Abdul “Duke” Fakir, the final surviving founding member of the Motown vocal group the 4 Tops, has died. He was 88.
A consultant for the household stated in an announcement that Fakir died of coronary heart failure on Monday.
“Our hearts are heavy as we mourn the lack of a trailblazer, icon and music legend who, by way of his 70-year music profession, touched the lives of so many as he continued to tour till the tip of 2023, and formally retired this yr,” Fakir’s household stated in an announcement. “Because the final residing founding member of the long-lasting 4 Tops music group, we discover solace in Duke’s legacy residing on by way of his music for generations to come back.”
Fakir was one of many tightly harmonized voices behind such indelible Motown hits like “Child I Want Your Loving,” “I Can’t Assist Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)” and “Attain Out I’ll Be There.” Of their peak years between 1964-1967, the 4 Tops had two No. 1 singles and 11 Prime 20 hits on the Billboard singles charts.
Motown friends who paid tribute to Fakir embody label founder Berry Gordy, who stated in an announcement that “I’m deeply saddened to listen to of the passing of Abdul ‘Duke’ Fakir … [the] first tenor — clean, suave, and all the time sharp. … For 70 years, he saved the 4 Tops’ outstanding legacy intact, and in all these years, he by no means missed a efficiency, till only recently. I so respect all he did for the 4 Tops, for Motown and for me.”
Gordy famous that the unique 4 Tops — Fakir, Levi Stubbs, Lawrence Payton and Renaldo “Obie” Benson — “all the time amazed me with their showmanship, class and artistry.”
The 4 Tops, entrance seat, from left: Levi Stubbs and Lawrence Payton; again seat, from left: Abdul “Duke” Fakir and Renaldo “Obie” Benson.
(Motown Archives)
Fakir, born in 1935 in Detroit, was the son of a manufacturing facility employee from what’s now Bangladesh and a Black mom who was a musician and a minister’s daughter. As a teen surrounded by gospel and jazz music, he co-founded the 4 Tops in 1953 with Levi Stubbs, Lawrence Payton and Renaldo “Obie” Benson. The group — initially named the 4 Goals — shortly drew consideration on the native membership circuit and signed to Chess Data in 1956 however didn’t escape nationally till signing to Motown in 1962.
There they started a outstanding run of era-defining hits with the writing-producing trio Holland-Dozier-Holland. Hits like “It’s the Identical Outdated Track,” “Standing within the Shadows of Love” and “Bernadette” all hit the Prime 10 of the pop and R&B charts. The 4 Tops’ singles stay a few of Motown’s most beloved and iconic tracks.
After Motown left for Los Angeles within the ‘70s, the group stayed in Detroit and switched labels a number of occasions, yielding hit singles “Ain’t No Girl (Just like the One I’ve Acquired)” and 1980’s “When She Was My Woman.” Their final Prime 40 hit as a bunch, “Indestructible,” turned the theme of the 1988 Summer season Olympics. In 1990, after 24 Prime 40 pop singles, the group was inducted into the Rock & Roll Corridor of Fame.
The 4 Tops remained a hit on tour, even with Fakir as the only real unique member alongside Lawrence Payton Jr. (son of unique member Lawrence Payton), Ronnie McNeir and Alex Morris. In 2022, Fakir launched his memoir “I’ll Be There,” about his colourful life at Motown’s peak, and solely retired from the group in 2024.
Fellow Motown icon Smokey Robinson stated, in his personal assertion about Fakir, that: “My brother I actually hate to should say goodbye, however you’ve been known as dwelling by The Father to as soon as once more be part of Lawrence, Obey, and Levi and make extra of the heavenly music you guys made whereas right here. I’m gonna miss you my brother. Have probably the most fantastic eternity.”
Fakir is survived by his spouse, Piper Fakir; daughter Farah Fakir Cook dinner; son Nazim Bashir Fakir; son Anthony Fakir; son Abdul Kareem Fakir Jr.; son Myke Fakir; son Malik Robinson, 13 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren (daughter Kai Ayne is deceased).
