Timeless Motown legends Four Tops and The Temptations will be back in the U.K. in 2014 to relive the R&B and soul classics that delivered Detroit to music history. Special guests joining the bill for these memorable shows will be The Platters and Freda Payne.
American vocal quartet Four Tops are widely considered as one of the main artists to help define the landmark Motown sound in the 1960s. Amongst their biggest hits are I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch) and Reach Out I’ll Be There. The line-up features original founder member Abdul ‘Duke’ Fakir with Lawrence Payton Jr, Lewis McNeir and Spike Deleon.
Fellow Motown vocal quintet The Temptations are known for their seminal R&B and soul catalogue, their harmonies and their trademark choreographies. The Temptations were the first ever Motown artists to win a Grammy and are particularly remembered for classics My Girl and Papa Was A Rolling Stone. Counting over 20 different musicians throughout their career, Otis Williams is the only surviving member off the original five today together with Terry Weeks, Joe Herndon, Ron Tyson and Bruce Williamson.
Who can forget Only You and The Great Pretender! Early rock ’n’ roll pioneers The Platters had Top 40 Billboard singles and 4 Number Ones between 1955 and 1967. They recorded just under 400 songs, sold well over 100 million records, performed in more than 91 countries and received more than 250 awards worldwide. They were inducted into the Rock ’n’ Roll Hall of Fame in 1990 and 2014 marks the 60thanniversary of their international debut with ‘Only You’.
Singer and actress Freda Payne hit her musical peak in 1970 with Band of Gold, reaching a million copies sold and later re-recorded with Belinda Carlisle in 1986. A complete artist and a versatile vocalist, Freda’s career spans over four decades covering soul, R&B and jazz as well as movie and theatre roles. Freda has just finished recording a new jazz album to be released in 2014. She said, “The Four Tops, Platters, and the Temptations are three iconic male groups who have laid there musical imprint in American history. The Platters going all the way back to the fifties and the Four Tops who I’ve worked with as far back as the sixties. The Temptation’s rocked the world as 0ne of Motown’s premier R&B groups and the Tops were right along with them. I am honored to be touring with these guys. They are the best, and we are like family. It’s a pleasure to be returning to the U.K. again with a great group of guys. Peace and love.”
Otis and Duke said, “We love playing in the U.K., the audiences are the best in the world. We’re really looking forward to sharing our music with you, together with The Platters and Freda Payne who are joining us this time around. We hope you’ll enjoy the shows as much as we will”
The tour, which will start in Liverpool at the Liverpool Echo Arena on Friday 21st March, will also go to various venues such as the Bournemouth B.I.C., and the Birmingham N.I.A. before finishing up in London’s o2 Arena on Thursday 3rd April.
All tickets are priced at £42.50 except for London which is priced at £46.00 (subject to booking fee). Tickets go on sale Friday September 6th at 9.00am from www.ticketline.co.uk the 24 hour booking line – 0844 888 9991 or the venues direct.