Died On This Date (October 30, 2011) George Rountree / Four Tops Musical Director
themusicsover George Rountree
May 13, 1950 – October 30,2011
George Rountree is perhaps best remembered as the long time music director for legendary Motown group, the Four Tops. For over 30 years, Rountree helped the quartet deliver its best possible sound to adoring fans around the world. He also served as their arranger, composer, and keyboardist from time to time. Throughout the years, Rountree also performed with the likes of Gladys Knight & the Pips, the Temptations, Martha Reeves, and Frankie Valli, to name a few. George Rountree was 61 when he passed away on October 30, 2011. Cause of death was not immediately released.
Lawrence Payton had the tenor voice of the great soul group, the Four Tops. He also worked at times, as their producer. With the Tops, Payton was one of the Motown’s signature groups, recording hit after hit for the label beginning in 1964. Such hits included, “Reach Out, I’ll Be There,” “Standing In The Shadows Of Love,” and “I Can’t Help Myself.” The group and Motown parted ways in 1972, with the Tops signing to ABC Dunhill Records where they had a brief resurgence with “Keeper Of the Castle,” and “Aint No Woman (Like The One I’ve Got).” They continued to record moderately successful records through the ’70s and reunited with Motown in time to celebrate the label’s 25th anniversary in 1983 after which they recorded a few more albums and toured with the Temptations. The Four Tops continued touring and recording until the passing of Lawrence Payton in 1997. He died of cancer on June 20, 1997, but not before be elected into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990.
Tony Peluso was a producer and musician who is perhaps best remembered as the lead guitarist for the Carpenters for the better part of 12 years. As a producer or engineer, Peluso worked with the likes of 
As one-time lead singer of the Temptations, David Ruffin is arguable the greatest lead voice to come out of Motown. From 1965’s “My Girl,” to “All I Need” and “I Wish It Was Rain,” Ruffin’s voice defined the group and perhaps the era. But mounting friction caused mostly by Ruffin’s swelling ego along with his addiction to cocaine began to tear the group apart, so he was replaced in 1968. Ongoing legal problems with Motown along with his growing dependency on drugs kept his post-Temptations career from reaching the level his true talent deserved. But in 1989, things appeared to be turning around when the Temptations were inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, and Ruffin subsequently made peace with the other members of the group. He began working with 