Levi Stubbs, Renaldo "Obie" Benson, Lawrence Payton and Abdul "Duke" Fakir were the Four Tops for over 40 years from their beginnings in 1954. Signing to Motown in 1963, the quartet of singers soon became the labels most-successful male group and received the best compositions from famous song-writing team Holland, Dozier, Holland. They achieved No.1 pop hits with "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)" and "Reach Out (I'll Be There)", and achieved several other hit singles in the States and the UK, including "Baby I Need Your Loving", "Standing In The Shadows Of Love" and "If I Were A Carpenter". With these songs they helped to define what is commonly known now as 'the Motown sound'.
The Four Tops continued to tour and record through the 70s and 80s but couldn't live up to the height of their fame in the 60s. After 44 years with the band, Payton died in 1999. His replacement - Temptations singer Theo Peoples - was the first new member in the group's long history. Levi Stubbs left in 2000 due to failing health, and Obie Benson died in 2005. The Four Tops continue to tour today, though Duke Fakir is the only original member who remains.
