Abdul “Duke” Fakir, the last surviving member of the beloved Motown group The Four Tops, has died at 88 at his home in Detroit due to heart failure, his family confirmed on Monday.
Formed in the late 1950s, The Four Tops became one of the most iconic bands of the Motown era, known for hits like “Reach Out I’ll Be There,” “Baby I Need Your Loving,” and “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch).”
“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,” his family said in a statement. “As the last living founding member of The Four Tops, we find solace in Duke’s legacy living on through his music for generations to come.”
Fakir, along with Levi Stubbs, Renaldo “Obie” Benson, and Lawrence Payton, formed the group, which achieved success in the early 1960s. They continued performing together until Payton’s death in 1997, with Benson and Stubbs passing away in 2005 and 2008, respectively.
Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990, The Four Tops were celebrated for their professionalism, camaraderie, and musical talent. Stevie Wonder praised their qualities, saying, “They are very professional, they have fun with what they do, they are very loving, they have always been gentlemen.”
Fakir, the son of Ethiopian and Bangladeshi immigrants, spent his entire life in Detroit, overcoming challenges in his neighborhood to find success with The Four Tops. Reflecting on his journey, he said, “[O]nce we started singing, our whole perspective of life changed. We just started looking at the beauty of life and traveling and being able to sing to the world and making people happy.”
Singer Smokey Robinson, mourning his friend, said, “My brother, I really hate to have to say goodbye, but you’ve been called home by the Father to once again join Lawrence, Obie, and Levi and make more of the heavenly music you guys made while here. I’m going to miss you, my brother.”
In 2022, Fakir released his memoir, “I’ll Be There: My Life With the Four Tops.” He is survived by his wife, six children, 13 grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren.
