Levi Stubbs

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Levi Stubbles (June 6, 1936 – October 17, 2008), best known by his stage name Levi Stubbs, is a baritone R&B Motown vocalist for the group The Four Tops and voice actor for Mother Brain in Captain N: The Game Master, among other things.

[edit] The Four Tops

Originally The Four Aims in 1954, the band changed their name after 2 years to The Four Tops to avoid confusion with The Aimes Brothers, who were more popular at the time. Among a number of groups who helped define the Mowtown Sound of the 1960s, including The Miracles, The Marvelettes, Martha and the Vandellas, The Temptations, and The Supremes, the Four Tops were notable for having Stubbs, a baritone, as their lead singer; most groups of the time were fronted by a tenor. Although Stubbs was a natural baritone, most Four Tops' hits were written in a tenor range to give the lead vocals a sense of urgency. With over a dozen hits and 2 Billboard Hot 100 #1 hits, The Four Tops were elected to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990, and have sold over 50 million records worldwide

Since 1988, the Four Tops have focused on touring and live performances, only recording one album, 1995's Christmas Here With You. On June 20, 1997, 59-year-old Lawrence Payton died as a result of liver cancer, after singing for 44 years with the Four Tops who, unlike many Motown groups, never had a single lineup change until then. In 2000, Stubbs had retired due to illness from cancer, which he died from in 2008.

[edit] Voice Acting

Stubbs provided the unique voice for Mother Brain in the Captain N: The Game Master cartoon from 1989 to 1991. He also used this voice previously in the 1986 musical film Little Shop of Horrors, as the man-eating plant Audrey II. Levi guest starred in a number of television shows as himself, as well.