The Four Tops began their long career as The Four Aims, a cabaret act that played mostly jazz lounges. In 1963 Motown took a gamble in signing them, which paid off immensely for both the group and the record label. The quartet, composed of four best friends, Levi Stubbs, Duke Fakir, Obie Benson and Lawrence Payton, hit chart-topping pay dirt after they were put into the capable writing hands of Motown’s “holy trinity” of writers, Eddie Holland, Lamont Dozier, and Brian Holland.
With success and acclaim, Levi was never tempted to follow the vain actions of other lead singers of famous Motown groups like the Supremes or the Miracles, who insisted that their name be plastered in front of their companions, or to callously dump them altogether and go solo. He humbly maintained that whenever he heard their music, he could only imagine it with his three bandmates behind him, and that they were as important to his fame as he was.
Stubbs insisted on several occasions that his voice wasn’t very remarkable, nor all that good, being neither gospel nor pop. Other wiser men would go on to describe that instantly recognizable baritone with such words as passionate, classy, sophisticated, and raw.
The Four Tops were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990 in recognition for having racked up over 50 million in record sales, of which 45 were certifiable chart hits for Motown and its later incarnations.
A few years ago I was invited over to a friend’s who was showing the 1986 version of Little Shop of Horrors. I spent the rest of the night trying to figure out why the voice of Audrey II, the human eating plant, sounded so familiar — it was Levi!
We may have lost you Levi, but we’ll always have your outstanding music.
Brian Williams of NBC News put it perfectly, “You may not know his name right away, but if I said 'Sugar pie, honey bunch,' you’d know him…” To watch the 60-second tribute click here.
Article comments
1 - El Bicho
I hope it isn't sacrilegious, but I think Audrey II might be my favorite work by him
2 - Jet
I wrote this article and kept thinking something was missing...
I completely forgot to mention "Keeper of the Castle" which was their first hit single after leaving Motown...
I'm so ashamed
3 - cherry flavored
This is the best tribute to Levi I have read. You definitely heard the same songs I did, that "Ha" and "got" and the wail of Bernadette. No one had to tell me who Levi was as he was my favorite singer and everyone who knows me knows my favorite song is "Baby I need your lovin" from the first time I heard it. I saw the Tops many times whenever they hit L.A. in the Seventies and Eighties. Always a good show; a hard working man.
I'm so sad to hear of his passing, may he rest in peace. And thanks for lettin me know that others heard what I heard.
4 - Jet
You're very Welcome Cherry, I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Jet
5 - Jet
Thanks to all of the editor's e-mails. It turns out they tacked the preview sentence on to the first paragraph.
That still doesn't explain why the changed the title, but hey who am I to ask?
thanks again to Anna for clearing up the mystery.
Jet
6 - Jet
1964: "Baby I Need Your Loving"
1965: "Ask the Lonely"
1965: "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)
1965: "It's the Same Old Song"
1965: "Something About You"
1966: "Shake Me, Wake Me (When It's Over)"
1966: "Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever"
1966: "Reach Out I'll Be There"
1966: "Standing in the Shadows of Love
1967: "Bernadette"
1967: "7-Rooms of Gloom"
1967: "You Keep Running Away"
1967: "If I Were a Carpenter"
1968: "Walk Away Renée"
1968: "Yesterday's Dreams"
1968: "I'm In a Different World"
1969: "What is a Man"
1969: "Do What You Gotta Do"
1969: "Don't Let Him Take Your Love From Me"
1970: "Still Water (Love)"
1970: "It's All In The Game"
1971: "River Deep - Mountain High"
(The Supremes & the Four Tops)
1971: "Just Seven Numbers
1971: "In These Changing Times"
1972: "A Simple Game
1972: "It's the Way Nature Planned It"
1972: "Keeper of the Castle
1973: "Ain't No Woman (Like the One I've Got)"
1973: "Are You Man Enough
1973: "Sweet Understanding Love"
1974: "I Just Can't Get You Out of My Mind"
1974: "One Chain Don't Make No Prison"
1974: "Midnight Flower"
1975: "Seven Lonely Nights"
1975: "We Gotta All Stick Together"
1976: "Catfish"
1977: "Feel Free"
1981: "When She Was My Girl"
1981: "Don't Walk Away"
1983: "I Just Can't Walk Away"
7 - Maurice Tyson
Wasn't "I Believe In You and Me" a hit? I mourn along with the rest of soul society that the greatest are called legends because they're hard to replace.Love you, Levi!
8 - Rev. Nazim Fakir
Hey Jet,
Thanks for the great article on Levi. He truly was one of, if not the, greatest voice(s) of all time. I am so glad that he and the Tops were able to touch so many people around the world. Continue to keep Levi's family, and all the Tops' families in your prayers.
Nazim Fakir
Duke's Son
9 - Jet
Thanks Nazim, I'm honored by your comment, I was not only a fan of his music, but a fan of his integrity as a man.
Be well my friend
Jet
10 - Lee Martin
Love comes and go. I'll miss him a while and I thank God he left me with good memmories. God bless the whole family. With love and honor always. Lee Martin Jr.
11 - Jet
Thanks Lee, any word on the funeral?
12 - Rev. Nazim Fakir
Hey Jet,
The funeral will be held on Monday October 27th @ Greater Grace Temple in Detroit. There will be public viewing of Levi @ Swanson Funeral Home on Friday and Saturday October 25th & 26th.
Blessings,
Nazim
13 - Jet
Nazim, God has blessed you and your family richly, and I'm sure he'll carry you through the next week or so of events.
You're in my prayers
Jet
14 - Rev. Nazim Fakir
Thanks Jet. One correction, the public viewing will be on Saturday & Sunday, October 25th & 26th.
15 - Jet
No problem Dr. Fakir, Glad I could help. My only regret is not being able to attend for health reasons (upcoming triple bypass surgery)
16 - Jet
Amen Brother, Amen
17 - Jet
At many live concerts, the band couldn't be heard over the screams of the audience. The Tops had a different problem, you couldn't hear them because the audience was singing louder than they were!
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