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Smokey Robinson

William "Smokey" Robinson Jr. (born February 19, 1940) is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and former record executive director. He was the founder and front man of the Motown vocal group the Miracles, for which he was also chief songwriter and producer.[1] He led the group from its 1955 origins as "the Five Chimes" until 1972, when he announced his retirement from the group to focus on his role as Motown's vice president. However, Robinson returned to the music industry as a solo artist the following year. Robinson left Motown Records in 1990, following the sale of the company two years earlier.

Smokey Robinson
Robinson in 2018
Background information
Birth nameWilliam Robinson Jr.
Born (1940-02-19) February 19, 1940 (age 82)
Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • record producer
Years active1955–present
Labels
Websitesmokeyrobinson.com

Robinson was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987 and was awarded the 2016 Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for his lifetime contributions to popular music.[2][3] In 2022, he was inducted into the Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame.

Early life and early career

William Robinson Jr. was born to an African-American father and a mother of African-American and French descent into a poor family in the North End area of Detroit, Michigan.[1] Robinson's ancestry is also part Nigerian, Scandinavian, Portuguese, and Cherokee.[4] His uncle Claude gave him the nickname "Smokey Joe" when he was a child.[5] In 2012, Robinson explained:

My Uncle Claude was my favorite uncle, he was also my godfather. He and I were really, really close. He used to take me to see cowboy movies all the time when I was a little boy because I loved cowboy movies. He got a cowboy name for me, which was Smokey Joe. So from the time I was three years old if people asked me what my name was I didn't tell them my name was William, I told them my name was Smokey Joe. That's what everyone called me until I was about 12 and then I dropped the Joe part. I've heard that story about him giving it to me because I'm a light skinned black man but that's not true.[6]

He attended Northern High School, where he was above average academically and a keen athlete, though his main interest was music, and he formed a doo-wop group named the Five Chimes. At one point, he and Aretha Franklin lived several houses from each other on Belmont; he once said he'd known Franklin since she was about five, overhearing her play the piano when he had come to play with her older brother Cecil after her family first moved to Detroit.[7][8]

Robinson's interest in music started after hearing the groups Nolan Strong & the Diablos and Billy Ward and his Dominoes on the radio as a child, and he has listed Barrett Strong, a Detroit native, as a strong vocal influence.[citation needed] In 1955, he formed the first lineup of the Five Chimes with childhood friend Ronald White and classmate Pete Moore.

Two years later, they were renamed the Matadors and included Bobby Rogers. Another member, Emerson (Sonny) Rogers, Bobby Rogers' cousin, was replaced by his sister, Claudette Rogers (who would marry Smokey Robinson in 1959). The group's guitarist, Marv Tarplin, joined them sometime in 1958. The Matadors began touring Detroit venues around this time. They later changed their name to the Miracles.

Career

The Miracles and Motown

 
Robinson (front row, left) with The Miracles, circa 1962

In August 1957, Robinson and the Miracles met songwriter Berry Gordy after a failed audition for Brunswick Records. At that time during the audition, Robinson had brought along with him a "Big 10" notebook with 100 songs he wrote while in high school. Gordy was impressed with Robinson's vocals and even more impressed with Robinson's ambitious songwriting.[1] With his help, the Miracles released their first single, "Got a Job", an answer song to the Silhouettes' hit single "Get a Job"[9] on End Records. It was the beginning of a long and successful collaboration. During this time, Robinson attended college and started classes in January 1959, studying electrical engineering.[10] He dropped out after only two months, following the Miracles' release of their first record.[10]

Gordy formed Tamla Records, which was later reincorporated as Motown. The Miracles became one of the first acts signed to the label,[1] although they had actually been with Gordy since before the formation of Motown Records.[11] In late 1960, the group recorded their first hit single, "Shop Around", which became Motown's first million-selling hit record.[9] Between 1960 and 1970, Robinson would produce 26 top forty hits with the Miracles as lead singer, chief songwriter and producer, including several top ten hits such as "You've Really Got a Hold on Me",[9] "Mickey's Monkey", "I Second That Emotion", "Baby Baby Don't Cry" and the group's only number-one hit during their Robinson years, "The Tears of a Clown".

