01/12/2009. I know I will miss it tremendously because the British people have treated us so royally, so lovingly, over the years. The group enjoyed singing together so much that they formed the group, originally called Four Aims. 1964 His education: John J. Pershing High School His spouse is Piper, Reference: Wikipedia, FaceBook, Youtube, Twitter, Spotify, Instagram, Tiktok, IMDb. "Duke Fakir, the remaining member of the Four Tops", "Abdul 'Duke' Fakir: 'I lost $30k gambling but then I won it back', Levi Stubbs, 72, Powerful Voice for Four Tops, Dies, "Duke Fakir details The Four Tops musical bond in new book", "Four Tops musical 'I'll Be There' will premiere in Detroit ahead of Broadway run", "Motown: The Musical, UK. Find out more, Compare the latest deals on Telegraph Media Group Mobile and Broadband. She didnt even let me go inside the house, Fakir says, laughing. Music has taken me all over the world, the Tamla Motown star adds. He admits: I was no angel. Ive never seen anything like it. They just did casting calls in LA and are now doing rehearsals, said an insider. It wasnt like she was trying to get away from that. Im really surprised, he muses. Get yours now, The 46 best Mother's Day gift ideas for all moms in 2023, Shop these 7 amazing Amazon deals ahead of this weekend. Like so many, the Four Tops Abdul Duke Fakir is truly heartbroken about the unexpected death of the Supremes Mary Wilson at age 76 on Monday, Feb. 8. In January 2023 it was reported the U.S. Department of Treasury is seeking $500,000 in unpaid taxes from Fakir. He is a founding member of the Motown quartet the Four Tops, from 1953 to the present day. Shes the best doctor Ive ever encountered and just happens to be the woman I love.. Now and then because we work a lot at casinos, I play the slots. This wouldnt be a true story of sixties pop success, however, if it didnt also include its share of turmoil and despair. I still have to make myself do it. His father was a factory worker who came from what is now Bangladesh. He does so with the immense good grace and style that always characterised his work with his departed colleagues. Browse 694 abdul duke fakir photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more photos and images. The anxiety, the desire to affect an audience and feel their applause.. Abdul "Duke" Fakir Net Worth: Abdul "Duke" Fakir is an American singer who has a net worth of $3 million. Yes, I had to file for bankruptcy once. A native of Detroit, Obie along with founding members Levi Stubbs, Abdul "Duke" Fakir and Lawrence Payton (d. 1997), the group was originally named 'The Four Aimes' when they started out in 1954 singing at a Detroit party. We were like brothers, we loved each other, respected each other, depended on each other. We made some wonderful music and the Lord has just blessed us in every way possible. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Broadway producer Paul Lambert and original Four Tops member Abdul Duke Fakir are working on a musical about the legendary Motown group, Page Six is told. Hes been on the road all his life. This layoff has been harder for him than for us, trust me., And Fakir, one-fourth of the group that produced million-selling hits like Reach Out Ill Be There, Aint No Woman, and I Cant Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch), sees no reason to stop. She was working on some kind of new project, which was normal for her. She loved her audience. All Rights Reserved. He told a reporter for the Daily Express in London this past fall that his current tour would be his last. He and Levi Stubbs are two of the original members of The Four Tops. Wilson who documented her time with the Supremes, as well as her solo career, in three books also played on the same bills with the Four Tops, and Fakir was impressed with her growth as a performer. Want to know what everyone in the music business is talking about. By the time the Four Tops burst onto the world stage in 1965 with their first US Number One, I Cant Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch), they had already endured a decade of failed singles and false starts. He is known for being a Opera Singer. Interpreting the brilliant songwriting of Holland, Dozier & Holland and other Motown writers, the groups vocal interplay was peerless, their instinct for a winning song almost unfailing. We knew Obie Benson could sing, and we knew Lawrence Payton could sing, so we invited them to the party. Originally called the Four Aims, a musical director suggested they change their name to The Four Tops to avoid being confused with another group called the Ames Brothers. Fakir at the LBJ Presidential Library in 2019. Fakir turns 85 this December. My last overseas tour. A happy, loquacious man who surrounds himself with friends and familyeight children, two ex-wives (his first wife is deceased), 13 grandchildren, and two great-grandchildrenGordy remained mostly. I couldve retired 10 years ago but I dont want to. I had a bit of credit because I bought a car. 2023 Billboard Media, LLC. 21,486, This story has been shared 18,381 times. The one that meant the