- The vocal quartet’s hits include I Can’t Help Myself and Reach Out I’ll Be There
- Fakir sang tenor, backing up lead baritone Levi Stubbs
- He and the group were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990
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Duke Fakir, the final surviving original member of the Motown icons the Four Tops, has died at the age of 88.
Fakir died at his home in Detroit, Michigan, on Monday morning, according to the Detroit Free Press.
The singer reportedly died from heart failure.
Fakir was part of the group’s biggest hits, including the Billboard Hot 100 chart toppers I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch), which spent two nonconsecutive weeks in the top spot in 1965, and the 1966 hit Reach Out I’ll Be There, which also spent two weeks at the top.
His death follows the death of his three former bandmates: Lawrence Payton, Obie Benson and Levi Stubbs.
Duke Fakir, the final surviving original member of the Motown icons the Four Tops, has died at the age of 88; pictured in February 2023 in Los Angeles
The singer (pictured second to right circa 1965) reportedly died from heart failure, follows the death of his three former bandmates: Obie Benson (L), Levi Stubbs (second to left) and Lawrence Payton (R)
‘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 as he continued to tour until the end of 2023, and officially retired this year,’ his family said in a statement to the Detroit Free Press. ‘As the last living founding member of the iconic Four Tops music group, we find solace in Duke’s legacy living on through his music for generations to come.’
Fakir (born Abdul Kareem Fakir) sang the first tenor line in the Four Tops.
Although tenors are traditionally lead vocalists in similar groups, Fakir joined Payton and Benson in singing backup to baritone Levi Stubbs on lead vocals.
As the other members died or left the group, he continued performing as the Four Tops with new replacement singers over the years.
Other hits from the group included Bernadette, It’s The Same Old Song and Standing In The Shadows of Love.
The group had a comeback hit in 1981 with When She Was My Girl, which topped the R&B charts and peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.
Fakir (second to right) sang the first tenor line in the Four Tops. Tenors are traditionally lead vocalists, but Fakir joined Payton and Benson in singing backup to baritone Levi Stubbs (L) on lead; pictured in 1981 in Chicago
As the other members died or left the group, he continued performing as the Four Tops with new replacement singers over the years; original members Payton (L) and Fakir (R) joined by Alex Morris (2nd to left) and Ronnie McNeir (2nd to right) in 2023 in LA