Abdul 'Duke' Fakir, last surviving original member of The Four Tops, passed away at age 88.
Born in Detroit, grew up singing in church choir. The Four Tops were managed by Motown founder Berry Gordy and produced by Holland-Dozier-Holland.
Fakir was known for smooth tenor voice and contributed to hits like 'Reach Out I'll Be There', 'Standing in the Shadows of Love', and 'I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)'.
Formed The Four Tops with Levi Stubbs, Renaldo 'Obie' Benson, and Lawrence Payton at Pershing High School in Detroit in 1953.
Survived by wife, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
The Four Tops performed together from the 1950s through late 1990s, earning accolades and honors including a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
Abdul 'Duke' Fakir, the last surviving original member of the iconic Motown group The Four Tops, has passed away at the age of 88. Fakir was known for his smooth tenor voice and contributed to timeless hits such as 'Reach Out I'll Be There,' 'Standing in the Shadows of Love,' and 'I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch).'
Fakir first met Levi Stubbs, the lead vocalist of The Four Tops, at a neighborhood football game. Together with Renaldo 'Obie' Benson and Lawrence Payton, they formed the group in 1953 while attending Pershing High School in Detroit.
The Four Tops performed together from the 1950s through the late 1990s, earning various accolades and honors including a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. Fakir continued to tour with the group until medical issues sidelined him late last year.
Born in Detroit, Fakir grew up singing in the church choir and formed The Four Tops despite his mother's disapproval of their music. The group was managed by Motown founder Berry Gordy and produced by Holland-Dozier-Holland.
Fakir is survived by his wife, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. The Four Tops' legacy will continue to live on through their music for generations to come.
Duke Fakir met Levi Stubbs at a neighborhood football game.
Duke Fakir sang tenor on hits like ‘Standing in the Shadow of Love’, ‘Reach Out, I’ll Be There’ and ‘I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)’.
Duke Fakir kept the Four Tops name alive by enlisting new members and regularly taking their polished stage show on tour.
Duke Fakir grew up singing in the church choir and formed the Four Tops alongside Stubbs, Benson, and Payton despite his mother’s disapproval of their music.
Abdul 'Duke' Fakir grew up singing in the church choir and formed the Four Tops alongside Stubbs, Benson, and Payton despite his mother's disapproval of their music.
Fakir continued to tour with the Four Tops until medical issues sidelined him late last year.
Accuracy
Duke Fakir died from heart failure at his home in Detroit.
Fakir grew up in a religious family, was enchanted by music early in life, and formed the Four Tops with Levi Stubbs in 1953.
The Four Tops were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1990.
The Four Tops were formed by Fakir and friends Levi Stubbs, Renaldo ‘Obie’ Benson, and Lawrence Payton at Detroit’s Pershing High School in 1953.
Fakir grew up singing in the church choir and formed the Four Tops alongside Stubbs, Benson, and Payton despite his mother’s disapproval of their music.
Fakir continued to tour with the Four Tops until medical issues sidelined him late last year.
Accuracy
][article.facts[0]]: The age of Abdul 'Duke' Fakir at the time of his death was given as 88 in both articles.
[article.facts[1]]: Fakir was a crucial part of the Four Tops, contributing to their harmonies and keeping peace in the band.
[][otherArticles[0].facts[6]]: The Four Tops were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1990.
[article.facts[2]]: The Four Tops were formed by Fakir and friends Levi Stubbs, Renaldo ‘Obie’ Benson, and Lawrence Payton at Detroit’s Pershing High School in 1953.
[][otherArticles[0].facts[6]]: The Four Tops spent a difficult decade on the Chitlin' Circuit before their commercial breakthrough, encountering racism along the way.
[article.facts[7]]: The Four Tops signed to Motown in 1963 and had a successful run of hits including ‘Baby I Need Your Loving’, ‘It’s the Same Old Song’, and ‘Reach Out I’ll Be There’.
[][otherArticles[0].facts[8]]: The Four Tops' hits helped define the 'Motown Sound' and the entire 1960s era of pop.
[article.facts[3]]: Fakir continued to tour with the Four Tops until medical issues sidelined him late last year.
[][otherArticles[1].facts[7]]: After leaving the label in 1972, the quartet earned more Top 10 records with ‘Keeper of the Castle’ and ‘Ain’t No Woman (Like the One I Got)’.
[article.facts[8]]: Fakir grew up singing in the church choir and formed the Four Tops alongside Stubbs, Benson, and Payton despite his mother’s disapproval of their music.
[][otherArticles[3].facts[5]]: Duke Fakir was a regular sight around Detroit through the decades, a charismatic and sharp-dressed figure at public events, ribbon-cuttings and television commercials.
Duke Fakir met Levi Stubbs at a neighborhood football game.
Fakir kept the Four Tops name alive after group mates Lawrence Payton, Obie Benson and Levi Stubbs passed away.
Duke Fakir was a regular sight around Detroit through the decades, a charismatic and sharp-dressed figure at public events, ribbon-cuttings and television commercials.
Accuracy
]The last surviving member of the Four Tops, Duke Fakir, died from heart failure at the age of 88.[/ The New York Times article states that Duke Fakir died
Abdul 'Duke' Fakir was the voice behind many iconic Motown hits such as ‘I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)’, ‘It’s the Same Old Song’, ‘Bernadette’, and ‘Reach Out I’ll Be There’.
Fakir first performed with other original members Levi Stubbs, Renaldo ’Obie’ Benson and Lawrence Payton at a birthday party.
The Four Tops performed between the 1950s through the late 1990s and received various accolades and honors including a 2009 Grammy lifetime achievement award.
Fakir sought to keep the Four Tops touring into new decades by bringing in new members after the deaths of his original bandmates.
Accuracy
]The Four Tops were formed by Fakir and friends Levi Stubbs, Renaldo ‘Obie’ Benson, and Lawrence Payton at Detroit’s Pershing High School in 1953.[/1]
