Tour News ******TOUR NEWS ******Tour News
The Four Tops &
The Temptations
Motown Legends
Together Again
3rd December 2019: Motown legends The Four Tops and The Temptations, return to the UK in 2020 bringing with them the magic of a golden era that continues to inspire musicians around the globe. The Tamla Motown label broke down cultural and social barriers and The Four Tops and The Temptations were at the very forefront of that revolution. Still with original members Duke Fakir and Otis Williams, The Four Tops and The Temptations hold a special place in the hearts of British fans and they are delighted to be returning to the UK for an 8-date tour in 2020.
I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch), Reach Out I’ll Be There, Standing In The Shadows Of Love, Bernadette, and Walk Away Renee are all timeless Four Tops’ classics that need little, or no, introduction and they enjoyed a revival of fortunes when Loco In Acapulco, from the film Buster, was a UK hit in 1988. Four Tops founder member Duke Fakir is joined by Ronnie McNeir, Lawrence Payton Jr and Joseph Alex Morris a truly fine vocalist with a commanding delivery.
Following their US Number 1 My Girl, The Temptations pioneered progressive soul, looking to environmental and social issues for their subject matter, winning three Grammy Awards. Cloud Nine, Get Ready, Psychedelic Shack, Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me) and Papa Was A Rolling Stone were huge hits they still love to perform. The current Temptations line-up is founder member Otis Williams along with Ron Tyson, Terry Weeks, Larry Braggs and Willie Greene Jr.
“We are thrilled to be coming back to the UK,” says Duke Fakir. “We always have such a great reception from our fans here, it always feels like home. It makes it so special to perform for the folks in Britain.”
“We’ve been coming to Britain for so many years and have such great memories of our previous visits,” adds Otis Williams. “These are shows we always look forward to in front of our British fans.”
The tour dates are as follows:
Thursday 29 October Cardiff Motorpoint Arena Cardiff
Friday 30 October Nottingham Motorpoint Arena
Sunday 1 November Manchester Arena
Monday 2 November Liverpool M&S Bank Arena
Tuesday 3 November Leeds First Direct Arena
Wednesday 4 November Birmingham Arena
Saturday 7 November Bournemouth International Centre
Sunday 8 November London O2 Arena
Tickets available from: www.ticketline.co.uk, 24-hour ticket line 0844 888 9991, or from motorpointarenacardiff.co.uk | 029 2022 4488
About The Four Tops
The Four Tops were among the first wave of Tamla Motown artists to make an impact in the UK with their infectious R&B and soul influenced brand of pop. The line-up of Levi Stubbs, Duke Fakir, Obie Benson and Lawrence Payton teamed up with the Holland-Dozier-Holland writing and production team to score a constant string of hits for over a decade.
Baby I Need Your Loving gave them a US hit with their first Motown release in 1964 and they scored their first US Number 1 the following year with I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch). This also gave them their first UK top ten hit. In 1966 they topped the charts on both sides of the Atlantic with Reach Out I’ll Be There. The Four Tops trademark sound of baritone lead vocals and lush harmonies was complemented, on stage, with slick and well rehearsed dance routines, also giving them a strong visual identity.
The Four Tops were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame in 1990 and continue to tour regularly led by Duke Fakir, sole surviving member of the classic line-up.
In a Rolling Stone magazine article in 2004 Smokey Robinson remembered: “They were the best in my neighbourhood in Detroit when I was growing up (and) the Four Tops will always be one of the biggest and the best groups ever. Their music is forever.”
About The Temptations
The Temptations were contemporaries of The Four Tops, five-piece line-up of Otis Williams, Melvin Franklin, Paul Williams, Eddie Kendricks and David Ruffin, enjoying similar success to their counterparts.
Their first US Number 1, in 1965 was My Girl, which also gave The Temptations their first UK chart entry. Although only a minor hit in Britain the enduring timeless quality of this ballad has ensured that it remains one of Motown’s signature songs and has been covered by many artists in the ensuing years.
The Temptations went on to produce thought-provoking music for many years and, since 2017, the musical stage show Ain’t Too Proud To Beg: The Life And Times Of The Temptations has been a great success, playing seasons at several venues across the North American continent and introducing the music of The Temptations to a whole new audience.
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