Other notable hits such as "Ooo Baby Baby", "Going to a Go-Go",the multi-award-winning "The Tracks of My Tears", "(Come Round Here) I'm The One You Need", "The Love I Saw in You Was Just a Mirage" and "More Love" peaked in the top twenty. In 1965, the Miracles were the first Motown group to change their name when they released their 1965 album Going to a Go-Go as Smokey Robinson & the Miracles.

Between 1962 and 1966, Robinson was also one of the major songwriters and producers for Motown, penning many hit singles such as "Two Lovers",[9] "The One Who Really Loves You", "You Beat Me to the Punch" and "My Guy" for Mary Wells; "The Way You Do The Things You Do", "My Girl",[9] "Since I Lost My Baby" and "Get Ready" for the Temptations; "Stillwater" for the Four Tops; "When I'm Gone" and "Operator" for Brenda Holloway; "Don't Mess With Bill", "The Hunter Gets Captured by the Game" and "My Baby Must Be a Magician" for the Marvelettes; and "I'll Be Doggone" and "Ain't That Peculiar" for Marvin Gaye.[1]

After the arrival of Holland–Dozier–Holland and the team of Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong, Robinson was eclipsed as a top writer and producer for the label, and other Motown artists such as Gaye and Stevie Wonder began to compose more original material. Later in his career, Robinson wrote lyrics and music for the Contours such as "First I Look at the Purse", as well as the Four Tops' "Still Water" and The Supremes' "Floy Joy". The other Miracles—Bobby Rogers, Pete Moore, Ronnie White, and Marv Tarplin—collaborated with him as writers on many of these hits, and Pete Moore also doubled as co-producer with Robinson on several of them.

By 1969, Robinson wanted to retire from touring to focus on raising his two children with his wife Claudette, and on his duties as Motown's vice president, a job he had taken on by the mid-1960s after Esther Gordy Edwards had left the position.[1] However, the success of the group's "Tears of a Clown" made Robinson stay with the group until 1972.[1] His last performance with the group was in July 1972 in Washington, D.C.

Solo career

 
Robinson in concert at the Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez, California, 2006

After a year of retirement, Robinson announced his comeback with the release of the eponymous Smokey album, in 1973.[1] The album included the Miracles tribute song, "Sweet Harmony", and the hit ballad "Baby Come Close". In 1974, Robinson's second album, Pure Smokey, was released but failed to produce hits. Robinson struggled to compete with his former collaborators Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder and former Temptations member Eddie Kendricks, as all three had multiple hit singles during this period.

Former Beatle George Harrison featured the track "Pure Smokey" on his 1976 album Thirty Three & 1/3 as a tribute to Robinson. (Harrison's fellow Beatles John Lennon and Paul McCartney were also fans of Robinson's songwriting and the group covered "You Really Gotta Hold on Me" on their second UK album With the Beatles and US album The Beatles' Second Album, respectively.)

Robinson answered his critics the following year with A Quiet Storm, released in 1975.[1] The album launched three singles – the number-one R&B hit "Baby That's Backatcha", "The Agony & The Ecstasy" and "Quiet Storm". However, Robinson's solo career suffered from his work as Motown's vice president, and his own music took the backseat. As a result, several albums including Smokey's Family Robinson, Deep in My Soul, Love Breeze and Smokin, saw poor promotion and received bad reviews. At this point Robinson relied on other writers and producers to help him with his albums.

Following these albums, Robinson got out of a writer's block after his close collaborator Marv Tarplin, who joined him on the road in 1973 after Robinson left the Miracles, presented him a tune he had composed on his guitar. Robinson later wrote the lyrics that became his first solo top ten Pop single, "Cruisin'".[1] The song hit number one in Cash Box and peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100. It also became his first solo number one in New Zealand. Robinson would follow a similar approach with his next album, Warm Thoughts, which produced another top 40 hit, "Let Me Be the Clock", though it did not repeat the success of "Cruisin'".

In 1981, Robinson topped the charts again with another sensual ballad, "Being with You", which was another number one hit in Cash Box and peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100.[1] It also hit number one in the UK Singles Chart, becoming his most successful single to date.[1] The Gold-plus parent album sparked a partnership with George Tobin and with Tobin, Robinson released his next several Motown albums, Yes It's You Lady, which produced the hit "Tell Me Tomorrow", Touch the Sky and Essar. In 1983, Robinson teamed up with fellow Motown label mate Rick James recording the R&B ballad, "Ebony Eyes".

