Abdul “Duke” Fakir Dies: The Four Tops’ Last Surviving Member Was 88

Abdul “Duke” Fakir, the last surviving member of legendary Motown Records group The Four Tops, who racked up 17 Top 20 singles from 1964-73 including the chart-topping classics “I Can’t Help Myself” and “Reach Out I’ll Be There,” died today at his home in Detroit. He was 88.
In a statement, Fakir’s family said he died of heart failure.
After a string of non-charting singles for Chess Records in the 1950s as The Four Aims, the group rebranded and signed with Berry Gordy’s wildly successful Motown Records. They sang backup on some of the label’s songs by other acts before breaking out with the Holland-Dozier-Holland song “Baby I Need Your Loving” in 1964. During the next decade, they became one the label’s top acts, with more than three dozen songs on the pop chart.
Related: Lamont Dozier Dies: Hit-Making Motown Mastermind Was 81
Alongside lead vocalist Levi Stubbs, Lawrence Payton and Renaldo “Obie” Benson,...
In a statement, Fakir’s family said he died of heart failure.
After a string of non-charting singles for Chess Records in the 1950s as The Four Aims, the group rebranded and signed with Berry Gordy’s wildly successful Motown Records. They sang backup on some of the label’s songs by other acts before breaking out with the Holland-Dozier-Holland song “Baby I Need Your Loving” in 1964. During the next decade, they became one the label’s top acts, with more than three dozen songs on the pop chart.
Related: Lamont Dozier Dies: Hit-Making Motown Mastermind Was 81
Alongside lead vocalist Levi Stubbs, Lawrence Payton and Renaldo “Obie” Benson,...
- 7/22/2024
- by Erik Pedersen
- Deadline Film + TV
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