Motown's Henry Fambrough from The Spinners dies a year after retiring from music

Publish date: 2024-03-18

Henry Fambrough, one of the last surviving and original members of the group The Spinners, has died at age 85.

The legendary Motown singer was the last surviving original member of the group, after four of the other members passed away several years ago. CP Spender died in 2004, Billy Henderson sadly passed three years later, followed by Pervis Jackson in 2008 and Bobby Smith in 2013. The music star had gone into hospice care in January, writes The Detroit Free Press.

The Spinners’ Henry Fambrough dies ‘peacefully’

Henry Fambrough’s spokesperson revealed The Spinners star had died on Wednesday, (February 7), at his home in northern Virginia.

The celebrity, from Detroit, died peacefully from natural causes, it’s reported.

He had recently gone into hospice care last month, and his death comes only months after the group were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

It also comes only a year after Henry Fambrough retired from The Spinners early last year.

The band, founded in 1954, are known for hits such as It’s A Shame, Could It Be I’m Falling in Love, as well as The Rubberband Man.

Fambrough also starred alongside Dionne Warwick for Just As Long As We Have Love in 1975.

‘He was always on point’

Tributes have flooded in for the singer, with many fans talking about his smooth voice and incredible vocals.

Jessie Peck, who joined the group in 2008, hailed Henry Fambrough for keeping the Spinners on track.

Peck said: “He set the standard for the rest of us about how the Spinners should be, always on point, with every step.

“He had a desire above all else to keep this going no matter what. That’s what he bestowed on us.”

Another tribute said: “We are devastated to pass on the news of the passing of Henry Fambrough, the last original member of the Spinners, at age 85. One of our all-time favorites!”

A third echoed: “The last original Spinner standing has left us. Rest In Peace Henry Fambrough.”

And a fourth wrote: “Sad News In Music: The last of the founding members of The Spinners is gone. Henry Fambrough died today. First called The Detroit Spinners and eventually, The Spinners, they became one of the great R&B groups of the 70s.

“Their first huge hit, It’s a Shame came on Motown Records, but their biggest run of hits came with the great producer, Thom Bell out of Philly. Fambrough did not sing lead on most of their songs, but he did share lead vocals on Ghetto Child, reaching #4 on the R&B charts in 1973 and he was solo on, I Don’t Want to Lose You from the group’s 1975 Pick of the Litter album.

“He was 85. So many great memories with music from the Spinners playing in my family home. Thank you, now rest in peace.”

The star is survived by wife Norma, whom he married 52 years ago, and daughter Heath Williams.

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Motown's Henry Fambrough from The Spinners dies a year after retiring from music

The Spinners’ Henry Fambrough dies ‘peacefully’

‘He was always on point’