Get daily celeb exclusives and behind the scenes house tours direct to your inbox We have more newsletters Get daily celeb exclusives and behind the scenes house tours direct to your inbox We have more newsletters Abdul 'Duke' Fakir, the last surviving member of the Motown band Four Tops has passed away at the age of 88, just days after retiring. As reported by the Detroit Free Press , the music icon died at his home in Detroit, Michigan on Monday (22 July). His cause of death is sait to be heart failure.
In a statement to the Detroit paper, his family added: "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. "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." Two days before his death, Duke announced his retirement from the Four Tops.
The band was founded in 1953 with original members Duke, Renaldo Benson Levi Stubbs and Lawence Payton. However the band continued to perform with new members, Duke was replaced by Michael Brock. The Four Tops was known to be on of the most successful Motown bands of the 1960s.
They're best known for songs like "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)" and "Reach Out I'll Be There." In 2022 while promoting his memoir I’ll Be There: My Life With The Four Tops, Duke said : “I am probably as surprised as you are at the longevity. It’s unbelievable.
I never would’ve thought that while I was in my 80s I’d even be thinking about doing this, let alone still doing it. I feel nothing but blessed, man. Just blessed.
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