They are on the Mount Rushmore of soul groups, and are among the bedrock acts of Motown’s tremendous run in the 1960s. And the Four Tops continue on, nearly seven decades after forming in Detroit in the 1950s. But there will be a notable change going forward, as Abdul “Duke” Fakir, the last surviving original member of the group, has retired at age 88. Duke had been the sole original member of the group for nearly two decades, since the retirement of lead singer Levi Stubbs and the 2005 passing of Obie Benson.
With Duke’s retirement, the group now consists of Alexander Morris, Ronnie McNeir, Lawrence Payton, Jr. (son of founding member Lawrence Payton, Sr.) and the newest member, singer Michael Brock.
Michael Brock is no stranger to soul music fans. Both as a solo singer and as a member of groups, the Benton Harbor, Michigan native has brought the A-Game for years with his expressive, Marvin Gaye-like tenor voice. Michael was part of Ali Woodson’s Emperors of Soul vocal group and later became a member of The Dramatics. Brock also previously sang a beautiful tribute to the Four Tops, working with Detroit producer Brian Pastoria (see video below).
Formed in the mid-50s as high schoolers in Detroit, The Four Tops (Levi Stubbs, Obie Benson, Lawrence Payton and Duke Fakir) were first known as the Four Aims. However, to avoid confusion with the popular Ames Brothers vocal quartet, the group changed its name to the one that would become synonymous with Detroit’s “Sound of Young America.” After cutting several unsuccessful tracks for various record labels in the late 50s and early 60s, the Tops signed with Berry Gordy’s Motown label and teamed with super songwriters Holland/Dozier/Holland. Their first collaboration, “Baby I Need Your Lovin,” was a smash crossover hit and set the stage for future successes.
The Tops rose to the A-list of soul music stars and became, along with the Temptations, the male group leaders of the Motown hit machine. With hits like “Reach Out, I’ll Be There,” “I Can’t Help Myself” and more than two dozen other on Motown during the period 1964-1972, the Tops established themselves as one of the top Soul groups of the era. They moved to ABC/Dunhill in the early 70s, and had another string of hits, led by the #1 “Ain’t No Woman (Like The One I’ve Got). Amazingly, they had a third run of success in the 80s on Casablanca Records with “When She Was My Girl” and “Sad Hearts.”
At Motown’s 25th Anniversary special in 1983, a playful singing competition was set up between the Temptations and the Four Tops, with the groups poking fun and alternating songs, ultimately joining together for a medley of hits. The act proved so popular that the two groups began a “Tempts vs. Tops” tour that has gone on intermittently ever since and has been seen by millions of fans.
The Tops have continued to sound fantastic year after year, singing classic songs that are both comfort food and sing-along staples for soul music fans. And we expect that Michael Brock will be a terrific addition. If they’re in your neck of the woods this summer, be sure to check them out.
By Chris Rizik