In 1987, following a period of personal and professional issues, Robinson made a comeback with the album, One Heartbeat and the singles, "Just to See Her" and "One Heartbeat",[1] which were Top 10 hits on Billboard's Pop, Soul, and Adult Contemporary charts. They were aided by popular music videos. "Just to See Her" won Robinson his first Grammy Award in 1988.[12] The album became one of his most successful ever, selling over 900,000 copies in the United States alone. In the same year, Robinson released One Heartbeat, the UK group ABC released a tribute song, "When Smokey Sings".

He was inducted as a solo artist to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988,[1] later igniting controversy as the committee had inducted only Robinson and not members of his group, the Miracles, which Robinson was personally offended by.[13][14] In 2012, however, the committee rectified the mistake announcing that the group would be inducted on their own merit. Though Robinson was not listed as an inductee, he was due to induct his former group at the ceremony in April 2012.

After Motown was sold off to MCA in 1988, Robinson relinquished his position as vice president. Following the release of the album, Love Smokey, in 1990, Robinson left Motown for a deal with SBK Records in 1991. However, the album, Double Good Everything failed to chart. Robinson remained virtually quiet during the nineties (though he would make a notable cameo appearance in The Temptations 1998 miniseries), making a brief comeback in 1999 when he re-signed with Motown and issued the album, Intimate, which included the song "Easy to Love".

In 2003, he once again split ties with Motown, releasing the gospel album, Food for the Soul on Liquid 8 Records in 2004. In 2004 Robinson sang the main title theme song "Colorful World" to the American children's animated series ToddWorld for Discovery Kids, TLC and Mike Young Productions. Two years later, Robinson released the standards album, Timeless Love, in 2006 on Universal Records.

In 2009, he issued the album, Time Flies When You're Having Fun on his own label, Robso Records. It reached number 59 on the Billboard album chart, his highest showing since One Heartbeat. He subsequently released "Now And Then" in 2010, which peaked at number 131.

 
Robinson with Senator Doug Jones while testifying at the United States Congress to support the CLASSICS Act in 2018

Smokey & Friends was released in mid-August 2014. It was an album of duets, including songs with Elton John, Linda Ronstadt and James Taylor. It reached number 12 on the Billboard album chart.

Christmas Everyday was Robinson's first post-Miracles Christmas album, and was released on November 10, 2017. In 2018, he appeared on an episode of CMT Crossroads alongside country singer Cam.[citation needed]

In April 2017, Robinson visited Fremont-Lopez Elementary School in Stockton, California, where he served as a designated arts mentor under Turnaround Arts.[citation needed]

On July 31, 2018, Robinson appeared as a special guest on the Fox network's show Beat Shazam as a special guest.[15]

Robinson appeared on the song "Make It Better" from Anderson Paak's 2019 album Ventura.

In 2023, Robinson announced that he would release his first album in almost a decade in April 2023. The nine-track album will be called Gasms, and will feature entirely new music. The first single from the album, called "If We Don't Have Each Other", was already available on streaming service by January 2023.[16]

Personal life

Robinson married a fellow Miracles member, Claudette Rogers, in 1959. The couple had two children: a son, Berry Robinson (born 1968), named after Motown's first label founder Berry Gordy; and a daughter, Tamla Robinson (born 1971), named after the original "Tamla" label set up by Gordy that would eventually become Motown.

Robinson also had a son named Trey (born 1984) with another woman during his marriage to Claudette. After Robinson admitted to having fathered a child with a woman other than his wife, he filed for legal separation and later filed for divorce. The divorce was finalized in 1986. The Robinsons had also separated in 1974; during that separation, Robinson engaged in an extramarital affair that inspired the song "The Agony & The Ecstasy" (later featured on A Quiet Storm).[17]

Robinson married Frances Gladney in May 2002. They own a home in Pittsburgh and use it as a winery.[18]

Robinson has not eaten red meat since 1972.[19] He practices Transcendental Meditation.[19][20] Robinson is notable for having golden green eyes, which he believes were passed down from his French great-grandmother.[21]

Discography

Awards and accolades

 
Conductor Zubin Mehta with singers Dolly Parton and Robinson during a reception for the Kennedy Center honorees in the East Room of the White House, December 3, 2006

