Lead singer for legendary Motown band the Four Tops, Levi Stubbs, passed away on Friday at his Detroit home.

Arguably one of the most profound lead vocalists in American history, Stubbs, who had been ill over the past several years and suffered a series of strokes, died in his sleep, the wife of a grandson said. He was 72 years old and is survived by his wife of 48 years Clineice and his five children.

Stubbs "fits right up there with all the icons of Motown," said Audley Smith, chief operating officer of the Motown Historical Museum. "His voice was as unique as Marvin's or as Smokey's or as Stevie's."

Born in Detroit on June 6, 1936, Stubbs started his professional singing career with friends to form the Four Aims in 1954. Two years later, the group changed its name to the Four Tops and together they created some of the most enduring songs in pop and R&B history, from "Baby I Need Your Loving" to "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)" to "Reach Out I'll Be There." Other hits included "Shake Me, Wake Me," 1966; "Bernadette," 1967; and "Standing in the Shadows of Love,"also 1967.

Throughout their career, the Tops sold more than 50 million records and scored 45 chart hits, including 24 that reached the top 40, maintaining their original lineup of Stubbs, Abdul "Duke" Fakir, Renaldo "Obie" Benson, and Lawrence Payton for more than 40 years. The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990 and were also honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

While other founding members Lawrence Payton and Obie Benson died in 1997 and 2005 respectively, Stubbs' death leaves Abdul Fakir the only surviving original member of the group.

Stubbs, who was forced to stop touring with the band in 2000 after he was diagnosed with cancer, "had one of the most prolific and identifiably voices in American history," the Motown Alumni Association's Billy J. Wilson told Billboard.com. "It's a deep loss, to the entire Motown family and to the world."

The group last appeared together in April on the "Late Show With David Letterman."