on with replacements, with Abdul "Duke" Fakir being the only surviving member (Renaldo "Obie" Benson died in 2005), it can be said that the group ceased to exist in any appreciable form once Levi Stubbs' robust baritone no longer led the charge.
    • Filed under: R.I.P.
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    Reader Comments(1 of 10)

    vote downvote upReportHighest Ranked

    GRANPRIX49at 10-17-2008

    Levi Stubbs from the Four Tops will truely be missed,
    he was a awesome performer, he had a voice that was detected in any songs, deepest sympathy foes out to his
    wife and family, may god bless

    Reply
    vote downvote upReportHighest Ranked

    hltguyat 10-17-2008

    One of the best ever, truly a distintive and awesome talent. God Bless Levi.

    Reply
    vote downvote upReportHighest Ranked

    chapsllc2at 10-17-2008

    Yes, one of the all time best VOICES.

    Levi . . . I appreciated that although you were exceptionally talented . . . unlike many of your peers who sought glory for self and went out for a solo career
    -----------YOU STAYED WITH THE FOUR TOPS---------------
    I will always Cherish that about you.
    I Believe in You and Me.
    Thanks Rick

    vote downvote upReportHighest Ranked

    globalwizat 10-17-2008

    We were lucky to have him. He had shared his gifts with us. What a legacy he left!

    Reply
    vote downvote upReportHighest Ranked

    APat 10-17-2008

    What a voice...it will live on as long as the radio continues to play their great music. I grew up on this stuff and always looked up to the geniuses at Motown for making the radio come alive in the 60s and on oldies stations to this day. I've been in radio for 35 years and to this day the Four Tops music has not aged or grown old in the least. It's joyful stuff, even on the sad songs. Another great voice joins the choir in rock & roll heaven...and all of music is better for having had his voice to listen to for all the years.

    Reply
    vote downvote upReportHigh Ranked

    irishdansnipesat 10-17-2008

    levis voice will truly be missed iloved his songs may he rest in piece and his songs live on forever

    Reply
    vote downvote upReportLow Ranked

    bobby and sandiat 10-17-2008

    even if dead he will still be able to VOTE THINKS TO A CORN AND MORE THEN ONCE

    Reply
    vote downvote upReportHighest Ranked

    dbrock4116at 10-17-2008

    Post your fucking political comments to a board where the subject is politics.

    vote downvote upReportHighest Ranked

    poniesnpokerat 10-17-2008

    Nothing better to do? Amazing what idiots are out there.

    vote downvote upReportHighest Ranked

    coolsmoothla3at 10-17-2008

    It is better to be known as stupid than open your mouth and erase all doubt!

    vote downvote upReportHigh Ranked

    dck7bankerat 10-17-2008

    Asshole!!!

    vote downvote upReportHigh Ranked

    diAnAat 10-17-2008

    freaking idiot what does this have to do with this man's death? You tacky sob

    vote downvote upReportHighest Ranked

    mulchman9512at 10-17-2008

    theres always an asshole .......but in this exception theres 2.........get a life jagoff

    vote downvote upReportNeutral

    KristinKmiecikat 10-17-2008

    Highly inappropriate of you ultra right wing people. This is not the forum for political views.

    However, since you brought it up, McCain spoke at an ACORN rally FIRST in 2006. (Can be verified on YouTube) Also, please learn to spell properly before you post; you only show your true ignorance.

    vote downvote upReportNeutral

    icantakemytimeat 10-17-2008

    It would help if your oke-from-miskoge ass would learn how to spell (THINKS TO ACORN).

    vote downvote upReportNeutral

    tnkd3at 10-17-2008

    Real stupid

    vote downvote upReportNeutral

    pearl1019at 10-17-2008

    MORONS..............

    vote downvote upReportNeutral

    Buttheadat 10-17-2008

    You're not only a f**king idiot, you're so damn dumb you can't even spell and don't even know the right words. You're better off keeping your mouth shut so you don't let the world know what a dumbshit you are. Whooops,,, too late!

    vote downvote upReportNeutral

    moomxat 10-17-2008

    Children don't know how to filter what comes out of their mouths. The same seems to hold true for what they write. For an article about a musical great, the topic of ACORN shouldn't have even been mentioned. But leave it up to a child. Sad.

    vote downvote upReportNeutral

    anguscowmat 10-17-2008

    There's no Dope like a Right Wing Dope.
    Cry that you're gonna lose Nov. 4th
    A one - and a two - and a Repubbly bubbly Boo hoo hoo!

    12345 Next >

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