most, though, was the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009. A first tenor, Fakir is the group's lone surviving original member, performing today with Ronnie McNeir, Lawrence "Roquel" Payton Jr. (son of original member Lawrence Payton), and Alexander Morris. And hes going a little stir-crazy. People of this zodiac sign like family, tradition, and dislike almost everything at some point. The value rose slowly and I got out. A group of us renovated it in the late Nineties, but I got out of that too because it wasnt making money. Im going to be teary-eyed. If you see something that doesnt look right, contact us. The original Four Tops, from left, Levi Stubbs, Renaldo Benson, Lawrence Payton and Abdul Fakir, How long planning permission lasts and what to do when it runs out, We face overwhelming toxic hate but being a landlord is a privilege, How to get the best price when selling your home, despite falling house prices, I lost 8,500 because Santander misplaced a decimal point, I took a pay cut to get a public sector pension, Left in agony by the NHS, I had to drain cash from my house. Ill never forget him.. Brian set it up and made it possible for us to be accepted in the UK. I think thats where I got my commitment from. "[11], Both Benson and Fakir received scholarships to attend the same college and were preparing to enter. Terms of Use For the first time, nobody cared what colour we were. Besides, I told the group (Payton, Ronnie McNeir, and Alexander Morris) we had one more show to do. Abdul Karim was given use of Frogmore Cottage by Queen Victoria after he became very close her. I invested money in other things, a wine bar with a basketball player. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band album off the No1 spot in 1968. Segregation started just disappearing from peoples minds anyway.. She became quite a good singer, quite an entertainer, he said. Because we learned how to entertain before we learned how to record, our concerts are just joyful, says Duke. Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan by parents of Ethiopian and Bangladeshi heritage, Duke Fakir has lived his entire live in the Detroit area. Made a lot of money but I drank too much. But our house was so full of love; there was always enough food and a lot of fun and love in our family. It is a Platform where Influencers can meet up, Collaborate, Get Collaboration opportunities from Brands, and discuss common interests. Tenor singer for the Motown group The Four Tops, the singing ensemble that released hits like I Cant Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch).. Like many famous people and celebrities, Abdul Duke Fakir keeps his personal life private. Then my stepfather was making cinder blocks as building foundations and his back went out so three days a week after school I stacked them up. People who are born with Saturn as the ruling planet are disciplined and are hard workers. Yes, quite a bit. (He acquired his nickname from his mother, who used to call him Dukie.) He says he and his fellow Tops considered migrating to California as many Motown acts had, but decided against it. Abdul Duke Fakirs birth sign is Capricorn and he has a ruling planet of Saturn. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. I do not wonder. Fakir resides in the Palmer Park section of Detroit. It's hard to know Abdul Duke Fakir birth time, but we do know his mother gave birth to his on a Thursday. All things considered, Abdul Duke Fakir would rather be onstage. They invited Payton and Benson to join them at a party hosted by the Shahrazads, a local "it girl" club. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google, Visit Billboard Pro for music business news, Punk Icons The Damned Return With Darkadelic, Weigh in On Banning Artists With Sh-t Stuff in Their Lives, Staind Tease Many Surprises on New Album Confessions of the Fallen, Adam Clayton Breaks Down U2s Songs of Surrender, Teases Upcoming Documentary Projects. Interpreting the brilliant songwriting of Holland, Dozier & Holland and other Motown writers, the groups vocal interplay was peerless, their instinct for a winning song almost unfailing. [5], With their shared love of singing, they tried a few other singers then decided to ask Lawrence Payton and Renaldo "Obie" Benson. I can sing as long as Im alive, says Duke. Because ever since he and fellow Pershing High student Levi Stubbs met Northern High schoolmates Renaldo Obie Benson and Lawrence Payton at a birthday party in the early 1950s and realized they could harmonize, Fakir has been singing in front of audiences. For the latest music news and exclusive features, check out uDiscover Music. The 1930s were called the Great Depression (1929-1939). All Four One: Abdul 'Duke' Fakir, The Last Of The Four Tops The Detroit native teamed up with his original bandmates in 1953, and has been a Top ever since. Members included Levi Stubbs, Abdul "Duke" Fakir, Renaldo. Whos the richest Opera Singer in the world? We had a lot of fun for three years then got rid of it. He always has been my hero. Fakir of Duke Fakir, who regularly sings first tenor. She