Music

Abdul ‘Duke’ Fakir, last of the original Four Tops, dies at age 88

Published

9 months ago

July 29, 2024

IAM

NEW YORK (AP) — Abdul “Duke” Fakir, the last surviving original member of the beloved Motown Four Tops known for hits reminiscent of “Reach Out, I’ll Be There” and “Standing in the Shadows of Love,” has died at age 88.

Fakir died Monday of heart failure at his Detroit home, in line with a family spokesman, surrounded by his wife and other family members. Motown founder Berry Gordy said in a press release that Fakir helped embody the Tops’ “glamour, class and artistry.”

“Duke was the premier tenor — smooth, polished and always sharp,” Gordy said. “He kept the extraordinary legacy of the Four Tops intact for 70 years.”

The Four Tops were one of Motown’s hottest and enduring bands, reaching their peak in the Nineteen Sixties. Between 1964 and 1967, they’d 11 Top 20 hits and two No. 1s: “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)” and the operatic classic “Reach Out I’ll Be There”. Other songs, often sagas of romantic pain and mourning, include “Baby I Need Your Loving”, “Standing in the Shadows of Love”, “Bernadette”, and “Just Ask the Lonely”.

Many of Motown’s biggest stars, from the Supremes to Stevie Wonder, had grown up in the Detroit-based company Gordy founded in the late Nineteen Fifties. But Fakir, singer Levi Stubbs, Renaldo “Obie” Benson and Lawrence Payton had been together for a decade when Gordy signed them in 1963 (after the group had rejected him several years earlier) and already had a honed stage presence and a flexible vocal style that allowed them to perform every part from country songs to pop standards like “Paper Doll.”

They were originally called the Four Aims, but soon modified their name to the Four Tops to avoid confusion with the white harmony quartet the Ames Brothers.

The Tops recorded for several labels, including Chicago’s famed Chess Records, with little business success. But Gordy and A&R man Mickey Stevenson paired them with the songwriter-production team of Eddie Holland, Lamont Dozier, and Brian Holland, and so they quickly caught on, combining tight, haunting harmonies with Stubbs’ urgent, sometimes desperate baritone.

After Holland-Dozier-Holland left Motown in 1967, the Tops enjoyed more sporadic success, with hits over the next few years including “Still Water (Love)” and two Top 10 songs in the early Seventies for ABC/Dunhill Records, “Keeper of the Castle” and “Ain’t No Woman (Like the One I’ve Got).” They last reached the Top 20 in the early Eighties with the sentimental ballad “When She Was My Girl”.

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They remained lively throughout and infrequently toured with later members of the Temptations, a friendly rivalry that began when the groups performed together on a 1983 televised all-star concert celebrating Motown’s twenty fifth anniversary. (*88*) the Temptations and other contemporaries suffered through drug problems, discord, and personnel changes, the Four Tops remained united and intact until Payton’s death in 1997. (Benson died in 2005, and Stubbs in 2008.)

“What I love most about them is that they’re very professional, they have fun, they do what they love, they’re very lovely and they’ve always been gentlemen,” Wonder said of them when he helped induct them into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990.

Fakir later toured under the name Four Tops with vocalist Alexander Morris, Ronnie McNeir, and Lawrence “Roquel” Payton Jr., Lawrence Payton’s son.

“When each of them (the original members) left, a part of me left with me,” Fakir told UK Music Reviews in 2021. “When Levi left, I was in a quandary about what to do from there, but after a while I realised that the name and the legacy they left us simply had to live on, and judging by the audience’s reaction, it quickly became clear that I had done the right thing and I feel really good about it.”

In addition to the Rock Hall of Fame, their accolades include being voted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998 and receiving a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009. Fakir recently worked on a planned Broadway musical based on their lives and accomplished a memoir, “I’ll Be There,” published in 2022.

Fakir was married twice, the last 50 years to Piper Gibson, and had seven children. (Six survived him.) In the mid-Nineteen Sixties, he was briefly engaged to Mary Wilson of the Supremes.

Fakir, a Detroit native who stayed home even after Gordy moved the label to Los Angeles in the early Seventies, was of Ethiopian and Bangladeshi descent and grew up in a rough neighborhood where rival black and white gangs often fought. He dreamed of becoming knowledgeable athlete early on, but he was also a talented singer whose tenor brought him attention as a performer in a church choir. He was a young person when he befriended Stubbs, and the two first sang with Benson and Payton at a celebration thrown by an area “girl” group, which Fakir remembers as “high-class, very pretty young ladies.”

“Singing was a side effect of going to parties looking for girls!” Fakir said in an interview with https://writewyattuk.com in 2016.

“We told Levi to only pick a song and sing the lead. We just backed him up. Well, when he began, all of us fell in like we would been practicing the song for months! Our connection was amazing. We just looked at one another while we sang, and right afterward we were like, ‘Man, it is a group! This is a bunch!’

