TOP SECRETS
More than 50 years after the Four Tops first toured the UK, MARION McMULLEN asked founder member Duke Fakir about hanging out with The Who, giving production tips to Paul McCartney and being part of Motown
What do you remember most about your first UK concerts back in 1966?
I REMEMBER when (The Beatles’ manager) Brian Epstein brought us over to the UK for our first big tour, which was a huge success, and afterwards he had a big party at his house in London.
The Who, The Small Faces and The Beatles and all the up-andcoming young artists were there. They all wanted to know how we did this and that. Paul McCartney was asking me how did we get the sound on The Same Old Song.
What was the reception like?
WE had travelled around the United States playing places like Vegas and we travelled to Canada a lot, but getting to the UK the reception we received really was unbelievable.
As a young man you think ‘I’m many thousands of miles away from home and these people are coming up to us and saying we love you.’ It was just an incredible feeling, it almost brought tears to our eyes. It was so enjoyable... and it still is. The feeling remains.
Was it almost like being part of a family when you first signed to the Motown label in 1963?
THAT’S the perfect way to put it. It was definitely a family and once we signed to the label, we became a part of that family.
It was a very warm and comfortable feeling and atmosphere with everyone helping each other and talking to each other about how they could improve things. In many ways, it was like a musical college.
Was Motown a turning point?
IT was very exciting because at that time we had already been with three other record labels, but they didn’t really know how to record us, or which songs were right for us.
So, we knew coming to Motown, that this was the label we should have been on all the time. Right away they put us with the right combination of producers and song writers, which were Holland Dozier and Holland, and they certainly gave us the right songs.
Did it almost feel like a finishing school for performers?
YOU could go there and learn dance steps that fitted your kind of music, how to dress as well, because for some of the younger artists it was their first time out on the stage.
You are 82 now. Is it satisfying that hit songs like Reach Out (I’ll Be There) and I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch) have touched so many people?
OH, it’s more than satisfying and what is satisfying nowadays is when you look into the audience and you can see that acceptance in people’s eyes and on their faces and in the way they react.
When people ask the question ‘Don’t you get tired of singing this song or that song or something like Reach Out?’ I say ‘No, I don’t. Every venue is different, every audience is different.
You still see that love although it is different people, that feeling is incredible. I wouldn’t trade it for ten million bucks (laughs). I’m going to do this until I drop.
You must miss original members like Levi Stubbs, Lawrence Payton and Obie Benson who are no longer with us?
IT IS bittersweet. I miss them all tremendously, but I also feel good about what we have now. We have some family with us. We have Lawrence Payton Junior, his son, we also have Ronnie McNeir, who was a very close friend of the Four Tops and of Obie Benson. They were like brothers. He used to travel with us back in the day as a friend and he also had a pretty good career in Northern Soul.
Finally, we have a lead singer, Harold ‘Spike’ Bonhart, who grew up loving Levi and he emulates him sometimes and sounds like him. So yeah, it is bitter because they are not the originals, but it is sweet because it is as close to the original as you can get.
What is your most memorable musical achievement?
EVERY award is appreciated and certainly the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame is the highest but, for me personally, the one I cherish the most is the Grammy Lifetime Achievement award.
That showed me that the industry really thought ‘You did it well, and you did it for a long time.’ That for me is really important.
The Four Tops are performing in the UK with The Temptations and special guest Tavares from November 19 as part of the Together Again... One More Time Tour. Tickets from ticketline.co.uk or call 0844 888 9991.