Famous for such classic hits as ‘It’s the Same Old Song,’ ‘Reach Out, I’ll Be There,’ ‘I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch,) and ‘Ain’t No Woman,’ Abdul Fakir, the last surviving member of the original Four Tops has passed away at the age of 88.
Nick named “Duke”, the Motown Records group member died on Monday, July 22 of heart failure at his home in Detroit, Michigan with his wife and other loved ones by his side.
A statement issued by Fakir’s family described their sadness “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”.
In 2021 Abdul discussed his commitment to maintaining the legacy of the Four Tops by saying:
“As each one of them (the original members) passed a little bit of me left with them.” “I found myself in a quandary as to what I was going to do from that moment on, but after a while I realised that the name together with the legacy that they had left us simply had to carry on, and judging by the audience reaction it soon became pretty evident that I did the right thing and I really do feel good about that.”
Abdul Fakir was married twice, for the last 50 years to Piper Gibson, and had seven children of whom six survive him.
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Author: Saul Goode
Photo: Stefan Brending (2eight)