Levi Stubbs RIP

Here is a 1966 television performance by The Four Tops with their massive hit, Reach Out, I'll Be There. This song demonstrates the the arching ambition of the Dozier/Holland song writing team. The production and arrangement is riveting evidence as to why this period of Detroit's Motown Label was the forefront of the Black Renaissance of Soul Music. With the crack rythmn section and moonlighting menbers of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Motown created music that bridged genres and was able to become symphonic. This is American Classical Music!
The Four Tops were the premier group of the labelat a time when their label mates included Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Martha and The Vandellas, The Supremes and The Temptations among many others and here they are at the top of their game, smooth, powerful, articulate perfection.
The lead singer here, is Levi Stubbs. A powerful voice that fueled many hits. Levi did a lot of commercial work and was the voice of the man eating plant in the 80's stage musical and movie version of Little Shop of Horrors.
The Four Tops continued to have hits into the 80's and performed with Levi Stubbs as late as 2006. They have been recently voted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as the #84 greatest group of all time.
Levi Stubbs died yesterday in Los Angeles at the age of 72.
REACH OUT!