By T. Jayani, JadeTimes News
The Four Tops’ Abdul ‘Duke’ Fakir Passes Away at 88
Abdul “Duke” Fakir, the last surviving member of the iconic Motown group The Four Tops, has died at the age of 88. His family confirmed on Monday that Fakir passed away at his home in Detroit due to heart failure.
Formed in the late 1950s, The Four Tops became one of the most celebrated bands of the Motown era, with timeless hits such as "Reach Out I’ll Be There," "Baby I Need Your Loving," and "I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)." Fakir's family released a statement expressing their grief and honoring his legacy: “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. He continued to tour until the end of 2023 and officially retired this year. As the last living founding member of the iconic 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 Four Tops in the late 1950s. The group achieved significant success in the early 1960s and continued to perform together until Payton’s death in 1997. Benson and Stubbs passed away in 2005 and 2008, respectively.
Stevie Wonder lauded their professionalism and camaraderie when they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990, saying, “The things I love about them the most they are very professional, they have fun with what they do, they are very loving, they have always been gentlemen.”
Born to Ethiopian and Bangladeshi immigrants, Fakir spent his entire life in Detroit, growing up in a challenging neighborhood. In a 2022 interview with The Detroit News, Fakir reflected on the transformative power of music: “Once 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, a longtime friend, mourned Fakir’s death, saying, "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."
Fakir released a memoir in 2022 titled "I’ll Be There: My Life With the Four Tops." He is survived by his wife, six children, 13 grandchildren, and nine great grandchildren.
