Abdul ‘Duke’ Fakir, Last Member of the Original Four Tops, Dies at 88

Abdul “Duke” Fakir, the last surviving original member of the iconic Motown group the Four Tops, has died at the age of 88.

Fakir passed away on Monday, July 22, 2024, from heart failure at his home in Detroit, surrounded by his family.

Motown founder Berry Gordy praised Fakir’s contributions, highlighting his role in maintaining the Four Tops’ “showmanship, class, and artistry.”

Fakir was celebrated for his smooth, suave tenor voice and played a key role in the group’s enduring legacy.

The Four Tops, known for hits like “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)” and “Reach Out I’ll Be There,” were among Motown’s most popular acts in the 1960s.

They achieved significant success with 11 top 20 hits between 1964 and 1967. The group, originally named the Four Aims, became the Four Tops to avoid confusion with the Ames Brothers.

Fakir, along with lead singer Levi Stubbs, Renaldo “Obie” Benson, and Lawrence Payton, was part of the group when they signed with Motown in 1963.

They worked with the songwriting-production team Holland-Dozier-Holland, creating a series of memorable hits.

Even after Holland-Dozier-Holland left Motown, the Four Tops continued to enjoy success, including hits in the 1970s and early 1980s.

Fakir remained with the group through various changes and challenges, including the deaths of his original bandmates.

Despite these losses, he continued to perform with later members and worked on projects celebrating the group’s legacy, including a memoir and a planned Broadway musical.

In addition to his music career, Fakir was married twice, most recently to Piper Gibson for 50 years, and had seven children, six of whom survive him.

Fakir’s contributions to music were recognized with inductions into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Grammy Hall of Fame, along with a Grammy lifetime achievement award.