The Four TopsThe Four Tops are an American musical group, who helped define the Motown sound of the 1960's. Their sound was unique for having a deep-voiced lead singer, Levi Stubbs -- most groups of the time were fronted by a tenor. Stubbs and Abdul "Duke" Fakir met Renaldo "Obie" Benson and Lawrence Payton in 1953 and began calling themselves The Four Aims. Payton had a cousin named Roquel Davis, a songwriter and occasional singer, who helped the group sign to Chess Records in 1956. They changed their names to The Four Tops to avoid confusion with The Ames Brothers. After brief, unsuccessful periods with Chess, Red Top, Riverside Records and Columbia Records, the Four Tops signed with Motown. In 1964, The Four Tops released their first hit, "Baby I Need Your Loving," a top ten record. Later that year their follow-up record, "Without The One You Love," barely made the charts. This was followed by a series of massively successful songs, including the number 1 hit "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honeybunch)", "Something About You", "Standing In The Shadows of Love", "Bernadette", and "Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever". Perhaps their most well-remembered song is 1966's "Reach Out, I'll Be There". The hits continued througout the 1960s and early 1970s, including 1973's "Ain't No Woman Like The One I've Got", but had essentially ended with "Catfish" (1976). Unusually, the Four Tops enjoyed a renaissance in 1981, with "When She Was My Girl". In 1988, "Indestructible" became their last charting single. The group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990, and into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 1999. This page about The Four Tops includes information from a Wikipedia article. Additional articles about The Four Tops News stories about The Four Tops External links for The Four Tops Videos for The Four Tops Wikis about The Four Tops Discussion Groups about The Four Tops Blogs about The Four Tops Images of The Four Tops |
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The group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990, and into the Vocal Group Hall of
Fame in 1999. Perhaps their most well-remembered song
is 1966's "Reach Out, I'll Be There". After brief, unsuccessful periods with Chess, Red Top, Riverside Records and Columbia Records, the Four Tops signed with Motown. 1999 Paradise in Distress. They changed their names to The Four Tops to avoid confusion with The Ames Brothers. 1997 Naked II (unplugged). Payton had a cousin named Roquel Davis, a songwriter and occasional singer, who helped the group sign to Chess Records in 1956. 1995 Love Sweat (covers). Stubbs and Abdul "Duke" Fakir met Renaldo "Obie" Benson and Lawrence Payton in 1953 and began calling themselves The Four Aims. 1994 Face It (partially unplugged). Their sound was unique for having a deep-voiced lead singer, Levi Stubbs -- most groups of the time were fronted by a tenor. 1992 The Naked Truth (unplugged). The Four Tops are an American musical group, who helped define the Motown sound of the 1960's. 1991 Bloody Buccaneers. 1989 Keeper of the Flame. 1986 The Hole. 1984 Something Heavy Going Down (live). 1984 N.E.W.S.. 1982 Cut. 1981 2nd Live. 1980 Prisoner of the Night. 1979 No Promises...No Debts. 1978 Grab It for a Second. 1977 Live. 1976 Contraband. 1976 To the Hilt. 1975 Switch. 1973 Moontan. 1972 Together. 1971 Seven Tears. 1970 Golden Earring. 1969 Eight Miles High. 1969 On the Double. 1968 Miracle Mirror. 1967 Winter-Harvest. 1965 Just Earrings. |