Levi Stubbs

Levi Stubbs
Stubbs performing in 1967
Background information
Birth name	Levi Stubbles
Born	(1936-06-06)June 6, 1936 Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Died	October 17, 2008(2008-10-17) (aged 72) Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Genres	R&B, soul
Occupation(s)	Singer, actor
Years active	1954–2008
Labels	Motown
Associated acts	The Four Tops

Levi Stubbs (born Levi Stubbles, June 6, 1936 – October 17, 2008) was an American baritone singer, best known as the lead vocalist of the R&B group the Four Tops, a group known for a variety of Motown hit records and other songs created in the 1960s and 1970s. The power of Stubbs' emotional, often dramatic, vocals has received praise from many critics over the years; for example, Allmusic's Ed Hogan has remarked that Stubbs had a "pleading urgency in his voice that perfectly captured the longing anxiousness of the songs written by the producing trio of Holland-Dozier-Holland".War band member Lonnie Jordan told Billboard.com he felt "blessed" to meet Stubbs, and thought that the Four Tops singer's "voice was so good he was just, like, from another planet."

He was also a voice artist in film and animated television series, most famously having provided the voice of the alien plant in the 1986 comedic horror film Little Shop of Horrors (an adaption of the stage musical of the same name), as well as Mother Brain in the 1989 TV series Captain N: The Game Master. Stubbs was admired by his peers for his impressive vocal range, and influenced many later pop and soul artists, such as Daryl Hall of Hall and Oates.

Stubbs had five children. Living in Detroit, Michigan, for much of his life, including his last days, he was married to Clineice Stubbs for over 40 years until his death. His last performance was at the Four Tops' "50th Anniversary Concert" on July 28, 2004, at the Detroit Opera House.