Ellington

Stubbs was 72. From AP:

DETROIT – Four Tops frontman Levi Stubbs, whose dynamic and emotive voice drove such Motown classics as "Reach Out (I'll Be There)" and "Baby I Need Your Loving," died Friday at 72.

He had been ill recently and died in his sleep at the Detroit house he shared with his wife of 48 years, said Dana Meah, the wife of a grandson. The Wayne County medical examiner's office also confirmed the death.

With Stubbs in the lead, the Four Tops sold millions of records and performed for more than four decades without a change in personnel. [...]

Stubbs' death leaves one surviving member of the original group: Abdul "Duke" Fakir. Original Top Lawrence Payton died of liver cancer in 1997. Renaldo "Obie" Benson died of lung cancer in 2005.

Stubbs hadn't done much performing in recent years because of his declining health, but was known to step up on stage from time to time when a Motown touring production came through Detroit.

He was born in 1936 and grew up in Detroit, where he sang with Fakir. They met fellow Payton and Benson while singing at a mutual friend's birthday party, then decided to form a group.

Stubbs is survived by his wife Cliniece, five children and 11 grandchildren.

This is what I remember Stubbs the most for:

RIP

Previous Comments

ID

139417

Comment

Though Levi was good, even great, he wasn't one of my favorites like Marvin, Smokey, Stevie and some others who could simply overpower the women with their vocals. I preferred the vocalists who so overwhelmed the women that they had no say in the matter. Levi was able to be rejected. God rest his soul. He was quite unique.

Author

Walt

Date

2008-10-20T15:41:57-06:00

ID

139485

Comment

LW, Dolemite died too yesterday. I didn't care much for him. Too much cussing, signifying and casting asperions on black folks. The rappers loved him though.

Author

Walt

Date

2008-10-21T14:03:41-06:00