marvin Posted October 17, 2008 Share Posted October 17, 2008 The Four Tops' Levi Stubs: http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003875218 Thank you for the incredible music. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angelina Posted October 17, 2008 Share Posted October 17, 2008 I'm sorry to hear this.......... I LOVED the Four Tops.He was also the voice of "The Plant" in the movie "Little Shop of Horrors".R.I.P.John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wimvriezen Posted October 17, 2008 Share Posted October 17, 2008 -Bernadette-Standing in the shadows of love-Reach out I'll be there-Simple game-What is a man-Seven rooms of gloom-Barbara's boyAll classics! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy K. Posted October 17, 2008 Share Posted October 17, 2008 Yes, it's sad. And certainly makes you look sadly at the state of music today.....almost nobody has a distinctive singing voice these days. Levi was truly one of the great originals. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hollies65 Posted October 17, 2008 Share Posted October 17, 2008 One of the real greats. The BIGGEST voice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marvin Posted October 17, 2008 Author Share Posted October 17, 2008 When I think of great Motown (male) singers, I think of Levi, David Ruffin, Marvin, Eddie Kendricks, Stevie, Paul Williams and Smokey. For all it's greatness, misery and misfortune, Motown had a stable of talent unlike any other label. Now we have lost another of its true greats. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GMan Posted October 17, 2008 Share Posted October 17, 2008 Yes that is so true Marv....Levi had one of the greatest voices...I loved how he just belted. Another GREAT one gone..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danny S. Posted October 17, 2008 Share Posted October 17, 2008 Bernadette Is one of my favorite Four Tops songs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MJ Posted October 17, 2008 Share Posted October 17, 2008 That man sang hard, gritty and with so much soul - you KNEW when you were listening to the Four Tops!! I will miss him - glad we have all the great tunes to always listen to!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marvin Posted October 17, 2008 Author Share Posted October 17, 2008 Even his name, "LEVI STUBS" exuded respect, energy, and power. Mom and dad must have had a premonition. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay52 Posted October 17, 2008 Share Posted October 17, 2008 A couple of years ago on a televised public television special, Levi was acknowleged by his group, if I remember right, as "The Captain".He was the MAN. Another tragic loss for THE MOTOWN SOUND.God bless him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay52 Posted October 18, 2008 Share Posted October 18, 2008 By the way, if in the Detroit area, take the time to visit MOTOWN. I did several years ago and it was worth every second. You can follow a small tour or just maybe they will let you do it alone.Walking through the "house" is one thing but taking a few steps down into "the pit" and finding everything in place just like the pictures we have seen was overwhelming.The management left me alone and I just sat on the steps leading into the studio. Then I touched the walls.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackhawkpat Posted October 18, 2008 Share Posted October 18, 2008 "I Can't Myself", "Baby, I Need Your Lovin'", Walk Away Renee" (the last two covered by EC), and my personal fave "Ain't No Woman Like The One I've Got"....all great performances! You will be missed, Levi! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hollies65 Posted October 18, 2008 Share Posted October 18, 2008 My favorite Four Tops song...'Something About You'. What a song! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew C. Clark Posted October 18, 2008 Share Posted October 18, 2008 "The Motown Sound" loses one of it's greats. R.I.P. Levi. Matt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheScentLady Posted October 18, 2008 Share Posted October 18, 2008 A couple of years ago on a televised public television special, Levi was acknowleged by his group, if I remember right, as "The Captain".I saw that special too. They showed Levi in the audience. He had been in poor health for several years & it broke my heart to see someone with a voice as powerful as his looking so weak & frail. Even Michael Jackson paid homage to the 4 Tops when he sang the line "just look over your shoulder" in "I'll Be There," in tribute to "Reach Out, I'll Be There."RIP Levi & thank you for sharing your talent with the world. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Shaft Posted October 18, 2008 Share Posted October 18, 2008 Damn, so many of the great ones gone. When you think about how many of them are left (and that's not many) it just about makes you cry.Levi's vocal on "I Believe In You and Me" breaks me up just about every time. Sheer perfection.Rest In Peace, Brother Levi, you are no longer in pain nor suffering from illness and you and your mighty voice will truly be missed.Damn... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marvin Posted October 18, 2008 Author Share Posted October 18, 2008 John, very nicely stated. Motown has been such a really huge part of my life. Everything about Motown, the image, the music, the artists, have been larger than life for me. I know that there are few voices that touch my spirit like Levi's or David's have done, or that touch my soul like Stevie's or Marvin's, or a songwriter that encapsulates everything like Smokey has done. At the risk of sounding melodramtic, a part of my youth dies everytime a member of Motown passes on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy K. Posted October 19, 2008 Share Posted October 19, 2008 Upon listening to "Bernadette" great counterpoint between Stubbs' voice and Jamerson's bass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ECatw Posted October 19, 2008 Share Posted October 19, 2008 Nothing like listening to "Classic" Motown. They had such a style that you don't see in today's groups. One of my favorite songs - Still Waters Run Deep. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6w-5uW2tCn4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ira Posted October 20, 2008 Share Posted October 20, 2008 John...The Levi vocal that breaks me up is on "Ask The Lonely"...Whew! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Davie Posted October 20, 2008 Share Posted October 20, 2008 I agree with everyone. It's just sad when so many of our musical 'heroes' (and I don't know any other word to use) from the greatest generation of music contiune to pass away to the great venue in the sky. It's only natural of course. But it's still sad.I guess the one thing to be happy about is that Levi is no longer confined to his wheelchair, and now his spirit can dance with two of the other Tops. Duke will join them when it's his time...but at least he's healthy enough to keep a version of the Tops touring to this day, and keeping their memories alive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marvin Posted October 20, 2008 Author Share Posted October 20, 2008 I don't think that there is any song which Levi sang that he didn't pour his heart and soul into. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.