was a real trouper.. My father paid his dues for the family, and my mother worked very hard. They have two children. Whos the richest Opera Singer in the world. He also has been developing a Motown: The Musical-style stage production set to Four Tops hits. I give money to my nieces and nephews, my sister-in-law. This story has been shared 43,898 times. In the mid-1950s, Stubbs began his music career with his friends Abdul "Duke" Fakir, Renaldo "Obie" Benson, and Lawrence Payton. And hes going a little stir-crazy. Thats what we did for about 10 years. And busy is just how he likes it. She was always trying to do something different and new., Fakir said he and Wilson would counsel each other about deals and career moves including when Diana Ross left the Supremes during 1970. Its been 67 years so far. In 1967 the Beatles manager Brian Epstein organised their first British shows. It didnt affect my voice., Fakir, son of a Pakistani father who, according to family legend, swam the Detroit River from Canada to get into the U.S. to work in the factories, was born, raised, and still lives in Detroit. Look for the next installment in either next weeks print or online at www.spokesman-recorder.com. My partner said: What about your half? I said: You got it. But then my accountant said I had a tax bill with no money hanging around to pay for it. Discover what happened on this day. We stopped performing March 13, says Fakir, the only surviving original member of legendary Motown quartet The Four Tops, who continues to tour under that moniker with three talented younger vocalists. I took a nap, came back down and told them I want the whole table, and I put $1,000 on each hand. They remained together for over four decades without a single personnel change until Payton died in 1997, then Benson died in 2005 and Stubbs in 2008. I was in tears. This guy is a real road dog. I feel totally blessed.. From that day, their bond was absolutely unbreakable, forged in that rare all for one and one for all approach that decreed they were stronger as a mighty vocal quartet than any of them would be pursuing a solo career. Abdul "Duke" Fakir born December, 26, 1935, is the last remaining founding member of the world-renowned American quartet, The Four Tops, and at an incredible 86 years old, his passion and energy for music is still as strong as ever. His American mother was black and Christian. The blacks had to stand up in the balcony and everybody else would be on the floor dancing and having fun, Duke recalls. Im mostly cash. Right then I realised that with this business you had to take out tax money and put it aside. I can feel its about that time.. Shed do whatever she could to enhance that name. Your email address will not be published. I didnt like to sing solo but sang in various choirs either in church or in school. All of those classics will be heard on their current co-headline tour with fellow Motown stars The Temptations, which climaxes at Londons O2 Arena on October 11. Rev. They have two children. UPDATE 23/04/2023 : This story seems . My mother got on me for 10-12 years, responds Fakir, who adds that she later did accept his vocation. En espaol | Now 83, Abdul "Duke" Fakir still calls Detroit home when he's not on the road. Fox says Parkinson's battle getting 'harder': 'I'm not gonna be 80', Perez Hilton: 'Boring' Meghan and Harry need to 'give up and move' back to UK, Chanel-clad Penelope Disick, North West step out in NYC with Kim, Scott ahead of Met Gala, Fans question North West's lavish pre-Met Gala gift for Kim Kardashian: 'No way', Prince Harry snubbed from coronation as William's role is revealed, Woman has 'loud and full body orgasm' during LA Philharmonic concert. Whats more amazing to me is how they still love those songs from 50 years ago., He confesses, however, that, Ive had to cut my steps in half. Abdul 'Duke' Fakir was born on 26 December 1935 in Detroit, Michigan, USA. Bye.. We felt part of something. Abdul Duke Fakir Net Worth Stats Thankfully, Four Tops singer is alive and well. The last surviving member of the famous Motown harmony group, Abdul "Duke" Fakir, is releasing a new memoir called "I'll Be There" coming out in May. He does so with the immense good grace and style that always characterised his work with his departed colleagues. We couldnt get him to go to the hospital, Payton recalls. The current. A lot of people werent able to give it up.. We sung one of the songs that was popular at that time [and] right then and there, we knew we should form a group. The Tops now consist of founding member Abdul "Duke" Fakir, Roquel Payton (son of original member Lawrence Payton) and Ronnie McNeir. [1][2], Fakir was born on December 26, 1935, in Detroit, Michigan. Listen to the Best Motown Songs Ever playlist. He got to Windsor [Ontario] and swam across the Detroit River to Detroit, where he worked in a factory his entire career until he retired. Im almost crippled, but Im still there!. As he has continued to perform, around a pandemic-driven pause, with the latter-day version of the Four Tops, he is the last remaining founder member of this great vocal