Abdul “Duke” Fakir, who has died aged 88 of heart failure, was the last surviving original member of the Four Tops. The hugely successful American vocal quartet helped popularise soul music in the 1960s with such classic hits as I Can’t Help Myself, Walk Away Renee and above all Reach Out I’ll Be There.
The group was founded in Detroit, Michigan, in 1953 by Fakir and his friend Levi Stubbs. Initially singing at sports events and parties, the duo soon developed into a quartet, with Lawrence Payton and Renaldo “Obie” Benson.
