The Four Tops

Four Tops
The Four Tops in 1968
Background information
Also known as	Four Tops, the Four Aims, the Tops
Origin	Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Genres	Soul, R&B, jazz, rock n roll, pop
Years active	1953–present
Labels	Chess Records Red Top Riverside Columbia Motown ABC-Dunhill Casablanca Arista
Members	Abdul "Duke" Fakir Ronnie McNeir Lawrence Payton, Jr. Harold Bonhart
Past members	Levi Stubbs Renaldo "Obie" Benson Lawrence Payton Theo Peoples

The Four Tops are an American vocal quartet from Detroit, Michigan who helped to define the city's Motown sound of the 1960s. The group's repertoire has included soul music, R&B, disco, adult contemporary, doo-wop, jazz, and show tunes.

Founded as the Four Aims, lead singer Levi Stubbs, Abdul "Duke" Fakir, Renaldo "Obie" Benson and Lawrence Payton remained together for over four decades, performing from 1953 until 1997 without a change in personnel.

The Four Tops were among a number of groups, including the Miracles, the Marvelettes, Martha and the Vandellas, the Temptations, and the Supremes, who established the Motown Sound heard around the world during the 1960s. They were notable for having Stubbs, a baritone, as their lead singer, whereas most male and mixed vocal groups of the time were fronted by a tenor.

The group was the main male vocal group for the highly successful songwriting and production team of Holland–Dozier–Holland, who crafted a stream of hit singles for Motown. These included two Billboard Hot 100 number-one hits for the Tops: "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)" in 1965 and "Reach Out I'll Be There" in 1966. After Holland-Dozier-Holland left Motown in 1967, the Four Tops were assigned to a number of producers, primarily Frank Wilson, but generally with less success.