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The Four Tops are an American Motown musical quartet, whose repertoire has included doo-wop, jazz, soul music, rnb, disco, adult contemporary, showtunes, and even psychedelic rock. Founded in Detroit, Michigan as The Four Aims, lead singer Levi Stubbs and group mates Abdul “Duke” Fakir, Renaldo “Obie” Benson, and Lawrence Payton remained together for over four decades, finally forced to endure a lineup change when Payton died in 1997. At that time, Theo Peoples was added to the lineup; Peoples later replaced Stubbs, who fell ill from cancer, and Ronnie McNeir assumed Peoples’ spot.
In July, 2005, Benson died of lung cancer with Payton’s son Roquel replacing him. And as of April, 2005, Fakir, McNeir, Payton and Peoples still perform together as The Four Tops. The legendary Levi Stubbs sadly passed away in 2008.
Among a number of groups who helped define the Motown Sound of the 1960s, including The Miracles, The Marvelettes, The Temptations and The Supremes, The Four Tops were notable for having Stubbs, a baritone, as their lead singer; most groups of the time were fronted by a tenor. The group was the main male vocal group for the songwriting and production team of Holland-Dozier-Holland, who crafted for the group a stream of popular hit singles, including two #1 hits: “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)” and “Reach Out I’ll Be There”. After Holland-Dozier-Holland left Motown in 1967, the Four Tops were assigned to a number of producers, primarily Frank Wilson. When Motown left Detroit in 1972 to move to Los Angeles, California, the Tops stayed in Detroit and moved over to ABC Records, where they continued to have charting singles into the late-1970s.
Among a number of groups who helped define the Motown Sound of the 1960s, including The Miracles, The Marvelettes, The Temptations and The Supremes, The Four Tops were notable for having Stubbs, a baritone, as their lead singer; most groups of the time were fronted by a tenor. The group was the main male vocal group for the songwriting and production team of Holland-Dozier-Holland, who crafted for the group a stream of popular hit singles, including two #1 hits: “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)” and “Reach Out I’ll Be There”. After Holland-Dozier-Holland left Motown in 1967, the Four Tops were assigned to a number of producers, primarily Frank Wilson. When Motown left Detroit in 1972 to move to Los Angeles, California, the Tops stayed in Detroit and moved over to ABC Records, where they continued to have charting singles into the late-1970s.
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Greatest Hits
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Concert Hits
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The Singles Collection
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Shoutbox
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Coop_R wrote:
Their music is pure joy. I wish more people knew about them.
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xErasedCitizenx wrote:
These guys are the sound of my mum dancing round the kitchen singing and acting all silly, she loved them to pieces and the lyrics to Reach Out sound as if they're made for being what she would say to me now if she could. Missing you more every day mum xxx
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deadair22 wrote:
Levi Stubbs has one of the best voices of all time!
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Ushiroyubi wrote:
so few scrobbles!
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BimboBoy wrote:
Wrong tag! Please vote for Four Tops. :)
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buttcoffee wrote:
Who knows why lastfm has it as The Four Tops. Maybe whoever made this page doesn't know much about them or that they're just called 'Four Tops'
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ralfsu wrote:
Why does last.fm have them listed as The Four Tops? Isn't it just Four Tops?
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Fullmettall wrote:
what HAPPENED to R&B?! ...well, besides autotune (3)
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anarchyof77 wrote:
what HAPPENED to R&B?! ...well, besides autotune (2)
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ERIXWORX wrote:
ugh... what HAPPENED to R&B?! ...well, besides autotune
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Fullmettall wrote:
Bernadette
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Druid66 wrote:
A lot of other acts are standing in the shadows of the Four Tops, if anything!
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brentastic wrote:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwRV3Vzjkf8 Sorry to ruin this song for anyone.
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notout50 wrote:
I wish I was a baby boomer so I got to see them live and grow up with their music. Still blessed I can listen to it though.
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JemTrix wrote:
LOVE!!!!
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Coop_R wrote:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1May52b1RQ&NR=1 Try not to cry watching this
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Coop_R wrote:
Beautiful, pure pop music. What's not to like here.
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credmoney wrote:
great tunes from a great band!
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MettallExtended wrote:
Reach Out I'll Be There
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ativke wrote:
Oh, glorious, precious pop. Come now and explode out through all sides of my head.
Videos
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Play
Baby I Need Your Lovin
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Play
four tops- look out your window
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Play
- I'm in a Different World
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Play
a motown favorite: the four…
Events
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Mar
17
The Four Tops & The Temptations
Metro Radio Arena Newcastle, Newcastle Upon Tyne, Newcastle, United Kingdom
1 going
1 shout
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Mar
18
The Four Tops and the Temptations
S.E.C.C., Glasgow, United Kingdom
1 going
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Mar
23
The Four Tops + The Temptations
Manchester Arena, Manchester, United Kingdom
3 going
News
Heatwave Celebrity Cruise !!!
12 Mar 2009 | from blog.myspace.com/hitsentfourtops
Dear Friends,On behalf of my self and my colleagues I would
like to say thank you for 50 wonderful unforgettable years … "How
sweet it is to be loved by you". In Appreciation for your
…
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Heatwave Celebrity Cruise !!!
12 Mar 2009 | from blog.myspace.com/hitsentfourtops -
12 Mar 2009 | from blog.myspace.com/hitsentfourtops -
2 Apr 2007 | from blog.myspace.com/hitsentfourtops
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Recent Activity
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missinhalftime, ssmusicx, SNOWCRAB1674 and 21 other people added The Four Tops to their libraries. yesterday evening
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Jazz-Stalker tagged The Four Tops with 60s, rhythm and blues, oldies and 2 other tags. Monday morning
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Jazz-Stalker, haphazard88, tedmed_99 and 29 other people added The Four Tops to their libraries. Monday morning
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Parissimad added The Four Tops to the lineup of The Four Tops and the Temptations at S.E.C.C.. last week
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groovewithjay and wernerlinden added The Four Tops to their libraries. last week
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mocow tagged The Four Tops with ‘soul’. last week
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DEADMANINK2K12, wkg0004, raumpioneer and 3 other people added The Four Tops to their libraries. last week
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RPLastFM tagged The Four Tops with radio paradise and radioparadise. last week
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judie22, rmworks, applescruffs85 and 10 other people added The Four Tops to their libraries. last week
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deadair22 tagged The Four Tops with happiest music ever and sunshiney happiness. last week
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