Lawrence Payton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lawrence Payton
|
|
|---|---|
Payton in 1967
|
|
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Lawrence Albert Payton
March 2, 1938 Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
| Died | June 20, 1997 (aged 59) Southfield, Michigan, U.S. |
| Occupation | Musician, record producer |
Lawrence Albert Payton (born March 2, 1938 – died June 20, 1997) was a talented American singer, songwriter, and musician. He was a key member of the famous Motown group called the Four Tops. Lawrence Payton was known for his amazing tenor voice and for helping to arrange the group's songs. He passed away in 1997 at the age of 59.
Contents
About Lawrence Payton
Forming the Four Tops
Lawrence Payton met his future bandmates, Renaldo Benson, Levi Stubbs, and Abdul Fakir, while they were all teenagers in Detroit. They first sang together in 1953 at a school birthday party. At first, they called themselves The Four Aims. Later, they changed their name to the Four Tops.
The group became popular in their local area, performing for many fans. However, they didn't have much success with recording music until 1963. That year, they signed with a new record company called Motown. After joining Motown, the Four Tops became one of the biggest music groups of the 1960s. They had more than 24 hit songs that stayed popular into the early 1980s.
Payton's Role in the Group
Lawrence Payton was very important to the Four Tops' unique sound. He was known for arranging the vocals, which means he helped decide how each singer's voice would fit together. This created the "smooth, seamless harmony" that the group was famous for.
Even though Levi Stubbs was often the main singer, Payton also sang lead on some songs. These included "Feel Free" and "Until You Love Someone." Stubbs greatly admired Payton's musical skills. He once said that Payton "did everything music wise" and had "perfect pitch." Stubbs called him a "genius."
A Long-Lasting Group
The original Four Tops stayed together for an amazing 43 years! They continued to perform and have success until Lawrence Payton's death in 1997. He passed away at the age of 59 from liver cancer in Southfield, Michigan. He was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery.
Lawrence Payton had 11 children. One of his sons, Roquel, later joined the Four Tops. The group is still popular today and continues to perform, with Abdul Fakir still a member.
Awards and Recognition
Lawrence Payton, as a member of the Four Tops, received many important awards and honors:
- In 1990, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
- In 1997, the group received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
- In 1999, they were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame.
- In 1998, they were inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
- In 2009, they received the Grammy Life Achievement Award.
- Billboard Magazine also included the Four Tops in their list of the Top 100 Recording Artists of All Time.
