Benson graduated from Cass Tech with honors, but he gave up a college scholarship to tour with the group he helped form in high school, then known as the Four Aims. Except for a few years off to serve in the Army, Benson was a Four Top for 51 years, and as a songwriter, he co-wrote Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On."
The Four Tops lasted more than 40 years without a personnel change, up to the death in 1997 of Lawrence Payton, Benson's Cass Tech pal.
I always loved the soaring harmonies of the Four Tops, a perfect backing to the soulful voice of Levi Stubbs, the lead singer.
At the funeral, the last two founding members of the Four Tops entered together - Levi Stubbs in a wheelchair but looking strong, and ...[Abdul "Duke"] Fakir. They were accompanied by newer Tops Theo Peoples, Ronnie McNair and Roquel Payton (son of the late Lawrence Payton). Payton started filling in for Benson after he became ill.
RIP Renaldo 'Obie' Benson: 1936-2005
