Let’s take a moment to remember the great Levi Stubbs, former lead singer of the Four Tops who died today at age 72.

Levi Stubbs, whose distinctive, rough-hewn voice and pleading vocal style elevated the Four Tops’ soul classics to masterpieces, died today at his Detroit home. He was 72.

The Michigan native had been in ill health since being diagnosed with cancer in 1995. A stroke and other health problems led him to stop touring in 2000.

Stubbs was born in Detroit and grew up with the future Tops in the city’s North End. Stubbs and Abdul “Duke” Fakir sang together in a group while attending Pershing High School, while Renaldo “Obie” Benson and Lawrence Payton attended Detroit’s Northern High.

The group was formed after the four began harmonizing at a birthday party in 1954. They began practicing the next day and soon began calling themselves the Four Aims, performing mostly jazz standards.

The group’s name was inspired by their goal to go to “the top.” (Source)