Duke Fakir, Last Surviving Member of the Four Tops, Dies at 88
He sang tenor on hits like “Standing in the Shadows of Love,” “Reach Out, I’ll Be There” and “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch).”
Duke Fakir, the last surviving original member of the Motown group the Four Tops, has died at the age of 88. Mr. Fakir, who sang first tenor, was known for his smooth, high voice that added grace to the group's harmonies. The Four Tops had a string of hits in the 1960s, including "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)" and "Reach Out, I'll Be There," which both reached No. 1. Mr. Fakir was born in Detroit in 1935 and met Levi Stubbs, another member of the Four Tops, at a neighborhood football game. They formed the group with two other local singers, Lawrence Payton and Renaldo "Obie" Benson. After releasing unsuccessful singles on various record labels, the Four Tops signed with Motown in 1962 and found success with their first single, "Baby I Need Your Loving." The group had a number of other hits, including "It's The Same Old Song," "Standing In the Shadows of Love," and "Bernadette." Even after leaving Motown in 1972, the Four Tops continued to have success with Top 10 records. Mr. Fakir remained with the group until his retirement this year, continuing to record and tour despite the deaths of the other original members between 1997 and 2008. He was awarded a Grammy lifetime achievement award in 2009 and published a memoir in 2022. Mr. Fakir is survived by his wife, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.