Props to Tops...the 4 Tops

2nd in line in the Motown Dynasty, IMHO the 4 Tops were the Kings of Soul,
only behind the Emperors...the Temptations

I really loved seeing them in person again, only Duke is there from the originals
but it is very touching to see that

The amazing thing about the 4 Tops is that they are the group that was active the longest time without ever ever changing members!

The group sang together for an astounding 44 years until then 59 year old Lawrence Benton died of lung cancer in 1997....the 3 then toured a short while as "The Tops" then added Theo Peoples (who sang with the Tempts for awhile)...he took over as lead
when Levi Stubbs was forced to stop touring as he was suffering from cancer.
The added Ronnie McNair to the group

Founding member Obie Benson died of lung cancer in 2005. His son, Roquel Benson
now is a 4 Top..so the legacy lives on!

Levi Stubbs was a fantastic singer who could have sung Opera...unlike most of the
lead singers who were tenors (Ruffin, Kendricks) or Falsettos (Kendricks) Levi was a Baritone. The bulk of their hits were written by the powerhouse team of Holland-Dozier-Holland who also penned most of the Supremes hits

HDH pitched most of the songs at the higher end of Levi's comfortability which results in the urgent, almost strained, vibrant quality of his singing.

To his credit, Levi never once recorded any songs without his best buddies, the other 3 Tops. He did voice the roll of the Plant in "Little Shop of Horrors"

Sadly Levi died in 2008. The 4 Tops carry, with Benson's son and Duke Fakir.

"Till Death do Us Part"...a true vow for these wonderful guys.

Here is one of my favorite songs from the 4 Tops