This makes me sad

Four Tops Singer Stubbs Dies At 72

17 October 2008 11:07 AM, PDT

Legendary Four Tops singer Levi Stubbs has died after a long illness, aged 72.

Stubbs, a cousin of R+B legend Jackie Wilson, died on Friday at his home in Detroit, Michigan. The exact cause of death had not been released as WENN went to press.

The star sang lead on some of the vocal group's most memorable hits, including Reach Out I'll Be There, I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch), Baby I Need Your Loving, and Standing in the Shadows of Love.

Born Levi Stubbles in Detroit in 1936, the singer formed a doo-wop quartet with his friends Abdul 'Duke' Fakir, Renaldo 'Obie' Benson and Lawrence Payton in 1954.

Initially going under the moniker Four Aims, the band changed its name to Four Tops in 1956 and gained a following as a club act. After signing to Motown Records in 1963, the group notched up a string of hits which have endured as classics for more than 40 years.

The group continued to tour, but Stubbs stepped down from his role in 2000 after he was diagnosed with cancer. He later suffered a stroke, and had been in poor health ever since.

He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Clineice, and their five children.

Here he is, as the voice of Audrey 2 from my fave movie Little Shop of Horrors.