Post by Motorcity on Oct 21, 2008 19:41:29 GMT -5
Props for the Four Tops' Levi Stubbs
By DAVID HINCKLEY
Tuesday, October 21st 2008, 4:00 AM
Levi Stubbs Halip/WireImage
Levi Stubbs
For a lot of music fans who grew up with R&B and top-40 radio in the 1960s, the death of Levi Stubbs Friday was one of those occasions when you wished for a full radio tribute.
Stubbs was the lead singer of the Four Tops, a cornerstone of that era. An hour of songs like "Reach Out" and "I Can't Help Myself," with comments on the group, would have felt good.
But the '60s are too distant for today's radio to alter a full hour of regular programming. Interjections like that create a risk, because anyone who wasn't a Four Tops fan is probably going to tune out.
RELATED: LEVI STUBBS DEAD AT 72
In any case, the old days when Bobby Jay would have done an hour that evening on WCBS-FM (101.1) are gone.
Still, WCBS-FM did not let Stubbs' death go unnoted, nor did other stations.
Pat St. John of WCBS-FM played Four Tops records after the news broke, and other hosts did the same.
All-sports WFAN (660 AM) remembered Stubbs with words and music, as hosts from Steve Somers to Ed Coleman and Tony Paige saluted his legacy.
RELATED: LEVI STUBBS - AN APPRECIATION
Satellite radio also marked his passing, though satellite has just cut back on its live-host programming and thus is a little less nimble on things like this.
Stubbs got his most extensive props on the weekend "specialty" shows.
Imhotep Gary Byrd of WBLS (107.5 FM) talked about how he loved the group and still puts on Four Tops records for the sheer pleasure of it. Hal Jackson assembled a major salute on his "Sunday Classics" show.
At WRKS (98.7 FM), Bob Slade, Bob Pickett and James Mtume all remembered Stubbs' music Sunday on "Open Line," and Felix Hernandez followed with a salute on "Rhythm Review," which also airs Saturday on WBGO (88.3 FM).
By DAVID HINCKLEY
Tuesday, October 21st 2008, 4:00 AM
Levi Stubbs Halip/WireImage
Levi Stubbs
For a lot of music fans who grew up with R&B and top-40 radio in the 1960s, the death of Levi Stubbs Friday was one of those occasions when you wished for a full radio tribute.
Stubbs was the lead singer of the Four Tops, a cornerstone of that era. An hour of songs like "Reach Out" and "I Can't Help Myself," with comments on the group, would have felt good.
But the '60s are too distant for today's radio to alter a full hour of regular programming. Interjections like that create a risk, because anyone who wasn't a Four Tops fan is probably going to tune out.
RELATED: LEVI STUBBS DEAD AT 72
In any case, the old days when Bobby Jay would have done an hour that evening on WCBS-FM (101.1) are gone.
Still, WCBS-FM did not let Stubbs' death go unnoted, nor did other stations.
Pat St. John of WCBS-FM played Four Tops records after the news broke, and other hosts did the same.
All-sports WFAN (660 AM) remembered Stubbs with words and music, as hosts from Steve Somers to Ed Coleman and Tony Paige saluted his legacy.
RELATED: LEVI STUBBS - AN APPRECIATION
Satellite radio also marked his passing, though satellite has just cut back on its live-host programming and thus is a little less nimble on things like this.
Stubbs got his most extensive props on the weekend "specialty" shows.
Imhotep Gary Byrd of WBLS (107.5 FM) talked about how he loved the group and still puts on Four Tops records for the sheer pleasure of it. Hal Jackson assembled a major salute on his "Sunday Classics" show.
At WRKS (98.7 FM), Bob Slade, Bob Pickett and James Mtume all remembered Stubbs' music Sunday on "Open Line," and Felix Hernandez followed with a salute on "Rhythm Review," which also airs Saturday on WBGO (88.3 FM).