In 2000, Theo Peoples replaced Stubbs as lead singer after Stubbs suffered a stroke, with Ronnie McNeir taking the place that Lawrence Payton originally held. Levi Stubbs and his wife Clineice were married (for 48 years) from 1960 until his death in 2008. May God continue to comfort [5], Stubbs has been regarded by some as one of the quintessential male soul singers. In 1997, Lawrence Payton passed away and the band continued as a trio for sometime before hiring Theo People to complete the quartet. 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, who released a variety of Motown hit records during the 1960s and 1970s. Throughout their association, Four Tops had never changed their line-up, which was quite unusual for a music group or a band. There He is most remembered for The Four Tops. The Re-emergence of the Black Stimulus Program, 58. Update Celebrity Profile. Having been around you all, I have to say that Levi had to have been one hell of a father & you guys are one hell of a family to have shared Levi with the entire world. Also learn how He earned most of Levi Stubbs networth? He also was the voice of Mother Brain in the animated TV series Captain N: The Game Master (1989). His distinguished voice helped define such classic hits as I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch) (1965), It's The Same Old Song (1965), Reach Out I'll Be There (1966) and Bernadette (1967). In a rousing sermon, Bishop Charles H. Ellis III, the temples pastor, said Mr. Stubbs and the Four Tops had been an inspiration to the nations black community during the 1960s. He was also a voice artist in film and animated television series, most famously having provided the voice of the alien plant Audrey II in the musical horror film . Growing up I dont remember seeing too much of Uncle Levi but I can honestly say that your wisdom and beautiful personality is a reflection of your parents. He was just a regular guy and growing up with Levi Stubbs as your father was no different than growing up Boards are the best place to save images and video clips. According to AllMusic's Ed Hogan, the vocalist 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". He married Freda Hood, his childhood sweetheart, and a daughter arrived in March, 1951. The Legendary Voice Is Gone. :), I grew up in the 60s and loved listening to the Four Tops. From left to right are, Abdul Fakir, Levi Stubbs, Lawrence Payton and Renaldo Benson. California Stars (Live October / November 1998) - Billy Bragg, The Blokes. He was 72. The Four Tops were inducted into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland in 1990. Many of their albums performed better in UK than US. God rest his soul. Mr. Stubbs, 72, died Oct. 17 at Despite being the most prominent member of the group, Stubbs refused to have separate billing (in contrast to other Motown acts such as Smokey Robinson and The Miracles and Diana Ross and the Supremes), and he also turned down several offers for a solo career, out of loyalty to his bandmates. View popular celebrities life details, birth signs and real ages. with lot of social media fan he often posts many personal photos and videos to interact with her huge fan base . Levi was the voice along with the other Tops, and will be missed , but never forgotten. I believe in you and me was played at our Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com. Its like when Little Anthony and the Imperials sing Hurts So Bad. Birth Place: Detroit, Michigan, USA. news, P.S. Starting from late 1990s, the groups focus shifted from recording in studios to performing live shows. Levi Stubbs Birthday: June 6, 1936 (72 years) Died: October 17, 2008 (14 years Ago) HomeTown: Detroit, Michigan, United States Levi Stubbs is an American, Gifted with an incredible vocal range, he was best known as the lead singer of the Motown group The Four Tops. Check out our New "Top 10 Newest Celebrity Moms". Levi Stubbs achieved great success with Four Tops. So true Deborahgrandparents too. One of the greatest voices, if not the greatest, of all time Rock and Roll singers. One of their friends Berry Gordy Jr. owned Motown Records, which was in its earlier stages itself. who included Lawrence Payton and that our familys story is the great american story; and I said in my remarks that is up to us (their children) to tell the story. Photos. Wiki Bio, race, net wort June 6, 1936, Detroit, Michigan, United States, October 17, 2008, Detroit, Michigan, United States, Beverly Stubbs, Deborah Stubbs, Kelly Stubbs, Raymond Stubbs, Levi Jr. Stubbs, Levi Stubbles , Stubbs, Levi , Levi Stubbs Jr. will never be another ensemble like you! The couple had five children along with 11 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. According to confirmed press reports Stubbs, who has been sick since being diagnosed with cancer in 1995 died at his home in Detroit. Levi Stubbs briefly sings for his fans..if you listen carefully you can hear him start singing in 2:13 of the video. He was diagnosed with cancer in 1995, and later, after a stroke, he was no longer able to tour with the group. He is from USA. Kelly and Damon, this is a great piece and from the sound of it, the beginning of a great project. 10/27/2008. RIP Mr. Stubbs. , money, salary, income, and assets. Your email address will not be published. Other musical peers expressing admiration for the Four Tops' work include Lonnie Jordan of War and Smokey Robinson of The Miracles, among many others. The couple had five children along with 11 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Nontheless Kelly, you still always tell it like it T.I. Collect, curate and comment on your files. Since no effective repellants, toxicants, or fumigants exist for armadillos, the safest bet is to rely on Critter Control's expert wildlife removal and exclusion services. [1], Stubbs provided the voice of the carnivorous plant Audrey II in the 1986 film version of the musical Little Shop of Horrors, in which he sang the Oscar-nominated "Mean Green Mother from Outer Space". But following the singles success, they decided to work more in the pop genre. Four Tops frontman Levi Stubbs died Friday, Oct. 17, 2008, at his home in Detroit. here to know that you love and appreciate them. Luv ya Cuz. The Four Tops were voted the 79th Greatest Rock 'n' Roll Artists of all time by Rolling Stone. say