Four Tops’ lead singer dies

Four Tops’ lead singer dies

DETROIT — Four Tops’ frontman Levi Stubbs has died at 72.

The lead singer for the legendary Motown singing group died Friday morning at his home in Detroit. His death was confirmed by the Wayne County medical examiner’s office as well as Dana Meah, the wife of his grandson.

Stubbs fronted the group for years and was considered to have one of the most dynamic and emotive voices of all the Motown singers.

With Stubbs in the lead, the Four Tops sold millions of records, including such hits as “Baby I Need Your Loving,” “Reach Out (I’ll Be There)” and “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch).”

Stubbs’ death leaves one surviving member of the original group: Abdul “Duke” Fakir.

McCain boosts Letterman

NEW YORK — Television viewers love a confrontation. David Letterman got his biggest audience in nearly three years with John McCain’s rescheduled appearance on Thursday night.

McCain told Letterman that he “screwed up” by canceling a guest shot three weeks ago because of the economic crisis. Letterman has hammered him ever since, and questioned the Republican sharply Thursday on Sarah Palin and campaign tactics.

Nielsen Media Research says 6.5 million viewers watched, nearly 3 million more than Letterman typically gets. It was Letterman’s biggest night since a December 2005 appearance by someone else he’s had tense times with — Oprah Winfrey.

Dangerfield video blocked

LOS ANGELES — A judge in Los Angeles has ordered a former friend of Rodney Dangerfield not to distribute video footage of the late comedian taken during the final years of his life.

The permanent injunction settles a lawsuit filed last year by Dangerfield’s widow against producer David Permut. Lawyers for Joan Dangerfield filed the court papers in the case Tuesday.

Joan Dangerfield sued Permut after he allegedly showed video of her husband to two writers and was planning on editing the 200 hours of footage into a documentary called “Respect.”

The comedian, whose catchphrase was “I don’t get no respect,” died in October 2004 at age 82.

Today’s birthdays

Singer-guitarist Chuck Berry is 82. Actress Dawn Wells (“Gilligan’s Island”) is 70. Actress Pam Dawber is 57. Actress Erin Moran (“Happy Days”) is 48. Actor Jean-Claude Van Damme is 48. Jazz trumpeter Wynton Marsalis is 47. R&B singer Ne-Yo is 29. Country singer and “American Idol” contestant Josh Gracin is 28. Actor Zac Efron (“High School Musical,” “Hairspray”) is 21.