The Four Tops have been marveling audiences with their infectious blend of pure vocal power and sweet harmonies since 1954. High school friends from Detroit's North End, Levi Stubbs, Renaldo "Obie" Benson, Abdul "Duke" Fakir and Lawrence Payton started playing parties as the Four Aims, as they were aiming for the top. After catching the ear and eye of singer Billy Eckstine, they changed their name to The Four Tops, so as not to be confused with the Ames Brothers.
After a brief stint with Chess Records in the late 50's and Columbia Records in the early 60's the group was introduced to Berry Gordy, who signed them to his new label, Motown Records. At Motown the group was teamed with the songwriting powerhouse of Holland, Dozier and Holland. The rest is history. Hit after hit followed, starting in 1964 with "Baby I Need Your Loving", and continuing with songs like, "Reach Out, I'll Be There", "Standing In The Shadows of Love", "Bernadette", and " I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)". During the British invasion of the US, the Four Tops became a sensation in England.
In 1972, after Motown moved to Los Angeles, The Four Tops signed with ABC/Dunhill Records. The group hits kept on with "Ain't No Woman (Like The One I Got)" and "Keeper Of The Castle" and others. As records sales starting slowing, the group returned to their strength, live performances.
In the early 80's, The Four Tops signed with Neil Bogart and Casablanca Records. Two albums on the label produced the hits, "When She Was My Girl", "Tonight I'm Gonna Love You All Over", and "I Believe In You and Me'. In 1985 the group stopped the show at the heavily rock filled Live Aid. Critics around the world hailed their set as a highlight of the marathon benefit concert. But benefits were not foreign to The Four Tops. To this day, they have raised money all over the globe with their charity work, never forgetting where they came from. Playing almost 200 dates a year, and starting off the 90’s with an inductee to the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame.
Solo work has never been something that The Four Tops set their sights on, but on occasion they have lent their talents to others. Lawrence and Duke served as producers on other music projects; Obie co-wrote "What's Going On?" with Marvin Gaye and Levi was the voice of the man-eating plant, Audrey II in the movie, "Little Shop of Horrors". But through it all, the group stayed together for 43 years, something that is unmatched by any other group ever. Nothing could stop them even the bad times and hardships of the entertainment world.
In June of 1997, Lawrence Payton died of liver cancer. The group decided to continue on and worked for almost 2 years with just the 3 remaining members, with no signs of slowing down, dedicating every show to the memory of Lawrence Payton.
1999 marked the group’s 45th anniversary, and also the first member change. In February, Theo Peoples, a golden voice, multitalented young man from St. Louis and Ronnie Mcneir joined Obie and Duke onstage for the first time. The results has been magical and shows that the group is ready to continue playing concerts, corporate events and even using 80 symphonies to spread their magic worldwide.