institution. But that music transformed us. Abdul Duke Fakir, 82, is a founder and the only remaining original member of singing group the Four Tops. She was probably one of the sweetest people I ever met so full of life, so joyful., Fakir, in fact, spoke on the phone with Wilson just a few days before her death. Abdul Duke Fakir, the sole surviving original member of the Four Tops, recently was honored as a Living Legend. St. Peters AME Church in South Minneapolis on February 23 honored Fakir during its first annual Living Legend Sunday morning service. [3], Fakir attended Detroit's Pershing High School,[4] where he played basketball, football, and ran track. . Abdul Duke Fakir was born in Detroit, Michigan, USA on Thursday, December 26, 1935 (Silent Generation). Spanning over decades, this is the remarkable, heartfelt memoir from Abdul 'Duke' Fakir, the last surviving member of The Four Tops. But it was a struggle. Please check back soon for updates. Tenor singer for the Motown group The Four Tops, the singing ensemble that released hits like "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)." Family: His family is of Bangladeshi and Ethiopian ancestry. She was in good spirits, said she was feeling great. Broken marriages, struggles with sobriety, their painful departure from Motown after the label relocated to Los Angeles in 1972, all feature in father-of-seven Dukes tell-all memoir, Ill Be There: My Life with The Four Tops, published earlier this year. Abdul "Duke" Fakir, the sole surviving original member of the Four Tops, recently was honored as a "Living Legend." St. Peter's AME Church in South Minneapolis on February 23 honored Fakir during its first annual Living Legend Sunday morning service. But the reality is that there was a brotherhood and a camaraderie that held these men together., The senior Fakir adds however that it took quite a while before his mom accepted his profession, which he started shortly after he graduated from high school: She often told him that he was singing for the devil.. Pictured are, from left, Levi Stubbs ,. Abdul Duke Fakirs age is 87. My best was coming to Motown Records. In 2022, Fakir was featured in an Associated Press Q&A article[7] and video in which he discusses his memoir called Ill Be There: My Life With The Four Tops (published May 5, 2022 by Omnibus Press),[8] and musical[9] based on his life and the story of The Four Tops, expected to debut in Detroit in 2022 and then on Broadway in 2023. From that day, their bond was absolutely unbreakable, forged in that rare all for one and one for all approach that decreed they were stronger as a mighty vocal quartet than any of them would be pursuing a solo career. Meanwhile, the current quartet is completing a new album if they can get Duke out of the house. Sometime in 23, I'm almost positive of that. These guys are doing a fine job keeping our legacy intact. The groups latter-day line-up features Ronnie McNeir, Lawrences son, Lawrence Payton Jr. and Alexander Morris, who replaced Harold Bonhart in early 2019. Duke,. It was during a Four Tops residency in Las Vegas in the eighties that Duke finally took stock. JUMP TO: Abdul Duke Fakirs biography, facts, family, personal life, zodiac, videos, net worth, and popularity. He was previously married to Inez. They signed a contract. I said, Just remember that, no matter what, you are (still) the Supremes, Fakir remembered. I was eight years old, and I had a pretty nice voice, he recalled. Abdul "Duke" Fakir of The Four Tops is working on a Broadway musical about the band. They originally gave themselves the name "The Four Aims", to describe their goals of achieving something great. As are the multiple gold records and awards, not least when the Four Tops were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990, and the Grammy Lifetime Achievement award Duke picked up in 2009. What is the fastest broadband in my area? Abdul "Duke" Fakir wouldn't be human if he didn't feel strange sometimes. The current line-up features Larry Payton Jnr in his fathers spot, and Ronnie McNeir, the multitalented MD whos been ably channelling Stubbs since 1999, with necessary vocal boom courtesy of Alexander Morris, who joined in 2019. Born in Detroit in 1935, Fakir later met Lawrence Payton, Renaldo Obie Benson and Levi Stubbs in high school, and together they formed a singing group in 1954. I have a lovely home where my wife and I liveI have four children from my two marriages and they are all wonderful. In 1990, we were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1997, and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 1999, said Fakir. 18,381, This story has been shared 14,295 times. Later, attending a variety show featuring the Lucky Millinder band, the band announced a talented young singer who Fakir recognized as the boy he played football with. Because when youre a youngster and get in this business, you wonder, Hey, how long will I be able to do this? Youre thinking maybe 20 years, 25 max. Their 2022 datebook includes another return to their beloved UK in the fall. When we sing the classics, its like the roof comes off. Thanks for contacting us. Taylor Swift's Atlanta ticket prices are dropping big time. The group and party-goers enjoyed their sound so much, that they decided to begin rehearsing together.