Duke Fakir facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Duke Fakir
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Fakir at the LBJ Presidential Library in 2019
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Abdul Kareem Fakir |
| Born | December 26, 1935 Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
| Died | July 22, 2024 (aged 88) Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | Singer |
| Years active | 1953–2024 |
Abdul Kareem Fakir (born December 26, 1935 – died July 22, 2024) was an American singer. He was best known by his stage name, Duke Fakir. He was one of the people who started the famous Motown group called the Four Tops. He sang with them from 1953 until he retired in July 2024.
About Duke Fakir
Duke Fakir was born in Detroit, Michigan, on December 26, 1935. His father worked in a factory.
When he was young, Duke went to Pershing High School in Detroit. He was very active in sports, playing basketball and football, and running track.
He first met Levi Stubbs, another future band member, while playing football in their neighborhood. Duke didn't know Levi was a singer at first. Later, Duke saw Levi sing at a show and was very impressed. They became good friends. Levi would even go with Duke to his sports events. They loved singing together and would get their teammates to sing along too.
Because they both loved to sing, Duke and Levi decided to form a group. They asked Lawrence Payton and Renaldo "Obie" Benson to join them. The four of them sang together at a party. Everyone loved their sound, especially when Levi sang the main part and the others sang backup. After that, they decided to practice together regularly.
They first called their group "The Four Aims." This name showed their goal to achieve great things. But when they went to record their first songs, they learned about another popular group called the Ames Brothers. To avoid confusion, they changed their name. Their music director, Maurice King, suggested "The Four Tops." This name fit their goal of reaching the top of the music world.
The Four Tops became very popular in their hometown. However, they didn't have much success with recordings until they signed with a new record company called Motown Records in 1963. After joining Motown, they quickly became one of the biggest music groups of the 1960s. They had many hit songs. Billboard magazine even listed them as one of the "Top 100 Artists Of All Time."
In 2022, Duke Fakir talked about his book called I'll Be There: My Life With The Four Tops. This book tells the story of his life and the Four Tops. There is also a musical based on their story.
Duke Fakir was the last original member of the Four Tops still performing. He retired from the group in July 2024. Michael Brock took his place.
Awards and Achievements
Duke Fakir and the Four Tops received many important awards and honors:
- They were added to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990.
- They received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1997.
- They were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 1999.
- They were added to the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998.
- They received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009.
- Billboard magazine included them in their list of the Top 100 Recording Artists of All Time.
Duke's Life Outside Music
Duke Fakir lived in Detroit with his second wife. He had four children, seven grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.
Duke said that growing up in Detroit greatly influenced his choice to become a musician. He explained that Detroit had many churches and a lot of gospel and jazz music. He and his cousins grew up singing in church choirs.
Duke and Obie Benson both received scholarships to go to college. However, in the summer of 1954, the group got their first professional singing job. They decided to take a chance and focus on their music careers instead of going to college.
Duke Fakir was good friends with Mary Wilson from another famous Motown group, the Supremes. They performed together on a TV show in 2013, singing "Baby, It's Cold Outside."
Duke Fakir passed away from heart failure at his home in Detroit on July 22, 2024. He was 88 years old.
See also
In Spanish: Duke Fakir para niños
