By Scott Westerman – Curator – Keener13.com
When you think of the great Motown male voices, Levi Stubbs stood alone. Few could emulate the plaintive wail of Edwin Starr, and while both David Ruffin and Eddie Kendricks had solo careers, they are forever linked with the Temptations. Stubbs literally defined the Four Tops sound, so much so, that when he voiced the carnivorous venus fly trap in the film version of “Little Shop of Horrors”, the faithful instantly recognized him.

I saw the Tops twice, once under the stars in concert with the Jacksonville, Florida Symphony Orchestra and once up close and personal when they headlined an intimate event at a cable TV convention. On both occasions, they could sustain a nearly two hour program of sing-a-long classics that inevitably had us all dancing along. Lawrence, Duke and Obie each contributed to the Tops magic, from choreography to harmony, but it was Levi who’s unlikely baritone stamped the auditory brand on the Four Tops. Continue reading “Levi Stubbs – Tops at Motown” →

What’s in a name? According to the Associated press, a British judge has ordered a rival group to stop using the Four Tops name. There are tribute acts everywhere. In Las Vegas, the Elvis impersonators alone are an industry, but High Court judge Nicholas Warren says that Oliver Miller crossed the line when he used “Viscount Oliver’s American Dream the Legendary Four Tops” to promote his band’s tribute act. He also ordered Miller to pay yet to be determined financial damages. The Tops British lawyer said that, “Today’s ruling was important for the Four Tops because it permitted them to protect their legacy in the U.K.” The?Tops are in a six-way tie for the 10th most popular act to chart on Keener, with 18 different records making finding their way to the WKNR Music Guide. They share the spot with the Dave Clark Five, Neil Diamon, The Miracles, The Raiders and the Rolling Stones.