On February 22, 1983, Smokey was awarded an individual star on The Hollywood Walk of Fame.[22] Four years later, in 1987, Robinson was inducted to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Robinson's single "Just to See Her"" from the One Heartbeat album was awarded the 1988 Grammy Award for Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance. This was Robinson's first Grammy Award.[12] One year later, in 1989, he was inducted to the Songwriter's Hall of Fame

In 1993, Robinson was awarded a medal at the National Medal of Arts. Two years before, he won the Heritage Award at the Soul Train Music Awards. In 2005, Robinson was voted into the Michigan Rock and Roll Legends Hall of Fame.[23] At its 138th Commencement Convocation in May 2006, Howard University conferred on Robinson the degree of Doctor of Music, honoris causa. In December 2006 Robinson was one of five Kennedy Center honorees, along with Dolly Parton, Zubin Mehta, Steven Spielberg and Andrew Lloyd Webber.

On March 20, 2009, the Miracles were finally honored as a group with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Smokey was present with original Miracles members Bobby Rogers, Pete Moore, (Bobby's cousin) Claudette Rogers, and Gloria White, accepting for her husband, the late Ronnie White, whose daughter Pamela and granddaughter Maya were there representing him as well. Smokey's replacement, 1970s Miracles lead singer Billy Griffin, was also honored.[24]

Controversially, original Miracle Marv Tarplin was not honored, against the wishes of his fellow Miracles and the group's fans, who felt that he should have also been there to share the honor. Later, Tarplin did receive his star. He was also inducted with the rest of the original Miracles, Bobby Rogers, Pete Moore, Ronnie White, and Claudette Robinson, into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012, 25 years after Robinson's controversial solo induction in 1987. He was also awarded Society of Singers Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011.[24]

In 2009, Robinson received an honorary doctorate degree — along with Linda Ronstadt — and gave a commencement speech at Berklee College of Music's commencement ceremony. In 2015, he was given a BET Lifetime Achievement Award.

In 2016, Robinson received the Library of Congress' Gershwin Prize for Popular Song; and, on August 21, 2016, he was inducted into the Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame in his hometown of Detroit.

In 2019, he received the Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement presented by Awards Council members Jimmy Page and Peter Gabriel.[25][26]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Larkin, Colin, ed. (1997). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music (Concise ed.). Virgin Books. pp. 1022/3. ISBN 1-85227-745-9.
  2. ^ Lewis, Randy (July 5, 2016). "Smokey Robinson named 2016 Gershwin Prize for Popular Song honoree". Los Angeles Times.
  3. ^ Smokey Robinson Is The Greatest American Songwriter, Theconcourse.deadspin.com, February 10, 2017
  4. ^ Robinson, Smokey; The Breakfast Club (radio show) (October 21, 2016). Smokey Robinson Discusses Motown, Playing Music During Segregation Days and How He Got His Name (video). United States: Breakfast Club Power 105.1 FM. Event occurs at 44:20. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  5. ^ Hubbard, Stephen; Scott Ross. "Smokey Robinson and the Miracle of Salvation". CBN Music. Retrieved October 11, 2014.
  6. ^ Battle, Chelsea (September 12, 2012). "Smokey Robinson—A Poet That You Knoweth". Los Angeles Sentinel. Retrieved September 14, 2014.
  7. ^ CBS, Steven and Ross, Scott. "Interview with Smokey Robinson." The 700 Club. Retrieved April 12, 2007.
  8. ^ "Smokey Robinson sings to Aretha Franklin during her funeral". YouTube. August 31, 2018.
  9. ^ a b c d e Gilliland, John (1969). "Show 25 – The Soul Reformation: Phase two, the Motown story. [Part 4]" (audio). Pop Chronicles. University of North Texas Libraries.
  10. ^ a b Interview (2009), An Evening with Smokey Robinson, PBS.
  11. ^ "The Miracles: In the '60s, we loved and lost to this Motown legend's smooth songs (Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2012)". Cleveland.com. April 3, 2012. Retrieved August 18, 2014.
  12. ^ a b "Smokey Robinson". Grammy.com. March 17, 2014. Retrieved January 9, 2019.
  13. ^ "Smokey Robinson". Rockhall.com. Retrieved October 20, 2009.
  14. ^ "Rock & Roll Hall of Fame still missing 3 Motown stalwarts | Goldmine Magazine". Goldminemag.com. Retrieved November 9, 2011.
  15. ^ "Smokey Robinson is Special Guest on 'Beat Shazam' Hosted by Jamie Foxx Tonight on FOX | Feeling the Vibe Magazine". Blog.feelingthevibe.com. Retrieved July 31, 2018.
  16. ^ "Smokey Robinson, 'King of Motown,' to release new solo album". AP NEWS. January 27, 2023. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
  17. ^ Smokey Robinson Reveals How Infidelity And Drugs Destroyed His Marriage. Ebony. Johnson Publishing Company. May 1989. pp. 150–. ISSN 0012-9011.
  18. ^ "Smokey Robinson Teams With Pittsburgh's Engine House 25 Wines". Pittsburgh.cbslocal.com.
  19. ^ a b McLean, Craig (September 7, 2014). "Smokey Robinson interview: 'God saved me from cocaine'". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on January 11, 2022. Retrieved September 14, 2014.
  20. ^ Gluck, Bob (2012). You'll Know When You Get There: Herbie Hancock and the Mwandishi Band. The University of Chicago Press. p. 229. Retrieved September 14, 2014.
  21. ^ Sweetingham, Lisa (October 21, 2009). "Smokey Robinson interview". Telegraph.co.uk. Archived from the original on January 11, 2022.
  22. ^ "Smokey Robinson - Hollywood Walk of Fame". Walkoffame.com. October 25, 2019. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
  23. ^ "Michigan Rock and Roll Legends - SMOKEY ROBINSON". Michiganrockandrolllegends.com. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
  24. ^ a b . February 12, 2011. Archived from the original on May 14, 2015. Retrieved May 10, 2015.
  25. ^ "Golden Plate Awardees of the American Academy of Achievement". www.achievement.org. American Academy of Achievement.
  26. ^ "2019 Summit Highlights Photo: Roger Daltrey, the lead singer of The Who, greets a friend and fellow honoree, Motown legend Smokey Robinson". Academy of Achievement.

