DETROIT — Motown royalty turned out in droves to bid a final farewell on Friday to Abdul "Duke" Fakir, one of the record label's biggest stars, remembering him as a loyal, generous and humble performer who "shared love throughout the world."

Hundreds of mourners gathered at Detroit's Hartford Memorial Baptist Church to say their final goodbyes to Fakir, the last original member of Motown's iconic Four Tops. His family and friends packed into the church to sing, pray, laugh, and cry together throughout a three-hour celebration of life service.

Much like Fakir's 88 years of life, the service was filled with music, laughter and love. He was remembered not as a Detroit musical legend, but a father, friend, and fierce advocate for others.

Friend and fellow Motown luminary Stevie Wonder reminisced about working on unfinished songs with Fakir and performed a small segment of one for the audience. Wonder also played and got the audience, filled with Fakir's loved ones, singing along to Four Tops classics such as "Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever" and "Can't Help My Self."

"The spirit of this man that his daughter talked about was truly one that captured my heart as someone growing up with Motown at 14 years old, 15 years old, and hearing about this group that Clarence Paul told me about — the Four Tops," Wonder said. "I love Duke, I love the Four Tops, and that love doesn't go away. It stays, it stays consistent. For this thing that was created called love is an endless thing that we can never, ever forget."

Wonder also performed his hit "If It's Magic" and said he wanted to sing it "in the spirit of everyone here." He was accompanied by a harpist and later sang the lord's prayer.

Fakir died of heart failure on July 22 at the age of 88. He was the last living, founding member of the Four Tops, a famed Detroit quartet known for Motown hits such as "Can't Help My Self," "Reach Out I'll Be There," and "Baby I Need Your Loving." The group was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1990 and Fakir retired earlier this year.

The tenor's love for performing was unquestionable, but surpassed by his love for family. Farah Fakir Cook, his daughter, said there were no words to sufficiently express what Fakir meant to them. In her eyes he was a superhero, a jokester with a servant's heart and larger than life spirit.

"He became a model for what it meant to have healthy, loving, supportive relationships," Fakir Cook said. "I finally began to see myself the way that he saw me, and he taught me how to view the world, and so, because of my dad, I now truly walk with myself, head held high every single day."

Fakir Cook helped to care for her father in the last year of his life after he had been struggling with his mobility, and various ailments. She said she was honored to pour into him "just an iota" of what he gave her. Fakir's son, Reverand Nazim Fakir, also read a passage of scripture during the service.

"Dad, I love you. You are my hero," Fakir said to the assembled crowed. "I wanted to be just like you, a man who knew no strangers and who shared love throughout the world, and I'll see you again soon."

Fakir's family received many tributes, including ones from President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden; former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama; former President Bill Clinton; Gov. Gretchen Whitmer; Wayne County Executive Warren Evans; and Wayne County Commission Chair Alisha Bell.

Those in attendance remembered Fakir as humble, despite his fame, devout, loyal and always generous. He was known as "the Duke" by industry friends like Robin Terry, CEO of the Motown Museum, and "Pops" to his grandchildren, and "Papa Duke" to family friend and Fakir's "other daughter" Christina Clark, everyone cherished the moments they had with him.

Clark met Fakir Cook in the second grade and quickly became a part of the Fakir's family.

"He just had a light about him and he loved the stage. It wasn't a job to him, it was a privilege," Clark said. "But there's only one thing that he loved more than his craft and singing, and that's family. Family was everything to Papa Duke."

She remembered his "lounge" outfits fondly, and said he would wear coordinated silk suits with matching robes, velvet slippers, eyewear and of course jewelry around the house.

"His lounge wear is similar to his casual wear, there is no incognito with Papa Duke," Clark said. "Butter soft leather jackets, Ferragamo shoes, designer eyewear, jeweled accessories."

During the service, teary-eyed mourners lined up in front of the casket to pay their final respects to Fakir who was dressed in a cream colored suit before finally closing the top of the casket. As he was officially laid to rest, the last note of a hymn reverberated against the church walls.

