December 26, 1935 – An Ethiopian American and first tenor of the timeless Four Tops was born. Abdul “Duke” Fakir was born in Detroit, Michigan and is of Bangladeshi and African ancestry. He formed the Motown singing sensation in 54′, when Fakir, Levi Stubbs, Lawrence Payton and Renaldo “Obie” Benson met at a friend’s birthday. That night they meshed and sang so well, that they decided to form a group. They initially called themselves “The Four Aims” which eventually became “The Four Tops.” Fakir is the only surviving original member of the group.
Happy Birthday Abdul “Duke” Fakir!