Abdul “Duke” Fakir, the last remaining original member of Motown legends the Four Tops, passed away on Monday at his home in Detroit. His family confirmed his passing to The New York Times. The cause was heart failure. Fakir was 88 years old.
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Fakir was the final surviving member of the original quartet renowned for hits such as “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)” and “Reach Out I’ll Be There.” The group was honored with induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990.
Born in Detroit, Fakir discovered his passion for music as a teenager, performing with his local church and school choirs. During high school, he began playing music with Levi Stubbs, Renaldo “Obie” Benson, and Lawrence Payton, who would later become his bandmates in the Four Tops.
In 1954, they formed the initial version of their band, the Four Aims, in Detroit, according to a Motown Museum biography.
Of course, they later adopted the name the Four Tops and were signed to Motown Records in 1964 by the renowned record executive Berry Gordy.
Abdul ‘Duke’ Fakir’s Tenor Leads the Four Tops to Their 1964 Breakthrough
Their breakthrough occurred in 1964 with the release of “Baby I Need Your Loving.” Rolling Stone hailed the tune as one of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. It continues to feature in pop culture.
With Fakir singing tenor, the quartet performed their 1965 hit “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch).” It became the band’s first No. 1 song.
The Four Tops also released iconic songs such as “Reach Out I’ll Be There” (1966), along with memorable tracks like “It’s the Same Old Song,” “Shake Me, Wake Me (When It’s Over),” and “Standing in the Shadows of Love.”
The original quartet performed for over forty years. They released the hit song “Ain’t No Woman (Like The One I’ve Got)” in the 1970s. Several more studio albums also followed over the decades.
Payton passed away in 1997, followed by Benson in 2005 and Stubbs in 2008.
The Four Tops were honored with the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009. Meanwhile, in 2022, Fakir published his memoir, I’ll Be There: My Life With the Four Tops.
Fakir is survived by his wife, Piper Fakir, along with his children, 13 grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren.