Four Tops
The Four Tops are an American vocal group formed in Detroit, Michigan in 1953, as the Four Aims. They were one of the most commercially successful American pop music groups of the 1960s and helped propel Motown Records to international fame. The group's repertoire incorporated elements of jazz, R&B, doo-wop, soul, disco, adult contemporary, and show tunes. Lead singer Levi Stubbs, along with backing vocalists Abdul "Duke" Fakir, Renaldo "Obie" Benson and Lawrence Payton remained together in the group for more than four decades, performing until 1997 without a change in personnel. Along with fellow Motown groups the Miracles, the Marvelettes, Martha and the Vandellas, the Temptations, and the Supremes, the Four Tops helped to establish the "Motown sound"; pop-friendly soul and R&B with a clean, polished production quality. They were notable for having Stubbs, a baritone, as their lead singer, whereas most other male and mixed vocal groups of the time were fronted by tenors.
The group was the primary male vocal group for the highly successful songwriting and production team of Holland–Dozier–Holland, who wrote numerous hit singles for Motown. These included two Billboard Hot 100 number-one hits for the Tops: "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)" in 1965 and "Reach Out I'll Be There" in 1966. The group continued to chart singles into the 1970s, including the million-seller "Ain't No Woman" (1973). The Four Tops were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990, the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 1999, and the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame in 2013. In 2010, Rolling Stone ranked them number 79 on its list of the "100 Greatest Artists of All Time".
On July 20, 2024, the last surviving original member, Fakir, retired. He died two days later.
Gold
- 2005-01-01T00:00:00.000000Z
Indestructible
- 1988-02-14T00:00:00.000000Z
Magic
- 1985-01-01T00:00:00.000000Z
Tonight
- 1981-01-01T00:00:00.000000Z
At The Top
- 1978-01-01T00:00:00.000000Z
Catfish
- 1976-01-01T00:00:00.000000Z
Changing Times
- 1970-01-01T00:00:00.000000Z
Four Tops Now
- 1969-01-01T00:00:00.000000Z
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