Further reading

External links

  • Smokey Robinson interview by Pete Lewis, 'Blues & Soul' December 1992
  • Interview on Fresh Air
  • "Smokey Robinson". Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.  
  • Smokey Robinson's page at soulwalking.co.uk
  • Smokey Robinson Biography and Update at SoulTracks
  • Smokey Robinson at cosmopolis.ch
  • Smokey Robinson at IMDb
  • Smokey Robinson interviewed on the Pop Chronicles (1969)
  • Smokey Robinson Wines

smokey, robinson, william, smokey, robinson, born, february, 1940, american, singer, songwriter, record, producer, former, record, executive, director, founder, front, motown, vocal, group, miracles, which, also, chief, songwriter, producer, group, from, 1955,. William Smokey Robinson Jr born February 19 1940 is an American singer songwriter record producer and former record executive director He was the founder and front man of the Motown vocal group the Miracles for which he was also chief songwriter and producer 1 He led the group from its 1955 origins as the Five Chimes until 1972 when he announced his retirement from the group to focus on his role as Motown s vice president However Robinson returned to the music industry as a solo artist the following year Robinson left Motown Records in 1990 following the sale of the company two years earlier Smokey RobinsonRobinson in 2018Background informationBirth nameWilliam Robinson Jr Born 1940 02 19 February 19 1940 age 82 Detroit Michigan U S GenresR amp BsoulpopOccupation s Singersongwriterrecord producerYears active1955 presentLabelsMotownUniversalSBKLiquid 8RobsoWebsitesmokeyrobinson wbr com Robinson was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987 and was awarded the 2016 Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for his lifetime contributions to popular music 2 3 In 2022 he was inducted into the Black Music amp Entertainment Walk of Fame Contents 1 Early life and early career 2 Career 2 1 The Miracles and Motown 2 2 Solo career 3 Personal life 4 Discography 5 Awards and accolades 6 References 7 Further reading 8 External linksEarly life and early career EditWilliam Robinson Jr was born to an African American father and a mother of African American and French descent into a poor family in the North End area of Detroit Michigan 1 Robinson s ancestry is also part Nigerian Scandinavian Portuguese and Cherokee 4 His uncle Claude gave him the nickname Smokey Joe when he was a child 5 In 2012 Robinson explained My Uncle Claude was my favorite uncle he was also my godfather He and I were really really close He used to take me to see cowboy movies all the time when I was a little boy because I loved cowboy movies He got a cowboy name for me which was Smokey Joe So from the time I was three years old if people asked me what my name was I didn t tell them my name was William I told them my name was Smokey Joe That s what everyone called me until I was about 12 and then I dropped the Joe part I ve heard that story about him giving it to me because I m a light skinned black man but that s not true 6 He attended Northern High School where he was above average academically and a keen athlete though his main interest was music and he formed a doo wop group named the Five Chimes At one point he and Aretha Franklin lived several houses from each other on Belmont he once said he d known Franklin since she was about five overhearing her play the piano when he had come to play with her older brother Cecil after her family first moved to Detroit 7 8 Robinson s interest in music started after hearing the groups Nolan Strong amp the Diablos and Billy Ward and his Dominoes on the radio as a child and he has listed Barrett Strong a Detroit native as a strong vocal influence citation needed In 1955 he formed the first lineup of the Five Chimes with childhood friend Ronald White and classmate Pete Moore Two years later they were renamed the Matadors and included Bobby Rogers Another member Emerson Sonny Rogers Bobby Rogers cousin was replaced by his sister Claudette Rogers who would marry Smokey Robinson in 1959 The group s guitarist Marv Tarplin joined them sometime in 1958 The Matadors began touring Detroit venues around this time They later changed their name to the Miracles Career EditThe Miracles and Motown Edit Main article The Miracles Robinson front row left with The Miracles circa 1962 In August 