Terry, of the Motown Museum, remembered how dependable Fakir was, always saying yes to everything from recording the museum's voicemail to showing up for media interviews. She knows his legacy will live on in the Four Tops institution.

"He just showed up and he taught us in love, when you care, show up," Terry said. "This truly does represent the end of an era."

Detroit's Deputy Mayor Todd Bettison read from a proclamation honoring the life of Fakir as a "trailblazer, icon, and music legend," on behalf of Mayor Mike Duggan. Rep. Hank Johnson, D-Ga., also conferred a proclamation from the U.S. House of Representatives on Fakir's family, recognizing him as a person of distinction.

Former Michigan Gov. James Blanchard recalled recruiting the Four Tops to perform at Bill Clinton's birthday party on the White House's South Lawn. Clinton, when he was governor of Arkansas, even got to accompany the Four Tops on the saxophone at a National Governors Association conference in Traverse City, Blanchard said.

"I can remember him now, Duke and the Tops were hiding in the bushes. There was a stage, and all of a sudden they came out of the bushes singing 'Happy Birthday,' and it was a wonderful surprise," Blanchard said. "Whenever you asked Duke to appear for something he would say, 'when, and how, what do you want me to do?' He was always there all these years and he kept the Four Tops flame alive."

Advocating for performers' rights

Johnson, the congressman, remembered Fakir coming to Capitol Hill to advocate for performers' rights to receive royalties every time their music gets played.

"He entertained us with that voice but he also used that voice to speak truth to power on behalf of others," Johnson said. "He made you feel welcome with that voice when you were in his presence, he made you feel equal."

Judy Tint, the Four Tops' attorney, also remembered Fakir's passionate advocacy for performer's rights in Congress.

"He took on a new and very effective role as a passionate and eloquent advocate. I brought him to Capitol Hill a number of times where senators and congressmen and fellow artists hung on this every word after he fought for what was right," Tint said.

Tint said that Fakir changed her life and took a leap of faith with her more than once. Whether it was hiring her as a young lawyer, or offering her a shot to join the Four Tops on the road to play tambourine, he always had faith in her.

"This man was that generous, that open, that willing to see people not just for who they were, but for who they could be. Faith and opportunity, that was his way," Tint said. "I do take solace in believing that he and Levi and Obie and Lawrence are together again."

Levi Stubbs, Renaldo “Obie” Benson, Lawrence Payton, and Fakir were the original members of the Four Tops. Roquel Payton, Lawrence Payton's son, said Fakir had the heart of a warrior.

"What do you say about a man who entered into a commitment with three other comrades and that commitment turned into a vow, and he stayed true to that commitment long after they left us," Payton said.

Ronnie McNeir, a member of the Four Tops who joined the group in 1999, said Fakir was “one of the greatest people on the planet.” McNeir said Duke was devoted to what he did, even going onstage in a wheelchair once so the group wouldn’t miss out on their show.

“He was just that kind of person, a stand-up guy that always thought about others, even with his hip broken and in a wheelchair,” McNeir said. “He was protective of us, the younger members, he took care of us. This legacy Duke left behind, it’s going to keep going on for years.”

CJ Adkisson, a relative of Fakir, called him “the most loving, down-to-earth guy.”

“He embraced you with love,” Adkisson said. “He was a bigger star off the stage than he was on the stage, and I’m going to miss him and his love and kindness very deeply.”

The procession

At the end of the service, hundreds of mourners poured out of the church, following along behind Fakir’s casket and his wife, family and children, who all held hands as they left the church. The procession went down for blocks from the church, with police cars flashing their sirens and blocking off parts of the street. Hundreds of cars followed Fakir’s hearse to the cemetery.

Fakir's eulogy was read by Bishop Gregory Ingram who compared his life to a symphony.

"Duke was given a musical gift and a talent from god that he used to bless others," Ingram said. "There was nothing stingy or self-centered about Duke Fakir. His personal drive, persistence and passion in life, his determination, his indelible spirit, his strength to make a difference in somebody's life enabled him to plan a symphony that all of us can remember."

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