Singer, Songwriter. A founding member of the Motown group The Four Tops. A native of Detroit, Obie along with founding members Levi Stubbs, Abdul "Duke" Fakir and Lawrence Payton (d. 1997), the group was originally named 'The Four Aimes' when they started out in 1954 singing at a Detroit party. They signed a contract with Chess Records and then changed their name to 'The Four Tops'. They had no sucessful recordings with Chess Records. Over the next few years they had signed various contracts with Red Tops, Columbia and Riverside Records and all proved unsuccessful as well. The group signed with Motown Records in 1963 and had such hits as "Baby I Need Your Loving," "Reach Out (I'll be There)," "I Can't Help Myself" and "Standing in the Shadows of Love." The group was elected to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990. One of Obie's greatest songwriting accomplishment was when he, along with Al Cleveland co-wrote with Marvin Gaye the 1971 hit "What's Going On."
Singer, Songwriter. A founding member of the Motown group The Four Tops. A native of Detroit, Obie along with founding members Levi Stubbs, Abdul "Duke" Fakir and Lawrence Payton (d. 1997), the group was originally named 'The Four Aimes' when they started out in 1954 singing at a Detroit party. They signed a contract with Chess Records and then changed their name to 'The Four Tops'. They had no sucessful recordings with Chess Records. Over the next few years they had signed various contracts with Red Tops, Columbia and Riverside Records and all proved unsuccessful as well. The group signed with Motown Records in 1963 and had such hits as "Baby I Need Your Loving," "Reach Out (I'll be There)," "I Can't Help Myself" and "Standing in the Shadows of Love." The group was elected to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990. One of Obie's greatest songwriting accomplishment was when he, along with Al Cleveland co-wrote with Marvin Gaye the 1971 hit "What's Going On."
Bio by: Allcalmap
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