1957 Robinson and the Miracles met songwriter Berry Gordy after a failed audition for Brunswick Records At that time during the audition Robinson had brought along with him a Big 10 notebook with 100 songs he wrote while in high school Gordy was impressed with Robinson s vocals and even more impressed with Robinson s ambitious songwriting 1 With his help the Miracles released their first single Got a Job an answer song to the Silhouettes hit single Get a Job 9 on End Records It was the beginning of a long and successful collaboration During this time Robinson attended college and started classes in January 1959 studying electrical engineering 10 He dropped out after only two months following the Miracles release of their first record 10 Gordy formed Tamla Records which was later reincorporated as Motown The Miracles became one of the first acts signed to the label 1 although they had actually been with Gordy since before the formation of Motown Records 11 In late 1960 the group recorded their first hit single Shop Around which became Motown s first million selling hit record 9 Between 1960 and 1970 Robinson would produce 26 top forty hits with the Miracles as lead singer chief songwriter and producer including several top ten hits such as You ve Really Got a Hold on Me 9 Mickey s Monkey I Second That Emotion Baby Baby Don t Cry and the group s only number one hit during their Robinson years The Tears of a Clown Other notable hits such as Ooo Baby Baby Going to a Go Go the multi award winning The Tracks of My Tears Come Round Here I m The One You Need The Love I Saw in You Was Just a Mirage and More Love peaked in the top twenty In 1965 the Miracles were the first Motown group to change their name when they released their 1965 album Going to a Go Go as Smokey Robinson amp the Miracles Between 1962 and 1966 Robinson was also one of the major songwriters and producers for Motown penning many hit singles such as Two Lovers 9 The One Who Really Loves You You Beat Me to the Punch and My Guy for Mary Wells The Way You Do The Things You Do My Girl 9 Since I Lost My Baby and Get Ready for the Temptations Stillwater for the Four Tops When I m Gone and Operator for Brenda Holloway Don t Mess With Bill The Hunter Gets Captured by the Game and My Baby Must Be a Magician for the Marvelettes and I ll Be Doggone and Ain t That Peculiar for Marvin Gaye 1 After the arrival of Holland Dozier Holland and the team of Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong Robinson was eclipsed as a top writer and producer for the label and other Motown artists such as Gaye and Stevie Wonder began to compose more original material Later in his career Robinson wrote lyrics and music for the Contours such as First I Look at the Purse as well as the Four Tops Still Water and The Supremes Floy Joy The other Miracles Bobby Rogers Pete Moore Ronnie White and Marv Tarplin collaborated with him as writers on many of these hits and Pete Moore also doubled as co producer with Robinson on several of them By 1969 Robinson wanted to retire from touring to focus on raising his two children with his wife Claudette and on his duties as Motown s vice president a job he had taken on by the mid 1960s after Esther Gordy Edwards had left the position 1 However the success of the group s Tears of a Clown made Robinson stay with the group until 1972 1 His last performance with the group was in July 1972 in Washington D C Solo career Edit Robinson in concert at the Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez California 2006 After a year of retirement Robinson announced his comeback with the release of the eponymous Smokey album in 1973 1 The album included the Miracles tribute song Sweet Harmony and the hit ballad Baby Come Close In 1974 Robinson s second album Pure Smokey was released but failed to produce hits Robinson struggled to compete with his former collaborators Marvin Gaye Stevie Wonder and former Temptations member Eddie Kendricks as all three had multiple hit singles during this period Former Beatle George Harrison featured the track Pure Smokey on his 1976 album Thirty Three amp 1 3 as a tribute to Robinson Harrison s fellow Beatles John Lennon and Paul McCartney were also fans of Robinson s songwriting and the group covered You Really Gotta Hold on Me on their second UK album With the Beatles and US album The Beatles Second Album