George Rountree, the musical director of Motown’s legendary group, the Four Tops, died Sunday in a Las Vegas hospital, according to the Las Vegas Sun. He was 61 years old.
Rountree, who worked with the group for more than 30 years, was not only a musical leader, but an arranger, composer and keyboardist.
The Detroit native, more affectionately known as “Tree,” 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.
“He was a very nice guy, there was not a bad streak in him at all,” said Will Miller, who’s performed with the Four Tops on the trumpet since 1981.
Rountree is survived by his wife, Beverly Paris Rountree, and his son, George Rountree III.
