THE FOUR TOPS - ASK THE LONELY (VIDEO FOOTAGE)

Formed 1956, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.A.
Levi Stubbs (b. Levi Stubbles, 6th June 1936, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.A. d. 17th October 2008, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.A.)
Renaldo 'Obie' Benson (b. 14th June 1936, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.A. d. 1st July 2005, Harper Hospital, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.A.)
Lawrence Payton (b. 2nd March 1938, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.A, d. 20th June 1997)
and Abdul 'Duke' Fakir (b. 26th December 1935, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.A.)
The Four Tops were formed, under that name, in 1956 in Detroit, Michigan, although two years prior to that they had sang at a party together in the town.
All of the group members attended Detroit-area high schools.
Levi Stubbs and Abdul 'Duke' Fakir attended Pershing, and met Northern students Renaldo 'Obie' Benson and Lawrence Payton at a friend's birthday party.
It was at this party where the quartet first sang together.
In those preceding years they called themselves the Four Aims, as early as 1953, changing their name in 1956 to the Four Tops.
As the Four Aims, they sang Jazz Standards, converting to an R & B sound with the name change.
They changed their name to the Four Tops to avoid confusion with the group the Ames Brothers.
Lawrence Payton's cousin Roquel Davis helped them get an audition with Chess Records in 1956, where they recorded one single entitled 'Kiss Me Baby'.
The Four Tops also recorded for the Red Top, Columbia (where they recorded 'Ain't That Love' in 1960) and Riverside imprints between 1958 and 1962.In 1965, they released 'I Can't Help Myself', which went straight to the top of the charts, and the success continued for the group.
For two more years, the Tops and the writing team had continued success, with 'Reach Out I'll Be There' making the top spot in the charts both sides of the Atlantic in 1966.
The Four Tops also charted with the songs 'Bernadette' and 'It's The Same Old Song'.
By 1967, the groups sound diversified, however, they still charted with Left Banke's 'Walk Away Renee' and Tim Hardin's 'If I Were A Carpenter'.When the Holland / Dozier / Holland writing team left the Motown stable to form the Invictus imprint, the Four Tops success was placed on the backburner, however, they teamed up with the various producers / writers such as Frank Wilson and Smokey Robinson.
In 1970, they charted again with the Tommy Edwards song 'It's All In The Game', and the ballad 'Still Waters (Run Deep)'
Also in 1970, they teamed up with The Supremes for the first of three albums together.
They also had a hit in 1971 with the Jim Webb song 'MacArthur Park'.
Renaldo 'Obie' Benson co-wrote Marvin Gaye's classic song 'What's Going On' that same year.
One final album was released for the Motown label entitled 'Nature Planned it' in 1972.
Later that year, the Four Tops left Motown, following the release of the single 'A Simple Game'.
This was prompted by Motown's relocation to California from Detroit in 1972.
They group signed to the ABC / Dunhill Records imprint, where they charted with the song 'Are You Man Enough', taken from the movie soundtrack 'Shaft In Africa'.
'Keeper Of The Castle' provided the group with their first chart hit for a while in 1972, with the subsequent album containing the excellent 'When Tonight Meets Tomorrow'.
The group were teamed up with the songwriting partnership Dennis Lambert and Brian Potter at this time.
Several excellent albums followed including 'Main Street People' in 1973 and 'Meeting Of The Minds' in 1974.
The Four Tops were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990, and continued to tour the oldies circuit.
The groups line-up remained the same throughout their recording career until Lawrence Payton died from liver cancer in June 1997.
In 2002, it was reported that Levi Stubbs was suffering from prostate cancer, however, he had suffered a stroke and a mild heart attack.
This led to Levi not being able to tour.
His place, in the line up, was taken by Ronnie McNeir.
In 2004, a special event was held in his honour, entitled 'It's All The Way Live With Levi - 50 Years And Still Going'.
Levi attended, along with The Temptations, The Contours, Mary Wilson, Dennis Edwards, The Miracles, The Marvelettes, The Spinners, The Dells, Ollie Woodson, The Satin Tones, The Supremes including members Cindy Birdsong, Jean Terrell, Sherrie Payne amongst others.
Renaldo Obie Benson sadly died on the 1st July 2005, Harper Hospital, Detroit, from several medical conditions.
The current group line up comprises:
Abdul 'Duke' Fakir, Roquel Payton (Lawrence's son), Theo Peoples and Ronnie McNeir.
Levi Stubbs passed away at his home in Detroit on the 17th October 2008. He was 72.
Levi had suffered a series of strokes and other illnesses had been sick for a number of years prior to his passing.

CREDIT INFO: SOULWALKING

Category:

Music

Tags:

• THE
• FOUR
• TOPS
• ASK
• LONELY

[MrDanmeyers]

Loving it...

[Soulie70]

@MrDanmeyers Thankyou :-)

[adesupremeone1]

These sounds and Levi's vocals will live forever .. Timeless

[Soulie70]

@adesupremeone1 Absolutely agree with you....JUST FAB!!! These are my favourite male group!!!

[Tupac786Jr]

please upload "are you man enough"

[Soulie70]

@Tupac786Jr I don't have them in this video!!...however if your on about tune?...already on youtube....Thanks for stopping by!

[doc2skate]

Too bad these groups weren't on film more. Guess Karma strikes back because now anyone with a notion can be on video.

[monsiere1]

thank you

[bobworthinton]

I like the tempo on this version too. Levi Stubbs! Levi Stubbs! Levi Stubbs! He ruled!

[williamg2552]

@PMB827 Duke Fakir is the Tops' 1st Tenor.