Duke Fakir of the Four Tops dies at age 88, two days after retiring from music

The last surviving member of Motown band the Four Tops, Abdul "Duke" Fakir, has passed away at the age of 88.

According to the Detroit Free Press , the music icon died at his home in Detroit, Michigan on Monday. His cause of death is reportedly heart failure.

In a statement to the Detroit paper, his family said: "Our hearts are heavy as we mourn the loss of a trailblazer, icon and music legend who, through his 70-year music career, touched the lives of so many as he continued to tour until the end of 2023, and officially retired this year."

Click here to follow the Mirror US on Google News to stay up to date with all the latest news, sport and entertainment stories.

READ MORE: Guns N' Roses legend Slash cancels tour dates as he announces death of stepdaughter, 25

READ MORE: All My Children's Esta TerBlanche said she wanted to return to acting just 5 days before her death

"As the last living founding member of the iconic Four Tops music group, we find solace in Duke’s legacy living on through his music for generations to come," the family continued.

Two days before his death, Duke announced his retirement from the Four Tops. He was replaced by Michael Brock.

The Four Tops was one of the most commercially successful Motown bands of the 1960s. They're best known for songs like "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)" and "Reach Out I'll Be There."

Duke was one of four founding members of the band - the other three being Levi Stubbs, Renaldo "Obie" Benson, and Lawrence Payton. The quartet performed together from 1953 until 1997 when Lawrence died that year from liver cancer.

Levi died in 2008 after being diagnosed with cancer in October 1995. Obie died after going into cardiac arrest while battling lung cancer in July 2005.

Mowtown legend Smokey Robinson shared a statement after the death of his longtime friend. "My brother, I really hate to have to say goodbye but you've been called home by the Father to once again join Lawrence, Obie and Levi and make more of the heavenly music you guys made while here," he said, "I'm gonna miss you, my brother."

He was a native of Detroit and shared how the city had impacted him throughout his life. Before his death, he was working on a stage musical based on the Four Tops which has been in the works since 2021.

Duke wanted the unrealized musical to premiere in his hometown. "Everything I’ve done — my music, my life, my family — comes from Detroit,” he said. “Detroit deserves it. They’ve given me so much. I would feel like a fool premiering it anywhere other than home. This is where it belongs.”

Duke leaves behind his wife Piper Fakir; six children Farah Fakir Cook, Nazim Bashir Fakir, Abdul Kareem Fakir Jr, Mike Fakir, Anthony Fakir, and Malik Robinson; 13 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.

* Follow Mirror Celebs on Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads .