Music
Lawrence Payton
1938–1997 · tenor, vocal arranger
Detroit-born tenor and vocal arranger of the Four Tops, credited with the group's seamless harmonies.
- Born
Detroit, Michigan- Died
Southfield, Michigan
aged 59- Birth name
- Lawrence Albert Payton Sr.
- Detroit years
- 1938–1997
- Field
- Music
01 / The Detroit story
The Detroit story
Payton grew up in Detroit and attended Northern High School with Obie Benson; with Levi Stubbs and Duke Fakir they began singing as the Four Aims in 1953. His cousin, songwriter Billy Davis, helped them land a Chess Records deal in 1956 under the new name Four Tops. The group was a strong live act in Detroit clubs for years before signing with Motown in 1963, where it became one of the decade's biggest acts. Payton worked out the vocal arrangements behind Stubbs's leads; Stubbs said Payton "could pick notes out of the air". He sang lead on a few songs, including "We All Gotta Stick Together". The original lineup stayed intact for 43 years until Payton died of liver cancer in Southfield in 1997. He is buried at Woodlawn Cemetery.
Highlights
- Founding member and vocal arranger of the Four Tops
- Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 1990 with the Four Tops
- The original quartet stayed together for 43 years
- Buried at Detroit's Woodlawn Cemetery
02 / Their Detroit places
Their Detroit places 3
Where they lived, worked, performed and liked to hang out. Closed and demolished places stay here too, because they are part of the city's history.
Studied here · early 1950s
Northern High School
Closed · 1916–2007
He attended Northern High with Obie Benson. The school closed in 2007.
Recorded here · 1963–1972
Motown Museum
The Four Tops recorded their Motown hits here.
Buried here · 1997
Woodlawn Cemetery
His grave.