RIP.
Posted on 10/17/2008 9:10:28 AM PDT by lunarbicep
Arguably the most powerful voice in Motown's storied history has been silenced. Four Tops lead singer Levi Stubbs, Jr., died today (Oct. 17) at his home in Detroit after a long series io illnesses -- including cancer and a stroke -- that forced him to stop performing in 2000. He was 72.
Funeral arrangements are pending for Stubbs, who is survived by Clineice, his wife of 48 years, and five children.
"He had one of the most prolific and identifiably voices in American history," the Motown Alumni Association's Billy J. Wilson tells Billboard.com. "It's a deep loss, to the entire Motown family and to the world."
Stubbs' death leaves Abdul "Duke" Fakir as the Tops' only living member from the original quartet, which formed in 1954 as the Four Aims and signed with Motown nine years later. Laurence Payton passed away in 1997, and Renaldo "Obie" Benson died in 2005.
Fakir continues to lead a version of the Tops that includes Payton's son Roquel, former Temptations member Theo Peoples and Motown veteran Ronnie McNeir.
Stubbs -- born Levi Stubbles in Detroit -- gave voice to enduring hits such as "Baby I Need Your Loving," "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)," "Reach Out I'll Be There," "Brenadette" and others. The Tops have sold more than 50 million records and racked up 45 chart hits for the Motown, ABC Dunhill, Arista and Casablanca labels, and the group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990.
(Excerpt) Read more at billboard.com ...
RIP.
I saw them play at a small club, PRIVATES, in April 1985, on East 85th Street, in New York City. I had always loved the 4 Tops music, and the idea of seeing them in a small up-close kind of setting was just so exciting.
Motown has a way of NOT publicizing some of its great talent, specifically the Marvelettes and perhaps the TOPS. I just absolutely loved their sound and Levi’s voice was incredible. I saw a special on PBS a few years back and he was being honored. He was in a wheel chair and he started to cry.
My favorite Tops song is probably, Something About You.
Levi Stubbs will be missed by all music fans.
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