Four Tops Musical Leader, George ‘Tree’ Rountree, Dead at 61

Motown at it's best was the Four Tops. "Baby I Need Your Loving," "I Can't Help Myself" "Reach Out and I'll Be There," and so many more were such a rich part of our lives.

A sad note today is that a key, behind-the-scenes associate of the Four Tops for the past 30 years, George Rountree, has died. He was 61.

Rountree, known simply as Tree, also was their 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.

Here's a look at the Four Tops at their best with the assistance of George Roundtree, and "When She Was My Girl."