This article was originally published on : thegrio.com

Related Topics:@AP Motown Obituary The Four Tops

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Music

Paul Wall joins forces with Gracie’s Corner to get a fresh remix “Wheels on the Bus” and this is BOP

Published

2 days ago

May 8, 2025

IAM

As a parent of 4 children and three who’ve 10-i-fund, my favorite music genre at this moment of my life are jams suitable for the age, which I can listen to without the desire to stab my eyeballs. So when “Gracie’s Corner” struck my awareness a few years ago to fill this void (and appreciating parents around the world) I knew that we found gold.

For example, while “Happy Birthday” Stevie Wonder will all the time be a birthday song of the black community, at this point he is commonplace “Gracie’s Corner” version at birthday parties For those of us who went to see “sinners” at the opening weekend.

“Gracie’s Corner” for many who have no idea (or should not have children) is a YouTube channel for youngsters. According to their side, YouTube provides “a combination of educational, funny and encouraging songs for children from various environments. Come and dance with the game when he chooses a funny journey with family and friends!”

More precisely, they take some rhymed rhymes, which everyone knows and love and put a bit on it. Which leads us to the reason behind the season. If you have not heard the “Gracie’s Corner” version “Wheels on the bus” You cannot have black children. Until now, heavy bass, hi-hat jam trap has 111 million views. Yes, you read the right 111 million views. These wipers are Swisków. Let’s say, Issa Bop.

Well, because people from the headquarters of “Gracie’s Corner” don’t play truthfully, they got here out and got Paul Walla-Tak, he has Houston rap labels, Swithahouse Paul Wall, “Master of the People”-to drop a part of what is dirty south.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpdkdmr9Shy

Listen to me. I don’t understand how this cooperation was created by Paul Wall and “Gracie’s Corner”, but whoever played this thing must conduct seminars on synergy and creative cooperation for the whole family. I hope that this person is liable for planning a family reunion, because in that case, it is not only city trips and cooking in the city park for this family. The undeniable fact that the whole poem by Paul Walla feels like the one who was sitting, which could fit on the slow rhythm album of Mike Jones, or mainly every song during which Paul Wall has ever appeared – but still works for BOP of this children – is a nasty work of the most beautiful diversity.

Black unit of World War II Six triple eight will receive a gold medal

Listen, I do not know if you may have a reason to pull up “Gracie’s Corner”, but in case you do it, move quickly to listen to this “wheel on the H-Town bus-to-remiks” with Paul Wall. And in case you didn’t know that “Gracie’s Corner” exists earlier, consider your life, and now you see how the life of oldsters will look and the way it differs from a lonely life. Because now I hit this remix “wheels on the bus” in a automobile with my children. This, my friends, is for all wines.

Indeed, the wheels are rolling.

(Tagstranslata) parenting, and black

This article was originally published on : thegrio.com

Music

André 3000 wore a piano on his back to the MET gala – here’s why

Published

3 days ago

May 6, 2025

IAM

André 3000 is currently and has been for the most a part of the last 30 years of one in every of the leaflets dressed at the planet. Since placing the whole generation of young black men to turban in stores with cosmetics supplies to blond wigs and kilos, there may be nothing that Atlien cannot break away.

So when he hit a haunted blue rug during the MET gala in 2025 in the entire piano on the back, even the most lost that they had to cut the thorn on the side of Mrs. Jackson a little bit of slack. By turning a single-piece black outfit with a red hat, which definitely has a specific name, only carrying what I can put on is a designer trash bag-good room one in every of the lithium at a goat level at the level of hip-hop also wore a piano … on the back. Yes. Piano. The entire 88-lake piano. I hope it was hollowed out for ease of movement; André 3000 is just not exactly a spring chicken at the moment. He doesn’t even rap by trading his notators on his famous flute collection.

Now it is extremely likely that me and your, your mother and your cousin, are wondering what can force anyone, and much more so André 3000, to cultivate the piano. Well, the answer to this query lies on Walking Promothal Exparit that André 3000 was at the MET gala. Just before he appeared in the Vogue channel for Met Gala Dwet Photo OP, group chats were in the news that André 3000 dropped the EP entitled “7 piano sketches”, while the biggest fashion night was half of the spring.

And don’t think that 3000 has returned to the bars, “7 piano sketches” is the most literal title of the album I’ve ever heard in my life; This is literally an album stuffed with piano sketches.

As you may see, the art of the album is comparable to the meta gala of the André 3000 outfit. This boy is coooooooold. This latest EP appears almost a 12 months and a half after André 3000 dropped, “New Blue Sun”, through which he began playing the flute, and never tell us more about Susa Screw and the Sasha Thumper crew. Despite the mixed reviews of “New Blue Sun”, this album was nominated for a lot of Grammy Awards during the 2025 ceremony, including the nomination for “Album of the Year”.

When everyone finally ends up talking about Met Gala costumes and a great discovery of Rihanna, prepare for the attack of dialogue about the André 3000 piano album.

