Four Tops' Levi Stubbs Dead at 72

[H2IZCOOL]

Just saw this.

Sad News. The 4 Tops are among my favorite groups, and "Reach Out" is still my all time favorite song.

RIP Levi.


Four Tops frontman Levi Stubbs dead at 72
The Associated Press
Friday, October 17, 2008; 2:01 PM

DETROIT -- 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.

He had been ill recently and died in his sleep at the Detroit house he shared with his wife, said Dana Meah, the wife of Stubbs' grandson. The Wayne County medical examiner's office also confirmed the death.

With Stubbs in the lead, the Four Tops sold millions of records, including such hits as "Baby I Need Your Loving," "Reach Out (I'll Be There)" and "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch.)"

The group performed for more than four decades without a single change in personnel. Stubbs' death leaves one surviving member of the original group: Abdul "Duke" Fakir.

Stubbs "fits right up there with all the icons of Motown," said Audley Smith, chief operating officer of the Motown Historical Museum. "His voice was as unique as Marvin's or as Smokey's or as Stevie's."

[Dawn]

Sad to hear this. The Tops had so many great singles and were always a class act. I saw them in concert about a year ago, although I don't think Levi was still performing live with them at that time.

[SAT-I need more room!!]

Beat me to the punch here! I just read this. And I was under the mistake assumption that he was the FIRST Top to go! He's the third!

RIP

[Ken]

Very, very sad

I had not heard about this.

RIP Levi.

[KittyKat - RIP Luciano]

Sad news indeed.

[Laura--I wuv u all :)]

I was sorry to hear about this also. He was a great performer, and he still had it when I saw the group back in about '93--I think they may have been all original members at the time. I remember seeing a photo of the current Four Tops not long ago and most of the guys looked younger, so I figured there might have been some replacements.

[dave910]

Sad news indeed. I remember seeing the Four Tops at free concert in Boston just two weeks after they lost Lawrence Payton. Payton's son now carries on his dad's legacy. Abdul "Duke" Fakir is the only original member of the group in the current lineup. One of the true greats! RIP.

[Rali]

Oct 17, 2008 13:50:23 GMT -5 H2IZCOOL said:

Just saw this.

Sad News. The 4 Tops are among my favorite groups, and "Reach Out" is still my all time favorite song.

RIP Levi.


Four Tops frontman Levi Stubbs dead at 72
The Associated Press
Friday, October 17, 2008; 2:01 PM

DETROIT -- 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.

He had been ill recently and died in his sleep at the Detroit house he shared with his wife, said Dana Meah, the wife of Stubbs' grandson. The Wayne County medical examiner's office also confirmed the death.

With Stubbs in the lead, the Four Tops sold millions of records, including such hits as "Baby I Need Your Loving," "Reach Out (I'll Be There)" and "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch.)"

The group performed for more than four decades without a single change in personnel. Stubbs' death leaves one surviving member of the original group: Abdul "Duke" Fakir.

Stubbs "fits right up there with all the icons of Motown," said Audley Smith, chief operating officer of the Motown Historical Museum. "His voice was as unique as Marvin's or as Smokey's or as Stevie's."

The Tops were part of one of the PBS concerts a few tears ago
and Mr. Stubbs was in the audience. At the time I was under the impression that he had had a stroke. I wish I could recall how many original members were there on stage. (A less lazy person would look it up)

I've loved their music ever since I was 4 and saw them on Bandstand. (teenage siblings)

Speaking of love, it was nice to hear that he and his wife were together and married since the early 60s. How she must miss
him.