The Temptations & The Four Tops

The Motown Concert of the Year

$55, $65, $85
$15 Standing Room Only
Standing room only tickets available
ONLY at the box office or by phone
707-546-3600.
Tickets on Sale at noon to
Members January 15 • Public January 18

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THE TEMPTATIONS

In their fifth decade, the Temps bring new freshness and fire to the world of contemporary urban music.

"If you look at your history," adds Otis, "you see a shift. In the beginning-the Sixties, Seventies, even the Eighties-larger-than-life personalities dominated. David Ruffin. Paul Williams. Eddie Kendricks. Then larger-than-life producers dominated. Smokey Robinson. Holland Dozier Holland. Norman Whitfield. They were genuine geniuses, and I learned from all of them. "But at some point it became clear that our sum was greater than our parts. That magical essence of the Temptations has proven to be more than any one singer or any one producer. We aren't celebrating our individual selves. We're celebrating the binding spirit that continues to unify us, the same spirit that makes us bolder and pushes us higher.

"At the risk of sounding grandiose, I call the Temps God's group. I say that because there's every reason in the world why we should have expired long ago. Every adversity has come our way. We've tasted anguish. We've tasted tragedy. We've tasted disappointment and frustration. We've passed through decades of changing musical fashion. Yet we're here. Not simply surviving, but thriving."

Visit the artist's website at: thetemptations.net

THE FOUR TOPS

The Four Tops have been marveling audiences with their infectious blend of pure vocal power and sweet harmonies since 1954.  High school friends from Detroit's North End, Levi Stubbs, Renaldo "Obie" Benson, Abdul "Duke" Fakir, and Lawrence Payton started playing parties as the Four Aims, as they were aiming for the top. After catching the ear and eye of singer Billy Eckstine, they changed their name to The Four Tops, so as not to be confused with the Ames Brothers.

After a brief stint with Chess Records in the late 50s and Columbia Records in the early 60s the group was introduced to Berry Gordy, who signed them to his new label, Motown Records. At Motown the group was teamed with the songwriting powerhouse of Holland, Dozier and Holland. The rest is history. Hit after hit followed, starting in 1964 with "Baby I Need Your Loving,” and continuing with songs like, "Reach Out, I'll Be There", "Standing In The Shadows of Love,” "Bernadette,” and " I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)". During the British invasion of the U.S., the Four Tops became a sensation in England.

In 1972, after Motown moved to Los Angeles, The Four Tops signed with ABC/Dunhill Records. The group’s hits kept on with "Ain't No Woman (Like The One I Got)" and "Keeper Of The Castle" and others. As records sales starting slowing, the group returned to their strength-live performances.

In the early 80s, The Four Tops signed with Neil Bogart and Casablanca Records. Two albums on the label produced the hits, "When She Was My Girl,” "Tonight I'm Gonna Love You All Over,” and "I Believe In You and Me.” In 1985 the group stopped the show at the heavily rock-filled Live Aid. Critics around the world hailed their set as a highlight of the marathon benefit concert. But benefits were not foreign to The Four Tops. To this day, they have raised money all over the globe with their charity work, never forgetting where they came from. Playing almost 200 dates a year, and starting off the 90’s with an inductee to the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame.

Solo work has never been something that The Four Tops set their sights on, but on occasion they have lent their talents to others. Lawrence and Duke served as producers on other music projects; Obie co-wrote  "What's Going On?" with Marvin Gaye and Levi was the voice of the man-eating plant, Audrey II, in the movie, "Little Shop of Horrors.” But through it all, the group stayed together for forty three years, something that is unmatched by any other group ever. Nothing could stop them even the bad times and hardships of the entertainment world.

In June of 1997, Lawrence Payton died of liver cancer. The group decided to continue on and worked for almost 2 years with the 3 remaining members, with no signs of slowing down, dedicating every show to Lawrence’s memory.

The year nineteen ninety-nine marked the group’s 45th anniversary, and marked the first member change. In February, Theo Peoples, a golden voice, multi-talented young man from St. Louis and Ronnie Mcneir joined Obie and Duke onstage for the first time.  When “Obie” Benson passed in 2005, the group was then joined by Rokie Payton who is the son of original member Lawrence Payton.  The results have been magical, showing the group is ready to continue playing concerts, corporate events and even using 80 symphonies, to spread their magic worldwide.

The Four Tops are: Adbul “Duke” Fakir, Theo Peoples, Ronnie Mcneir and Rokie Payto.

Wells Fargo Center for the Arts
gratefully acknowledges World of Carpet One
for generously supporting the arts.