Motown legends bring long list of hits to Tivoli Theatre

The Four Tops

The Temptations and The Four Tops, two groups whose music helped define the Motown sound in the 1960s, will be in concert Saturday, Nov. 19, at the Tivoli Theatre.

This isn't the first pairing of the two legendary ensembles, who produced some of the most distinctive music ever recorded at Motown.

According to classic.motown.com, the groups staged a show-stopping "battle of the bands" for a television special celebrating the label's 25th anniversary in 1983. That led to several co-headlining tours at home and abroad, including a sold-out stint on Broadway.

Each group still has an original member: Otis Williams of The Temptations and Abdul "Duke" Fakir of The Four Tops. Online reviews of previous concerts cite the vetern singers' featured numbers as among highlights of the shows.

The Temptations

* First hit: "The Way You Do the Things You Do" (1964).

* Biggest hit: "My Girl" (1964).

* More songs you'll be singing: "Ain't Too Proud To Beg," "I Wish It Would Rain," "Cloud Nine," "Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)," "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone."

* Original lineup: Otis Williams, Elbridge "Al" Bryant, Melvin Franklin, Eddie Kendricks and Paul Williams.

* Current lineup: Otis Williams, Terry Weeks, Joe Herndon, Ron Tyson and Bruce Williamson.

The Four Tops

* First hit: "Baby I Need Your Loving" (1964).

* Biggest hit: "Reach Out I'll Be There" (1966).

* More songs you'll be singing: "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)," "It's the Same Old Song," "Something About You," "Shake Me, Wake Me (When It's Over)," "Ain't No Woman (Like the One I've Got)," "When She Was My Girl."

* Original lineup: Levi Stubbs, Renaldo "Obie" Benson, Lawrence Payton and Abdul "Duke" Fakir.

* Current lineup: Abdul "Duke" Fakir, Lawrence Payton Jr., Lewis McNeir and Spike DeLeon.