Rihanna stands out in New York, falling with her child No. 3!

(Tagstotransate) Andre 3000

This article was originally published on : thegrio.com

Music

Seven questions we have before Sean “Diddy” Combs “begins the federal process

Published

4 days ago

May 5, 2025

IAM

After the official stage of selecting the jury, Sean “Diddy” Combs’ Day in court is just around the corner.

On Monday, April 28, a whole lot of New Yorkers began the questionnaire process to find out their impartiality in the federal process “United States against Combs ” NBC News Reported.

The 55-year-old disgraced musical tycoon is in the face of many federal allegations, including racketeers, sexual trade and transport as a way to become involved in prostitution, resulting from many lawsuits that were filed against him. The amazing variety of complaints started to appear in months since he decided against him civil lawsuit by his ex -girlfriend and singer Cassandra “Cassie” Ventura in November 2023.

The next phase of the selection process of the jury, which might be carried out in person, will start on Monday, May 5, in court Daniel Patrick Moynihan in Manhattan. Opening declarations are to begin on May 12. The federal process is to last from eight to 10 weeks.

Since the initial notification of Cassie, which was settled only a day after its assembly, there have been many alternative allegations from many alternative parts of the rapper’s past, not to say a whole lot of gossip and growing around. Numerous documentaries and real crimes They also added to the conversation.

At this point, a lot of us can wander away in the noise of understanding how we came above all and what exactly are the tests. Many questions surround the attempt, including the technique to watch it (if possible), which is to be there and more. Below we return to clarify exactly how we came and say what to anticipate from the trial.

What are Diddy’s fees?

After the federal raid of Combs’ Los Angeles, Miami and New York, Diddy real estate was arrested on September 16, 2024 and is in the face of 5 federal allegations: tribute conspiracy, based on the allegations of prosecutors that the tycoon was led by a criminal enterprise to consolidate the assault; Two allegations of sexual trade, because he’s accused of forcing women to take part in sexual files with sex employees and drug -powered sex events “; and two cases of transport as a way to become involved in prostitution, resulting from the claims that he transported two women on state lines for prostitution.

What about all other accusations?

In addition to the trial, Combs are in the face of countless other processes and allegations, accusing him of improper behavior, abuse, rape and assault. Tony Buzbee, a lawyer from Texas, known for coping with loud lawsuit about sexual assault against powerful men (including a recent lawsuit value $ 50 million submitted against Shannon Sharpe), is involved in several trials against Diddy. He said that over 100 men and women from throughout the United States filed lawsuits against the rap tycoon or intended.

What did Diddy say?

Combs contradicts all allegations in a civil lawsuit against him. Talking with BBC NewsHis lawyers said: “Mr. Combs and his legal team have full confidence in the facts and integrity of the trial.”

The statement added: “In court the truth will win: that Mr. Combs never sexually attacked or trade anyone – a man or a woman, an adult or minor.”

Cassie resigns from anonymous testimony in the Sean trial

Is Cassie expected at his process?

Filing a Cassie catchment in a civil court almost two years ago was settled outside the court the day the day after its assembly. Diddy issued an apology after a physically recording leaked, which physically attacks her in the hotel corridor. However, this led many other accusers to the allegations, including those with the participation of minors that led federal investigators to a proper investigation in the potential case. The singer, who can also be a victim 1 in court documents, will testify in court under her full name.

The judge of the American District Arun Subramanian will chair the case in the southern district of New York, People magazine Reported. The COME Defense Team, led by Marc Agnifilo, includes Teny Geragos, the daughter of the famous lawyer Marek Geragos, known for representing the Menendez brothers, amongst others.

Georgian prosecutor Brian Steel, who represented rapper Young Thuga in his loud tribute process, also recently joined the Combs defense team.

Several US lawyers assistants, including Maurene Ryan Comey, daughter of former FBI director James Comey, conducts the prosecutor’s office. Maureen Comey chased Ghislaine Maxwell in her sexual trade process.

It will end up whether the sons of Combs Justin, Christian (Combs) and Quincy (Brown), who participated in previous court hearingsmight be present.

Where is Diddy now?

From the time of arrest on September 16, 2024, Diddy was behind bars at the Metropolitan Airesent Center in Brooklyn in New York, waiting for the trial. Many attempts to his lawyers exempt from Bond and strict guidelines failed because prosecutors are anxious about his ability to influence the case.

How much is he struggling?

If he’s convicted of racketeers, Diddy is prison. Meanwhile, if he found him guilty of two allegations of sexual trade, he’s in the face of a further not less than 15 years. Transport for the purposes of prostitution fees features a maximum judgment of 10 years.

Will the process be broadcast on television?

Cameras and electronic devices are often not allowed during court proceedings, so it’s unlikely to be broadcast, Vulture Reported. Although the media is not going to be allowed in the courtroom, they will report outside.