Four Tops Member Dies
Updated 12:20 PDT Sat, Jul 02 2005

DETROIT (AP) _ Renaldo "Obie" Benson, a member of the legendary Motown singing group The Four Tops, died Friday. He was 69.

Benson died at a Detroit hospital, said the group's road manager, Fred Bridges. His death also was confirmed by Craig Hankenson, president of Producers Inc., one of the agencies that books dates for The Four Tops.

"It was not unexpected. He has been ill," Hankenson said.

The Four Tops sold more than 50 million records and recorded hit songs such as "Baby I Need Your Loving," "Reach Out (I'll be There)," "I Can't Help Myself" and "Standing in the Shadows of Love."

Benson's death leaves two surviving members of the original group: Levi Stubbs and Abdul "Duke" Fakir. The fourth original Top, Lawrence Payton, died of liver cancer in 1997.

They are members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

The Four Tops began singing together in the 1950s under the name the Four Aims and signed a deal with Chess Records. They later changed their names to The Four Tops.

The group signed with Motown Records in 1963 and produced a string of hits over the next decade, making music history with the other acts in Berry Gordy's Motown lineup.

I saw the 3 remaining Tops at t the ime at a Mardi Gras party here. For such old men the show was surprisingly energetic.

I was the sound guy for a radio interview with one of the Four Tops years ago and I can't remember what one it was. I think it might have been Theo Peoples though, not sure. Nice guy however it was.

Didn't really listen to them on my own, but my pops was a huge Four Tops & Temptations fan...To this day I can still sing so many of their songs when I hear them....Oh and Kenny Rogers to..But that's not a good thing to remember...