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Post by bumper on Jul 23, 2024 8:47:55 GMT -5
Duke Fakir, the stylish and genteel singer who nurtured the Four Tops’ legacy for seven decades, died at his home in Detroit Monday morning from heart failure. He was 88. Fakir, a lifelong Detroit resident, was the last surviving member of the beloved Motown act, preceded in death by his teen friends and groupmates Lawrence Payton, Obie Benson and Levi Stubbs. "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," the Fakir family said in a statement provided 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." With the Four Tops, Fakir was a voice on a vast litany of hits through the decades, including some of the defining songs of the 1960s, including the Top 10 successes “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch),” “It’s the Same Old Song,” “Bernadette,” “Standing in the Shadows of Love” and the group’s 1966 magnum opus “Reach Out I’ll Be There.” Fakir and the group continued to pump out hits into the ’80s, including the chart-topping R&B song “When She Was My Girl.”… four tops had it all - great vocal harmonies, choreography, style, but along w the supremes, one of the showcase groups for the amazing song writing and production tandem of holland/dozier/holland. at one point, next to the beatles, those guys pretty much owned AM radio. |
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Post by pippsheadache on Jul 23, 2024 8:59:04 GMT -5
I was a big motown fan growing up and appreciated the Four Tops. Speaking of Motown Revue, did anyone see the made for tv movie about the Temptations? Really fine movie and a sad story in many ways. "The Sound Of Young America," right? I never saw the movie on the Temps, 55, although I've heard people talking about it quite a bit. The Tops were almost the opposite of the Temps in the sense of great stability within the group, no real drama that I ever heard of, while the Temps had lots of internal fights, issues especially with David Ruffin and his drug use. Otis Williams is the last surviving original member, and also the least utilized member. He never sang leads on any of their hits and not many of their album cuts either, while Eddie Kendricks and David Ruffin (followed by Dennis Edwards) handled most of the lead vocals during their prime years. Paul Williams had a few leads, especially on one of my favorites "Don't Look Back." Melvin Franklin generated a lot of screams with his basso profundo! |
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Post by pippsheadache on Jul 23, 2024 9:04:27 GMT -5
four tops had it all - great vocal harmonies, choreography, style, but along w the supremes, one of the showcase groups for the amazing song writing and production tandem of holland/dozier/holland. at one point, next to the beatles, those guys pretty much owned AM radio. Absolutely. An amazing assembly line production with an endless stream of talent. The heart went out of the operation when it moved to Los Angeles. I've been to the Motown Studio Museum in Detroit several times. It's just outstanding to see, especially if you grew up with that music. Very unassuming row of houses. Lots of original equipment and really good tours. Anyone I've gone there with has always loved it. |
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Post by azbob643 on Jul 23, 2024 9:07:26 GMT -5
I was a big motown fan growing up and appreciated the Four Tops. Speaking of Motown Revue, did anyone see the made for tv movie about the Temptations? Really fine movie and a sad story in many ways. "The Sound Of Young America," right? I never saw the movie on the Temps, 55, although I've heard people talking about it quite a bit. The Tops were almost the opposite of the Temps in the sense of great stability within the group, no real drama that I ever heard of, while the Temps had lots of internal fights, issues especially with David Ruffin and his drug use. Otis Williams is the last surviving original member, and also the least utilized member. He never sang leads on any of their hits and not many of their album cuts either, while Eddie Kendricks and David Ruffin (followed by Dennis Edwards) handled most of the lead vocals during their prime years. Paul Williams had a few leads, especially on one of my favorites "Don't Look Back." Melvin Franklin generated a lot of screams with his basso profundo! Saw The Temps, with Otis Williams, several years ago in Laughlin, NV. |
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Post by pippsheadache on Jul 23, 2024 9:45:34 GMT -5
"The Sound Of Young America," right? I never saw the movie on the Temps, 55, although I've heard people talking about it quite a bit. The Tops were almost the opposite of the Temps in the sense of great stability within the group, no real drama that I ever heard of, while the Temps had lots of internal fights, issues especially with David Ruffin and his drug use. Otis Williams is the last surviving original member, and also the least utilized member. He never sang leads on any of their hits and not many of their album cuts either, while Eddie Kendricks and David Ruffin (followed by Dennis Edwards) handled most of the lead vocals during their prime years. Paul Williams had a few leads, especially on one of my favorites "Don't Look Back." Melvin Franklin generated a lot of screams with his basso profundo! Saw The Temps, with Otis Williams, several years ago in Laughlin, NV. I'm guessing that now that he controls the Temps brand he gives himself more stage time than he had back in the 60s and 70s. |
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Post by 1955nyyfan on Jul 23, 2024 10:51:57 GMT -5
In the den today doing some work and listening to Fogelberg's first album "Homefree". Brings back a memory I will share. I was right out of HS working an entry level job in a Perth Amboy Oil Refinery. Was coming off a seven day graveyard stretch and was in a shack getting ready to punch out. The radio was on, we were listening to a good Rock station, can't recall what the call letters were but you New Yorkers would. Their DJs were proud of their setlists and seemed to compete as to who could put together the best. They frequently would remind listeners that they "did not take requests".
