Home Australia Henry Fambrough, the last surviving member of The Spinners, dies ‘peacefully’ aged 85 as tributes pour in for Motown legend

Henry Fambrough, the last surviving member of The Spinners, dies ‘peacefully’ aged 85 as tributes pour in for Motown legend

by Elijah
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Henry Fambrough, last surviving original member of iconic R&B group The Spinners, dies

Henry Fambrough, the last surviving original member of the iconic R&B group The Spinners, has died.

The Motown legend died Wednesday of natural causes at his home in northern Virginia, his spokeswoman Tanisha Jackson said in a statement.

The group, whose hits included It a Shame, Could It Be I’m Falling in Love and The Rubberband Man, were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in November.

Along with Henry, Billy Henderson, Pervis Jackson, Bobby Smith, Philippé Wynne and John Edwards were listed as members.

Tributes poured in from fans on X, formerly Twitter, as they remembered Henry listening to the band’s music.

Henry Fambrough, last surviving original member of iconic R&B group The Spinners, dies

Originally called The Domingoes, the group formed in 1954 just north of Detroit (Bobby Smith, George Dixon, Billy Henderson, Henry Fambrough and Pervis Jackson).

Originally called The Domingoes, the group formed in 1954 just north of Detroit (Bobby Smith, George Dixon, Billy Henderson, Henry Fambrough and Pervis Jackson).

One fan wrote: ‘I grew up listening to #TheSpinners. I am very glad that you were able to participate in this induction ceremony. Rest in power to the last original member of #TheSpinners Henry Fambrough. It’s time to bring out the #RubberbandMan.’

Others said: ‘This man had a voice as smooth as butter when he sang with #TheSpinners. RIP #HenryFambrough one of the last original members of the group.’

“The death of Henry Fambrough from The Spinners really ruined me. I know he is older and he had health problems. But he still hurts’ and ‘The great Henry Fambrough has passed away today. I am very glad that you were able to see his induction into rock hall.”

Last May, Henry toured Motown’s Studio A in Detroit as part of a ceremony that included donating 375 outfits worn by the group during their performances to the Motown Museum.

“It was a long time ago,” Henry said in the 1960s, when he first entered the studio. “I used to dream about this place.”

Henry said he had to convince his wife that the studio was where he would go for rehearsals and 3 a.m. recording sessions with other members of the group.

His first big hit for Motown was It’s A Shame, which peaked at number 14 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart in 1970.

The Spinners would later sign with Atlantic Records and produce a string of hits including Then Came You, which featured singer Dionne Warwick and reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1974.

His songs received six Grammy Award nominations and earned 18 platinum and gold albums.

The group was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in November (Henry appears fourth from right with John Edwards)

The group was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in November (Henry appears fourth from right with John Edwards)

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1707387703 117 Henry Fambrough the last surviving member of The Spinners dies

Tributes poured in from fans on X, formerly Twitter, as they remembered Henry by listening to the band's music.

Tributes poured in from fans on X, formerly Twitter, as they remembered Henry by listening to the band’s music.

The Spinners would later sign with Atlantic Records and produce a string of hits including Then Came You.

The Spinners would later sign with Atlantic Records and produce a string of hits including Then Came You.

Originally called The Domingoes, the group formed in 1954, just north of Detroit, in Ferndale. The Spinners joined Motown Records 10 years later.

Henry leaves behind his wife of 52 years, Norma, and his daughter Heather Williams.

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