Henry Fambrough, the last surviving original member of the great, hit-making R&B vocal group The Spinners, died at his home in Northern Virginia. He was 85.
His death was announced on the group’s Instagram page. No cause was given, but the announcement notes that Fambrough died peacefully.
Fambrough, whose rich baritone could be easily discerned in the group’s signature vocal mix on hits such as “I’ll Be Around,” “Could It Be I’m Falling in Love?” and “One of a Kind (Love Affair),” formed the Domingoes, the group that would become the Spinners, in 1954 with his suburban Detroit friends Billy Henderson, Pervis Jackson, C.P. Spencer and James Edwards.
Various personnel changes would take place over the next 20 years before the group settled into into what would be its classic and most successful five-man lineup with Fambrough, Henderson, Jackson, Bobbie Smith and Philippé Wynne.
Fambrough and the group were honored in a series of hometown events last May in Detroit, including a celebratory weekend at the Motown Museum.
“He got to experience those accolades. He was able to bask in the accomplishment, and that was something he was really happy about,” said Spinners spokeswoman Tanisha Jackson. “He was glad to represent the ones who had gone before him.”
Fambrough is survived by his wife, Norma Fambrough; daughter Heather Williams; son-in-law Ronald; and a sister, Martha.