I decided to give them a call. The phone must have rung 30 times before the onair DJ picked up. I said please hear me out before hanging up. I'm coming off a 7 day stretch in a dirty grimey refinery. The sun is just starting to come up. I'm starting 4 days off and it looks like it will be a beautiful day. I'd really appreciate it if you could play Dan Fogelberg's "To The Morning". There was a long pause and I knew he was considering my request, finally after about 10 seconds he said "we don't do requests".
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Post by kaybli on Jul 23, 2024 10:54:53 GMT -5
In the den today doing some work and listening to Fogelberg's first album "Homefree". Brings back a memory I will share. I was right out of HS working an entry level job in a Perth Amboy Oil Refinery. Was coming off a seven day graveyard stretch and was in a shack getting ready to punch out. The radio was on, we were listening to a good Rock station, can't recall what the call letters were but you New Yorkers would. Their DJs were proud of their setlists and seemed to compete as to who could put together the best. They frequently would remind listeners that they "did not take requests". I decided to give them a call. The phone must have rung 30 times before the onair DJ picked up. I said please hear me out before hanging up. I'm coming off a 7 day stretch in a dirty grimey refinery. The sun is just starting to come up. I'm starting 4 days off and it looks like it will be a beautiful day. I'd really appreciate it if you could play Dan Fogelberg's "To The Morning". There was a long pause and I knew he was considering my request, finally after about 10 seconds he said "we don't do requests". lol, he was considering breaking his policy for sure. Great story. |
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Post by desousa on Jul 23, 2024 20:25:49 GMT -5
Kaybli, I'm a big Eminem fan and I thought you'd like this.
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Post by kaybli on Jul 23, 2024 20:45:19 GMT -5
Kaybli, I'm a big Eminem fan and I thought you'd like this. Thanks desousa! That was great, I hadn't seen it before. I love Eminem, a true talent! I wouldn't say he's in my top 5 favorite MCs, but I play a ton of his songs. What other hip hop do you listen to? |
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Post by inger on Jul 24, 2024 7:44:40 GMT -5
Kaybli, I'm a big Eminem fan and I thought you'd like this. Thanks desousa! That was great, I hadn't seen it before. I love Eminem, a true talent! I wouldn't say he's in my top 5 favorite MCs, but I play a ton of his songs. What other hip hop do you listen to? Yikes you guys. I run the other way when I hear that stuff…🤓 |
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Post by desousa on Jul 24, 2024 8:40:49 GMT -5
Kaybli, I'm a big Eminem fan and I thought you'd like this. Thanks desousa! That was great, I hadn't seen it before. I love Eminem, a true talent! I wouldn't say he's in my top 5 favorite MCs, but I play a ton of his songs. What other hip hop do you listen to? I don't know much about hip hop, but I like to listen to Eminem and others because I like poetry. I love his movie "8 Mile". Smoking weed with Snoop is on my bucket list. I do listen to a local guy named Rivan. He's the son of a friend of mine and we use some of his songs during breaks of our podcast. Here's a sample. rivan.bandcamp.com/album/igotthejuice-ep |
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Post by 1955nyyfan on Jul 24, 2024 8:43:24 GMT -5
I just picked up the Mark Knopfler/Emmylou Harris collaboration - All The Roadrunning. Plan to give it a listen today and will let you know what I think. I think it's an interesting duo.
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Post by inger on Jul 24, 2024 8:43:57 GMT -5
Thanks desousa! That was great, I hadn't seen it before. I love Eminem, a true talent! I wouldn't say he's in my top 5 favorite MCs, but I play a ton of his songs. What other hip hop do you listen to? I don't know much about hip hop, but I like to listen to Eminem and others because I like poetry. I love his movie "Seven Mile". Smoking weed with Snoop is on my bucket list. I do listen to a local guy named Rivan. He's the son of a friend of mine and we use some of his songs during breaks of our podcast. Here's a sample. rivan.bandcamp.com/album/igotthejuice-epDouble yikes…I got old somewhere along the way… |
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Post by chiyankee on Jul 24, 2024 8:52:09 GMT -5
I just picked up the Mark Knopfler/Emmylou Harris collaboration - All The Roadrunning. Plan to give it a listen today and will let you know what I think. I think it's an interesting duo. I'm listening to Knopfler's new release "One Deep River" right now on Spotify. |
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Post by desousa on Jul 24, 2024 8:56:49 GMT -5
I don't know much about hip hop, but I like to listen to Eminem and others because I like poetry. I love his movie "Seven Mile". Smoking weed with Snoop is on my bucket list. I do listen to a local guy named Rivan. He's the son of a friend of mine and we use some of his songs during breaks of our podcast. Here's a sample. rivan.bandcamp.com/album/igotthejuice-epDouble yikes…I got old somewhere along the way… Here you go, inger. Eminem from his movie "8 mile". www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFYQQPAOz7Y |
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