he was just going to work like fathers do. If you look up the word velvet or smooth in the dictionary, you should see a picture of Levi Stubbs. Kelly is the youngest of the Stubbs children who now has a family of her own. Your dad and mom were and are (and will forever be) my surrogate parents in Detroit they had jokeslol. The Four Tops began as a supper-club act before signing to Motown Records in 1963. What a humble man with a such a Blessed gifted voice from God. Add interesting content and earn coins. the same old song, Bishop Ellis said, to laughter and applause. I know that my grandfather made me the woman that I am today! The Getty Images design is a trademark of Getty Images. Levi was born on February 3 1903, in Eatonton, Putnam, Georgia, USA. War band member Lonnie Jordan later 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.". So i would like to take this time and thank you Levi, for some of the most intreging music i have ever heard in my life!! I was fortunate this We are going to miss you Levi and may God bless you and your wonderful family. Forget Kevin, We Need To Talk About This Woman. I dont think we as Detroiters truly appreciate the musical influences that came from Detroit, was not Sugar Pie Honey Bunch., God bless Levi Stubbs.. Read more. Get Started. Build your family tree online ; Share photos and videos ; Smart Matching technology ; Free! and bless his lovely wife and family. The Tops are my all-time favorite group, bar none. I love the pose, and these are the same shoes. In 1967, the group released an album titled Four Tops Greatest Hits. "[1], Stubbs and his wife Clineice were married (for 48 years) from 1960 until his death in 2008. Stubbs attended Detroit Pershing High School, where he met Abdul "Duke" Fakir. Thanks for telling the story, I know you will, as our mothers would say, tell it like it T.I.S. Stubbs also guest-starred in a number of TV shows as himself. i will always hold this family close to my heart because we have the same wonderful DNA pumping thru our viens. Elizabeth Latham . He was an actor, known for Little Shop of Horrors (1986), Captain N: The Game Master (1989) and Queer as Folk (1999). just the melancholy feeling in my heart takes me to where Clineice is or any of Levis children today. Tap into Getty Images' global scale, data-driven insights, and network of more than 340,000 creators to create content exclusively for your brand. 2023 Getty Images. photos, The name change was meant to avoid confusion with the then-popular Ames Brothers. Im sure our readers are looking forward to the details of the Stubbs legacy in the book, Daddy Am I Pretty? In 1987 she was the first woman to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Date Of Birth: Jun 6, 1936. FF: What was life like being the daughter of a genre icon? He was . Access the best of Getty Images with our simple subscription plan. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame . I dont know if the people in Detroit and the US realise just how much we loved the Tops and Motown in the UK. 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. He died in his sleep on October 17, 2008, at his home in Detroit. Although Stubbs was a natural baritone, most Four Tops' hits were written in a tenor range to give the lead vocals a sense of urgency. He grew up as one among three children and had a brother Joe Stubbs and a sister Thelma growing up. . Levi Stubbs was one of Kirk's favorite lead singers. Renaldo Benson as well as Mr. Stubbs and Mr. Fakir could not afford to pay for the four matching white flannel suits they had ordered to here levi and the tops cut loose on steel water, or just walk away renee, or its all in the game , it would truly as the song says, make your heart fly away. I saw Levi come on, in a special with the 4 Tops on PBS a few years ago. Levi Stubbs and his wife Clineice were married from 1960 until his death, and had five children. However, they kept touring around the country and further polished their skills as performers. He has been noted for his powerful, emotional, dramatic style of singing. The legacy of Levi Stubbs will live on forever, as long as music is a part of our core existence. Levi Stubbs is a voice actor known for voicing Audrey II, and Mother Brain. Little Shop of Horrors (1986)as Audrey II, Captain N: The Game Master (1989-1991)as Mother Brain, Motown on Showtime: Temptations and Four Tops (1986)as Himself, From the Heart: The Four Tops 50th Anniversary & Celebration (2005)as Himself, Your email address will not be published. Kelly: Hesaid In parenting, you dont get a dress rehearsal, so he would do the best he knew how. I must say, he won an Academy Award! and more from FamousFix.com, Woodlawn Cemetery, Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan, USA, www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=30644474, www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Levi-Stubbs/, Audrey II (voice, as Levi Stubbs of The Four Tops). That means he has life path number 22. A prodigious talent and from what Ive read and heard, a very fine man. Streamline your workflow with our best-in-class digital asset management system. It reminds me how lucky and blessed I am.". for any other kid you went to school with or hung out with. Kelly was ALWAYS real, never FAKE. Just a little bit rubs off but it means so much and it does so much for who you are and what you will become. Stubbs departed his earthly body in his sleep on October 17, 2008 at his home in Detroit. to hear that he passed. So was Martha Reeves, the leader of Martha and the Vandellas, who is now a Detroit city councilwoman. Its amazing how when we are grown we finally realize just how important certain people are in our lives!!! I love the Motown Sound. Billboard also bestowed the same honour on the group. He voice was truly one of a kind. A memorial service for Stubbs was held at the Greater Grace Temple in Detroit on October 27. Levi Stubbs' relationship with Clineice Stubbles ended when Levi Stubbs died on October 17, 2008. He was in a wheelchair and there was not a dry eye in the house, including mine. Lee x, so sad so sorry but levi will live forever in my mind and heart as long as i am here.so will everybody at tamla motown .god bless them all.posted by alex c glasgow scotland. 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