Abdul “Duke” Fakir, the last surviving member of the iconic Motown group The Four Tops, has passed away at the age of 88. The news of his death was confirmed by his family on Monday, stating that he died at his home in Detroit from heart failure.
The Four Tops, known for their classic hits such as Reach Out I’ll Be There and Baby I Need Your Loving, became one of the best-known bands of the Motown era after forming in the late 1950s. Fakir, along with Levi Stubbs, Renaldo “Obie” Benson, and Lawrence Payton, continued to play together as a group until Payton’s death in 1997. Benson and Stubbs passed away in 2005 and 2008, respectively.
Fakir, who was the child of Ethiopian and Bangladeshi immigrants, grew up in a dangerous neighborhood in Detroit. However, music changed his perspective on life, as he once said in an interview, “We just started looking at the beauty of life and traveling and being able to sing to the world and making people happy.”
In 2022, Fakir released a memoir titled I’ll Be There: My Life With the Four Tops, reflecting on his 70-year music career. He is survived by his wife, six children, 13 grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren.
The music world mourns the loss of a trailblazer and legend, with fellow artist Stevie Wonder praising The Four Tops for their professionalism and love for what they do. Singer Smokey Robinson also expressed his sadness over the passing of his longtime friend, saying, “My brother, I really hate to have to say goodbye, but you’ve been called home by the Father to once again join Lawrence, Obie, and Levi and make more of the heavenly music you guys made while here.”
As Fakir’s family and fans grieve his loss, his legacy will continue to live on through his timeless music for generations to come.
