The Four Tops-Reach Out, I’ll Be There

     The Four Tops〔最佳四人組〕合唱團成員Abdul “Duke” Fakir 7 月 22 日星期一在底特律的家中因心臟衰竭去世。Fakir 是傳奇集團一位倖存的創始成員，現年 88 歲。

    Fakir 法基爾家族在聲明中說道“當我們哀悼這位開拓者、偶像和音樂傳奇人物的去世時，我們心情沉重，他在 70 年的音樂生涯中感動了許多人，他繼續巡演直到 2023 年底，並於今年正式退休” 。

    作為標誌性的The Four Tops 樂團最後一位在世的創始成員，我們在杜克的遺產中找到了慰藉，他的音樂通過他的音樂代代相傳。”

    The Four Tops 成立於 1953 年，當時名為the Four Aims“四大目標”，由 Duke、Levi Stubbs、Renaldo "Obie" Benson 和 Lawrence Payton 創立。他們創作了一系列經典熱門歌曲，歌曲主要由標誌性歌曲創作三人組 Lamont Dozier 以及Brian Holland和 Eddie Holland 兄弟創作。其中包括兩首冠軍歌曲—— “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)” 和“Reach Out, I’ll Be There” ——以及 “Baby I Need Your Loving” 、“Standing in the Shadows of Love"與 “It’s the Same Old Song." 。

    The Four Tops的原始陣容一直保持完整，直到 1997 年 Lawrence Payton 去世。

    身為〔最佳四人組〕成員，Fakir 於 1990 年入選 the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 搖滾樂名人堂，並於 1998 年獲得 Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award 葛萊美終生成就獎 。

    Fakir 身後留下了他的妻子和 6 個孩子、13 個孫子和 9 個曾孫。家人請求歌迷們捐款給摩城博物館代替鮮花。

    Motown 唱片歌曲的風格承襲了1940-50年代頗受歡迎的Doo Wop音樂風格，再融合各種黑人音樂元素，包括藍調的根基、爵士的技巧、福音Gospel的和聲、FUNK 節奏，R&B的流暢加上靈魂的唱腔詮釋。使得旗下 Marvin Gaye 、Four Tops、the Temptations、Diana Ross 等所推出的歌曲大受歡迎，SOUL這種音樂也成了當代年輕歌迷的首選。

The Four Tops - I Can't Help Myself (1965) (youtube.com)

這種音樂曾經讓舞池裡的每個人都興奮不已，Motown和他們所有歌手們令人難忘。

Four Tops - Reach Out (I'll Be There) (1967) HD 0815007 (youtube.com)

Four Tops 在靈魂歌唱界有他們的歷史地位。

Reach Out, I’ll Be There

作詞/作曲：Brian Holland / Edward Holland Jr. / Lamont Dozier

Now if you feel that you can't go on
Because all of your hope is gone
And your life is filled with much confusion
Until happiness is just an illusion
And your world around is crumblin' down
Darling, reach out, come on girl, reach on out for me
Reach out, reach out for me
I'll be there, with a love that will shelter you
I'll be there, with a love that will see you through

When you feel lost and about to give up
'Cause your best just ain't good enough
And you feel the world has grown cold
And you're drifting out all on your own
And you need a hand to hold
Darling, reach out, come on girl, reach out for me
Reach out, reach out for me
I'll be there, to love and comfort you
And I'll be there, to cherish and care for you
I'll be there, with a love that will see you through
I'll be there to love and comfort you

I can tell the way you hang your head
You're without love and now you're afraid
And through your tears you look around
But there's no peace of mind to be found
I know what you're thinkin'
You're alone now, no love of your own
But darling, reach out, come on girl, reach out for me
Reach out
Just look over your shoulder
I'll be there, to give you all the love you need
And I'll be there, you can always depend on me

I'll be there, to give you all the love you need
I'll be there, you can always depend on me

I'll be there