Biography

Lawerence Payton was the musical mastermind behind the group's fiery harmonies of more than 40 years . . .” —Jet, July 7, 1997

Lawrence Payton, the oldest of three children, was born in Detroit in 1938. Raised in a devout Christian family, Lawrence’s childhood home was full of gospel music, and is where he honed his rich bass voice. A Detroit Northern High School graduate, he teamed up with three friends (Abdul “Duke” Fakir, Levi Stubbs and Renaldo “Obie” Benson) in 1954 to become the Four Tops, one of Motown’s most popular singing groups.

An accomplished entertainer, Lawrence often choreographed the Four Tops’ dance routines, which became a cornerstone of the group’s performances as they churned out the hits for more than 40 years. Lawrence married Yone Marie Woodfin in 1971. Together, the couple raised three children. Lawrence also had seven other children and was a surrogate father to five others. He was well-known as a devoted and caring father, accepting all of them as his own, biological or not. A multitude of loved ones and friends, including his longtime musical partners, Abdul, Levi and Renaldo, mourned his death on June 20, 1997.