DETROIT – Levi Stubbs, the gravelly voiced, plaintive lead singer of the Motown group the Four Tops, the group’s front man in 1960s pop classics like “Reach Out (I’ll Be There),” and “Bernadette,” died Friday at his home here. He was 72.
The New York Times has an interesting article about Stubbs and the Tops.
“His voice was as unique as Marvin’s or as Smokey’s or as Stevie’s.”
They adopted the name in 1954 and were together until the first member died in 1997. One member, Abdul “Duke” Fakir, survives.