He was “happy, talking and interacting, and when they turned to do something and turned back around, he had slipped away,” according to an informant who spoke to the site.
After the passing of Levi Stubbs (2008), Renaldo “Obie” Benson (2005), and Lawrence Payton (1997), Fakir—who had Ethiopian and Bangladeshi ancestry—maintained his position as group leader.
In 2022, he made the comment when promoting his book I’ll Be There: My Life With The Four Tops, “I am probably as surprised as you are at the longevity.”
“That’s amazing. Even considering the possibility of doing this in my 80s is something I never would have imagined. I am really fortunate, my friend. Truly fortunate.
Lawrence ‘Roquel’ Payton Jr., son of Lawrence Payton, lead singer Alexander Morris, and guitarist Ronnie McNeir joined Fakir on tour after his bandmate’s death.
Speaking to UK Music Reviews in 2021, he said that when the original members died away, a little part of him went with them, according to The Guardian.
