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Saturday, October 18, 2008

LEVI STUBBS DEAD AT 72

Levi Stubbs, legendary lead singer for the 4 Tops has passed away in Detroit after along bout with illness he was 72. His voice was unique as Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gay and Smokey Robinson.

The 4 Tops signed with Motown Records and produced 20 40 top ten hits over ten years.

Their biggest hits were recorded between 1964 and 1967 with the in-house songwriting and production team of Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier and Eddie Holland. Both 1965's "I Can't Help Myself" and 1966's "Reach Out" went to No. 1 on the Billboard pop chart.

Other hits included "Shake Me, Wake Me" (1966); "Bernadette" and "Standing in the Shadows of Love" (both 1967).

They toured for decades afterward and reached the charts as late as 1988 with "Indestructible" on Arista Records. In 1986, Stubbs provided the voice for Audrey II the man-eating plant in the film "Little Shop of Horrors."

The group was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1990.

(CORNER TALK REPORT)