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Oct 7, 2022: The Guardian: ‘We carried pistols to defend ourselves’: the Four Tops and the Temptations on six decades of soul
As they tour the UK together, Motown icons Duke Fakir and Otis Williams reflect on meeting the Beatles, facing down white supremacists, and the collaborators they’ve lost along the way June 6, 2022: UDiscoverMusic: Best Four Tops Songs: 20 Essential Soul Classics
After a period of delivering jazzy stylings, Four Tops broke big in 1964 with strong and bold soul music – and the world barely knew what hit it. The sheer power and emotional range of Levi Stubbs’ lead voice, matched to the educated and elegant support singing of Abdul “Duke” Fakir, Renaldo “Obie” Benson, and Lawrence Payton, was unstoppable. Four Tops scored hit after hit through the 60s, and when they quit Motown, in 1973, they proved they still had the goods with a series of delicious records for ABC/Dunhill. Decades on, their records stand as a pinnacle for soul music: heartfelt, emotional, and pulling on the heartstrings. The 20 best Four Tops song reveal why. Nov 24, 2021: Morning Sun: Four Tops, Temptations bring Motown to Mt. Pleasant
Motown magic brightens the holiday weekend when the Four Tops and the Temptations play Soaring Eagle Casino 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 27. Oct 15, 2020: Hour Detroit: The Four Tops’ Duke Fakir Is Ready To Get Back on the Road
The last classic Top has been spinning on his own for most of this year. And he’s going a little stir-crazy. All things considered, Abdul “Duke” Fakir would rather be onstage. 
2018
Oct 18, 2008: Los Angeles Times: Levi Stubbs, lead singer of the Four Tops, dies at 72
Levi Stubbs, the lead singer of the legendary Motown group the Four Tops whose tough yet soulful voice was showcased on dozens of singles, including “Baby I Need Your Loving” and “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch),” has died. He was 72. 
Reach Out (Motown 660). Released in July 1967. Reach Out includes six of the Four Tops' Top 20 singles: the #1 hit "Reach Out I'll Be There", the Top 10 singles "Standing in the Shadows of Love", "Bernadette", the Top 20 "7-Rooms of Gloom", and their Top 20 covers of Tim Hardin's "If I Were a Carpenter" and the Left Banke's "Walk Away Renée"). Rounding out the LP are a pair of Monkees covers ("Last Train to Clarksville" and "I'm a Believer"), a cover of The Association's "Cherish", and the originals "Wonderful Baby" and "What Else Is There to Do (But Think About You)".
June 21, 1997: Los Angeles Times: Lawrence Payton; Member of Four Tops
Lawrence Payton, a member of the Four Tops, a slickly choreographed quartet often called a “Motown hit machine” in the 1960s, died Friday. He was 59. |
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