Four Top’s Former Band Director George Rountree dead at 61

Story by AP

A key behind-the-scenes associate of the famed Motown quartet the Four Tops, George Rountree, has died. He was 61.

The Las Vegas Sun reports Rountree, who worked as the group's musical director for more than 30 years, died Sunday in a Las Vegas hospital.

Rountree, known simply as Tree, also performed other roles for the group, including arranger, composer and keyboardist.

Rountree, a Detroit native, performed with some of the music industry's biggest stars, including the Temptations, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Mary Wilson, Martha Reeves, Frankie Valli, Bill Withers, Freda Payne and David Ruffin.

A tribute will be held to raise money for the family of the late George Rountree Jr., a Detroit native who played keyboards, conducted, wrote, and arranged for The Four Tops for 33 years. The event will take place in the Motown Room at Bert’s Warehouse in Detroit on Sunday, March 4^th at 6:00 – 9:00 PM. No cover, but any donations are welcome and appreciated.

Performers will include current Four Tops member and Northern Soul staple Ronnie McNeir, as well as Leonard King and his brother Gregory of The Soul Messengers.

During his three decade tenure with The Four Tops, George was declared the group’s “right arm, and left arm” by lead singer Levi Stubbs. 

He got his start with The Funk Brothers, the Motown backing band. Through them, he began his touring life with former Temptation Eddie Kendricks, and went on to perform with and direct countless soul superstars.

This event will not only be a great performance by musicians who helped shape Tree’s career, but also a history lesson on one of the major players behind the scenes of Detroit’s musical legacy.