DETROIT, Oct 18: Levi Stubbs, lead singer of the Four Tops and one of the most recognizable voices of Motown soul in hits such as “Reach Out I’ll Be There,” has died in Detroit after a long illness.

Stubbs, 72, had not performed in recent years because of illness. His death was confirmed by the Wayne County Medical Examiner’s office.

Born in Detroit, Stubbs and the other members of the Four Tops began touring together after graduating from high school in 1954.

Calling themselves the “Four Aims”, Stubbs, Abdul “Duke” Fakir, Lawrence Payton and Renaldo “Obie” Benson recorded with three other record labels before arriving at Berry Gordy’s Motown label in Detroit in 1963.—Reuters