Henry Fambrough, the last surviving original member of The Spinners, dies at the age of 85

Henry Fambrough, the last surviving original member of the iconic R&B group The Spinners, whose hits included “It’s a Shame,” “Could It Be I’m Falling in Love” and “The Rubberband Man,” died Wednesday . The group said. He was 85 years old.

Fambrough died peacefully of natural causes at his home in Northern Virginia, spokeswoman Tanisha Jackson said in a statement.

The group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in November.

Along with Fambrough, Billy Henderson, Pervis Jackson, Bobby Smith, Philip Wynne and John Edwards were listed as inductees.

Last May, Fambrough visited Motown’s Studio A in Detroit as part of a ceremony that included donating 375 costumes worn by the group during performances to the Motown Museum.

“It was a long time ago,” Fambrough said of the time in the 1960s, when he first came to the studio. “I used to dream about this place.”

He told reporters that he had to convince his wife that the studio was where he was going for a 3 a.m. rehearsal and recording session with other members of the group.

His first big hit for Motown was “It’s a Shame”, which reached No. 14 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart in 1970.

The Spinners later signed with Atlantic Records and had several hits, including “Then Came You”, which featured singer Dionne Warwick and reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1974.

His songs received six Grammy Award nominations and earned 18 platinum and gold albums.

Originally called The Domingos, the group was formed in 1954 in Ferndale, just north of Detroit. The Spinners joined Motown Records 10 years later.

Fambrough’s survivors include his wife of 52 years, Norma, and daughter Heather Williams.