AM Prep-Music

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NEW YORK (AP) – The last surviving member of The Four Tops has died. Duke Fakir (fah-KEER’) died yesterday of heart failure at the age of 88, according to his family. Fakir was a teen when he met Levi Stubbs, Obie Benson and Lawrence Payton. They originally called themselves The Four Aims, but they changed it to The Four Tops to avoid confusion with the Ames Brothers. The Four Tops had two number-one hits: “Reach Out, I’ll Be There” and “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch).” They also had hits with “Bernadette,” “Standing in the Shadows of Love” and “Baby I Need Your Loving.” They stayed together as a group until Payton’s death in 1997.

LOS ANGELES (AP) – When you think of The Four Tops, you probably think of their signature move: hands up, tilting from the waist. Duke Fakir (fah-KEER’) said that was Obie Benson’s idea, well before they were signed to Motown. Fakir told reporters in 2009 Benson was always fidgety and did that during a concert, so Fakir and bandmate Levi Stubbs started doing it too. Fakir, who was the last surviving member of the Four Tops, died yesterday at the age of 88.

DETROIT (AP) – Duke Fakir of The Four Tops did not think much of the song “Reach Out, I’ll Be There” when they recorded it. Fakir said in a 2002 Associated Press interview he thought it would make a nice album track. It wasn’t until he heard the song on the radio that he realized its potential. When asked in 2009 what his favorite Four Tops song was, Fakir said his favorite hit was “Baby I Need Your Loving,” but his favorite song for listening was their version of “MacArthur Park.” Fakir died yesterday at the age of 88.

WASHINGTON (AP) – If you’re bewildered why people are referring to Vice President Kamala Harris as “brat,” ask the Charli XCX fan in your life. “Brat” is the name of Charli XCX’s current album, and fans are embracing the idea of “brat summer,” meaning to live unapologetically. Combine that trend with Harris’ unexpected campaign for president and there’s a merger of pop culture. Fans have been mashing Harris’ “coconut speech” with Charli XCX’s song “Apple.” Meanwhile, the Harris campaign changed its X banner photo to the green of the “brat” album cover. Charli XCX posted on X, “Kamala IS brat.”

NEW YORK (AP) – The first official Ozzy Osbourne coloring book is out today. Among the images you can color are Ozzy riding a fanged beast, Ozzy sitting on stone throne, and Ozzy trying to crawl out of the mouth of an even bigger Ozzy. The 72-page color book has a suggested retail price of $20 and is available at bookstores.