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PEOPLE & ARTS Friday 24 august 2018
Four Tops' "Duke" Fakir recalls times, last talk with Aretha

By JEFF KAROUB recorded many of their she wanted to know why.
Associated Press 1960s hits, said he has been "She said, 'Duke, look here
DETROIT (AP) — Ab- "in mourning" like many — why do you keep call-
dul "Duke" Fakir said he across the world since ing me 'Baby Sis?' Don't you
stopped going to funerals Franklin died last Thursday know I'm 76 years old?" Fa-
in recent years because in the city she long called kir said. "I said, 'That's why I
he has lost so many close home. But her death hits call you Baby Sis: I got you
friends and he can't take particularly close to home by six years, girl!'"
any more. But the lone sur- given their history: The Four Fakir said his group looked
viving original member of Tops toured and recorded forward to every opportu-
the Four Tops said he won't with Franklin several times nity to record or perform
miss the chance to pay his over the decades, and with Franklin, whether it
final respects next week to they remained close until was on home turf in Detroit,
his "Baby Sis," Aretha Frank- the end of her life. at Washington's Kennedy
lin. He recalled a phone con- Center for the Performing
"I'll be at that one," Fakir told versation with Franklin just Arts or New York City's Ra-
The Associated Press on days before her death. He dio City Music Hall. Despite
Wednesday. "That's 'cause was cautioned by a family their close friendship, he
she's a sister. She's family. I'll representative that she was never stopped marveling
be there." unresponsive — "not really at her musicianship — and
Fakir plans to attend the saying anything." Abdul "Duke" Fakir, the lone surviving original member of the in his grief, he's holding on
private funeral Aug. 31 at "So, I was ... telling her Four Tops and longtime friend of the late Aretha Franklin, poses to that. "She's definitely the
Detroit's Greater Grace how much I missed see- in front Motown Museum Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2018, in Detroit. best because all her mu-
Temple, which caps days ing her, not being there by Associated Press sic comes from (the heart)
of high-profile memorials her side. And they said her and it travels all the way
to the Queen of Soul. Pub- eyes opened, and she said, word she said. That's more members of his group as through and it touches all
lic viewings will take place 'Bernadette.' And that was than honorable. That's pre- her "brothers," — and he those parts of her that suf-
Aug. 28-29 at the Charles H. the last word she ever said, cious, you know?" likewise called her "sis" — fer or did not suffer, or hap-
Wright Museum of African they said," Fakir recalled. Fakir, 82, who still regular- but he added "baby" to the piness or whatever," Fakir
American History. "That was her favorite song ly performs with the Four nickname in recent years, said. "And she lets it out, she
Fakir, interviewed at the by the Tops, by the way, Tops, said their friendship "especially after the other tells the whole story and
Motown Museum in the for- 'Bernadette.' So, to have deepened as they aged. three Tops had passed." you feel it. You know what
mer studio where his group been on her lips, the last She often referred to the About a year ago, he said, the story is about."q

Emmy nominee Millie Bobby Brown rises above the online hate

By JOHN CARUCCI deactivated her Twitter ac- Brown calls the philosophy
Associated Press count after being harassed "a great way to live" espe-
NEW YORK (AP) — Emmy online. She no longer looks cially when it comes to her-
nominee Millie Bobby Brown at comments and remains self, and other young peo-
continues to show wisdom active on Instagram. ple growing up in the age
beyond her years. The 14- "You rise above the hate. of social media and online
year old "Stranger Things" You don't listen to what bullying.
star, who is no stranger to anybody says because at "It's not all about your looks.
social media trolls, hopes the end of the day that's It's about who you are as
young people can "rise their issue that they're deal- a person, and I think that's
above the hate" and "not ing with. Clearly, they have just — it's very hard at this
let anyone change you." some, you know, something age. Being a teenager, you
Before a panel discussion that's happening with them don't know who you are,"
Tuesday, the young star and they're just insecure she said.
shared her thoughts on and that's OK, because ev- Brown received a sup-
dealing with online bully- ery teenager is insecure. But porting actress nod for her
ing. She also provided a I think that it's just important role as Eleven in "Stranger
shred of information on the to rise above it, you know. Things." Though the Netf-
show's upcoming third sea- Know your worth and, and lix series won't return until
son, and the challenges just be yourself and contin- next summer, Brown said
that come with an Emmy ue to be yourself and don't the new season is "every-
nod. let anyone change that," thing the fans want." She
"Umm, what to wear, hon- Brown said. explained: "It's like a crazy
estly. And who to call," And she also has a famous moment for each charac-
Brown said of the latter. friend to lean on. ter."
The call was to her older sis- "I think you know Karlie Kloss, She joked about the crazi-
ter. the model, she's amazing ness of balancing her suc-
"I was so happy. It was and I love her. She gave cessful career with being a
a great moment for my Millie Bobby Brown arrives at the MTV Video Music Awards at me some amazing advice. teen.
whole family. We all col- Radio City Music Hall on Monday, Aug. 20, 2018, in New York. Again, just like rise above "I'm 14. I'm getting on, you
lapsed, and then we went Associated Press the hate. Keep being, you know," she said. "My back is
back to our day. There was know, beautiful within your- starting to ache. It's starting
nothing really quite special, said. definitely not amazing. self, and then that will show to — it's a little much. I might
but it was amazing," Brown Being bullied was most Earlier this summer, Brown beauty inward out." retire soon, you know."q