[5]. I renovated old buildings, but its a lot of work getting people to pay the rent. Duke was born on December 26, 1935. People born under this sign are nice and good-mannered. We took a liking to them right away, and right away Mary and I became instant friends and, of course, it grew into something a little more than that., The engagement, however, didnt work out. Detroit-born Dukes spectacular career goes all the way back to 1953, when the Four Tops began as high school friends young hoods, he says with a smile from the same poor neighbourhood of Michigans Motor City. Now I celebrate because I gave it up. Abdul "Duke" Fakir is an American singer. Benson died in 2005 and Stubbs in 2008. According to the Motown Museum, The Four Tops started their musical career as the Four Aims at a house party in Detroit in 1964. Abdul Duke Fakir was born in 1930s. All things considered, Abdul Duke Fakir would rather be onstage. He has seven children, seven grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. I was a big gambler for a while. We looked at houses for about two days and said, Man, its nice to visit, but Im not bringing my family out here. We all decided that we liked what we had at home.. He is an actor, known for The Fall Guy (1981), New York Undercover (1994) and The Four Tops: Indestructible (1988). We get Fakir's childhood in Detroit (his Muslim father, Nazim, was born in modern Bangladesh and arrived in America by way of cooking in London, booking passage to Canada, and swimming across the Detroit River); the acquisition of his nickname (shortened from the less appetizing "Dukie"); his modest beginnings in the church choir (Fakir's debut The education details are not available at this time. The band, originally made up of Levi Stubbs, Renaldo Obie Benson and Lawrence Payton and Fakir, had number-one hits with I Cant Help Myself (Sugar pie honey bunch), Reach Out Ill Be There, and many other successes including Aint No Woman and Its the Same Old Song, among many others. Duke Fakir Abdul Kareem Fakir (born December 26, 1935), professionally known as Duke Fakir, is an American singer. By the time the Four Tops made their US pop and R&B chart debut in the summer of 1964 with Baby I Need Your Loving, they had years of vital experience and craftsmanship under their belt. Spain's foreign ministry urged people to obtain travel documents from the Sudanese authorities. After that I stopped for 10 years. The strengths of this sign are being responsible, disciplined, good managers, while weaknesses can be to be the know-it-all, unforgiving, condescending and expecting the worst. Abdul "Duke" Fakir, 82, is a founder and the only remaining original member of singing group the Four Tops. As long as I can do it and still have a voice, Im going to keep going, he says. I like sharing. Im totally honored, the senior Fakir said humbly as he accepted the award from his son. I didnt get a credit card for ages. Its a great name. And she always did. The Four Tops and the Temptations with special guests Tavares embark on a UK Arena Tour next month. Today Duke lives in Detroit with his wife Piper. Majority of Abduls money comes from being a opera singer. Some recording artists included in uDiscover Music articles are affiliated with UMG. He has been on the forefront of Black music in this country, and of all music in the world.. Here he appears. Abdul Duke Fakir was born on December 26, 1935 (age 87) in Detroit, Michigan, United States. He is best known as a member of the Motown act the Four Tops, from 1953 to the present day. They planning to start with a short run in Detroit, making it the first Motown-themed musicals ever to debut in Motor City. Race was never an issue for the mostly young, mostly white audience that bought Motown records. She was such a sweetheart and had so much energy. As a member of the Four Tops Fakir was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990, received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1997, was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame 1999, the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998, received the Grammy Life Achievement Award in 2009, and was included in the Billboard Magazine Top 100 Recording Artists of All Time. It was songs that made people happy, made people want to dance, made people want to hug somebody and whatever else comes after that.. There was Levi Stubbs, just 17, whose thunderous lead vocal would define their sound; Lawrence Payton, teen tenor with the golden tone; RenaldoObieBenson, the ocean-deep bass of the quartet. A string of worldwide hits followed including Reach Out Ill Be There their first UK Number 1 in 1966 Its The Same Old Song, Walk Away Renee and Standing In The Shadows Of Love. It's just amazing to me, honestly., What is happening where you live? Both Fakir and Payton confess that sometimes onstage, when the night is right, they feel the spirit of original Tops alongside them.