The co-founder of Four Tops was 88

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Abdul Kareem “Duke” Fakir, the last of the original Four Tops and a mainstay of Motown’s golden age, has died at the age of 88.

Fakir’s family announced the singer’s death on Monday afternoon, noting: “Our hearts are heavy as we mourn the loss of a trailblazer, icon and music legend who touched the lives of so many during his 70-year music career.”

Fakir, who co-founded the Four Tops in 1953, died of heart failure, had been in poor health, including bladder cancer, and had retired from touring late last year. According to family, he was “surrounded by loved ones” at his Detroit-area home; an acquaintance told Billboard he was “happy (on Sunday), talking and interacting, and when they turned to do something and turned back, he had vanished.”

With his glasses and chiseled frame, Fakir was arguably the most recognizable of The Tops, maintaining his leadership position in the group after the deaths of Levi Stubbs in 2008, Renaldo “Obie” Benson in 2005, and Lawrence Payton in 1997 (his son Lawrence Payton Jr. is part of the current lineup).

“I’m probably as surprised as you are about the longevity,” Fakir said in 2022 while promoting his memoirs I’ll be there: My life with the Four Tops“It’s unbelievable. I never thought I’d even be thinking about doing this when I was over 80, let alone still doing it. I just feel blessed, man. Just blessed.”

Fakir was born in Detroit on December 26, 1935. His father was a factory worker from what is now Bangladesh. In high school, he played football, basketball, and was a track athlete. He met Stubbs at neighborhood football games. The two began singing after independently attending a variety show. They eventually recruited Payton and Benson to form the group, which was initially called The Aims but later renamed to avoid confusion with the Ames Brothers.

The Four Tops made unsuccessful recordings for several labels—including Chess, Red Top, Riverside and Columbia—and backed Billy Eckstine before signing with Motown in 1963. The group began by recording standards for the label imprint Workshop Jazz Records, but when songwriter/producer team Holland-Dozier gave the Tops “Baby I Need Your Loving” in mid-1964, it reached No. 11 on the Billboard Hot 100, opening the floodgates for a string of hits, including “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch),” “Reach Out I’ll Be There,” “Standing in the Shadows of Love” and “It’s the Same Old Song.”

“We were so lucky in a lot of the things we did,” explained Fakir, who was engaged to Mary Wilson of The Supremes in the mid-’60s but called off the engagement due to the career demands of their partners. “The love that the four of us shared was rather unusual for four really nice street guys from north Detroit to come together with such love. But music does a lot to you. It brought out a lot of love in us, especially between us.”

“I didn’t know how much I would love the audience and the people. Just being on stage changed my whole life and my perspective. I see the world very differently than I did when I was a young guy. It’s a beautiful world and it just needs a little push towards love and togetherness.”

The Tops were with Motown several times and had hits outside of that company such as “Ain’t No Woman (Like the One I’ve Got)”, “Are You Man Enough” and “When She Was My Girl”. The Tops were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1990, the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998 and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 1999. Fakir accepted a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award on behalf of the band in 2009. “Reach Out I’ll Be There” was inducted into the Library of Congress’s National Recording Registry in 2022.

“They’re just a great group, one of the best,” said Otis Williams of friendly “rivals” The Temptations when the groups performed together a few years ago. “You just have to look at how long the original four stayed together, it’s so rare and special. I’ve always admired that.” Like Fakir, Williams is the only remaining founding member of The Temptations, a role he said the two would discuss.

“These groups are our lives, you know?” Williams said. “I know Duke will be a Four Top until he can’t anymore. We both feel a responsibility to keep our (groups) alive and to keep the music out there for people to hear.”

In addition to the memoir, Fakir also worked on a stage musical based on the story of The Four Tops.

Fakir is survived by his wife Piper, his daughter Farrah Fakir Cook, his sons Nazim Bashir Fakir, Abdul Kareem Fakir Jr., Myke Fakir, Anthony Fakir and Malik Robinson, 13 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Funeral arrangements for Fakir are pending.

Kenny Robinson, the long-time assistant music director of The Four Tops, said Billboard that Fakir “was one of my favorite people in the world. He was just so personable. He was so soft-spoken and we would often sit together and talk about life and about Motown and so many conversations.” Robinson said there were even hopes that Fakir would tour with the group this fall. “If he couldn’t sing, he could sit with us in a wheelchair,” he said. “He just wanted to be with us.”

Robin Terry, chairman and CEO of the Motown Museum in Detroit, said of Fakir’s death: “Like so many of you, I am heartbroken by the loss of Duke Fakir. To me, Duke was not only the longest surviving original member of the legendary group The Four Tops, he was like family. I called him ‘The Duke’ and he called me ‘Hollywood.’ Those were nicknames I will always cherish. When I think of Duke, I immediately think of his kindness, impeccable style, cheerful voice and willingness to do whatever was asked of him for Motown. Duke never said no. He celebrated every Motown milestone with the Museum; showed up for every interview request; mentored our campers and was even the voice of the Motown Museum for years. Duke loved the Museum and my staff and I loved him. Duke was one of a kind and I will miss him very much. My deepest condolences go out to his family, The Four Tops, and his millions of fans around the world who were touched by his character, his music, his friendship and his love.”

Motown founder Berry Gordy Jr. said in a statement that he was “deeply saddened” to hear of Fakir’s death. He called him “a special member of our Motown family” and that the Tops “always amazed me with their showmanship, class and artistry. Duke was the first tenor – smooth, articulate and always sharp. For 70 years he upheld the Four Tops’ remarkable legacy and in all those years, until recently, he never missed a performance. I am so grateful for all he did for the Four Tops, for Motown and for me…Duke will be greatly missed and will always be a significant part of the Motown legacy.”

Otis Williams of the Temptations, the Four Tops’ friendly “rival” at Motown and a close friend – who, like Fakir, is the last surviving original member of his group – said: “I talked to Duke a few weeks ago to see how he was doing. I saw him earlier this year and spent time with him at his house. We sat in his living room and talked and reminisced. He was so happy. We talked about Hutchins Junior High School, where we met. Duke was so smartly dressed. I’m so baffled. He’s with Levi, Lawrence and Peyton now, singing for God. I miss you and love you, brother.”