Abdul “Duke” Fakir, the last surviving original member of the Four Tops, known for their Motown classics like “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)”, has died at the age of 88.
According to the Detroit Free Press, which cited his family, Fakir died of heart failure at his home in Detroit.
In a statement to the paper, his family said, “Our hearts are heavy as we mourn the loss of a trailblazer, icon, and music legend who, through his 70-year music career, touched the lives of so many as he continued to tour until the end of 2023, and officially retired this year.”
They added, “As the last living founding member of the iconic Four Tops music group, we find solace in Duke’s legacy living on through his music for generations to come.”
The Four Tops were integral to the sound of 1960s pop music, with additional hits like “Baby I Need Your Lovin’”, “Reach Out, I’ll Be There”, “It’s The Same Old Song”, and “Standing In the Shadows of Love.”
The group found great success collaborating with the famous songwriting team Holland-Dozier-Holland and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990, with Stevie Wonder giving their induction speech.
Fakir, born in Detroit on December 26, 1935, sang first tenor. The group, originally called the Four Aims, was made up of Fakir, Levi Stubbs, Renaldo “Obie” Benson, and Lawrence Payton. They performed together from 1953 to 1997. Between 1997 and 2005, Stubbs, Benson, and Payton passed away.
Fakir continued to perform with new vocalists for many years until health issues forced him to stop in late 2023.
In his 2022 memoir, Fakir wrote, “I’m not going to ever retire. The Lord can retire me, but I’m not going into the dark night quietly. I know I’m not in the fourth quarter anymore. I’m in overtime.”