respectively Robinson answered his critics the following year with A Quiet Storm released in 1975 1 The album launched three singles the number one R amp B hit Baby That s Backatcha The Agony amp The Ecstasy and Quiet Storm However Robinson s solo career suffered from his work as Motown s vice president and his own music took the backseat As a result several albums including Smokey s Family Robinson Deep in My Soul Love Breeze and Smokin saw poor promotion and received bad reviews At this point Robinson relied on other writers and producers to help him with his albums Following these albums Robinson got out of a writer s block after his close collaborator Marv Tarplin who joined him on the road in 1973 after Robinson left the Miracles presented him a tune he had composed on his guitar Robinson later wrote the lyrics that became his first solo top ten Pop single Cruisin 1 The song hit number one in Cash Box and peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100 It also became his first solo number one in New Zealand Robinson would follow a similar approach with his next album Warm Thoughts which produced another top 40 hit Let Me Be the Clock though it did not repeat the success of Cruisin In 1981 Robinson topped the charts again with another sensual ballad Being with You which was another number one hit in Cash Box and peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 1 It also hit number one in the UK Singles Chart becoming his most successful single to date 1 The Gold plus parent album sparked a partnership with George Tobin and with Tobin Robinson released his next several Motown albums Yes It s You Lady which produced the hit Tell Me Tomorrow Touch the Sky and Essar In 1983 Robinson teamed up with fellow Motown label mate Rick James recording the R amp B ballad Ebony Eyes In 1987 following a period of personal and professional issues Robinson made a comeback with the album One Heartbeat and the singles Just to See Her and One Heartbeat 1 which were Top 10 hits on Billboard s Pop Soul and Adult Contemporary charts They were aided by popular music videos Just to See Her won Robinson his first Grammy Award in 1988 12 The album became one of his most successful ever selling over 900 000 copies in the United States alone In the same year Robinson released One Heartbeat the UK group ABC released a tribute song When Smokey Sings He was inducted as a solo artist to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988 1 later igniting controversy as the committee had inducted only Robinson and not members of his group the Miracles which Robinson was personally offended by 13 14 In 2012 however the committee rectified the mistake announcing that the group would be inducted on their own merit Though Robinson was not listed as an inductee he was due to induct his former group at the ceremony in April 2012 After Motown was sold off to MCA in 1988 Robinson relinquished his position as vice president Following the release of the album Love Smokey in 1990 Robinson left Motown for a deal with SBK Records in 1991 However the album Double Good Everything failed to chart Robinson remained virtually quiet during the nineties though he would make a notable cameo appearance in The Temptations 1998 miniseries making a brief comeback in 1999 when he re signed with Motown and issued the album Intimate which included the song Easy to Love In 2003 he once again split ties with Motown releasing the gospel album Food for the Soul on Liquid 8 Records in 2004 In 2004 Robinson sang the main title theme song Colorful World to the American children s animated series ToddWorld for Discovery Kids TLC and Mike Young Productions Two years later Robinson released the standards album Timeless Love in 2006 on Universal Records In 2009 he issued the album Time Flies When You re Having Fun on his own label Robso Records It reached number 59 on the Billboard album chart his highest showing since One Heartbeat He subsequently released Now And Then in 2010 which peaked at number 131 Robinson with Senator Doug Jones while testifying at the United States Congress to support the CLASSICS Act in 2018 Smokey amp Friends was released in mid August 2014 It was an album of duets including songs with Elton John Linda Ronstadt and James Taylor It reached number 12 on the Billboard album chart Christmas Everyday was Robinson s first post Miracles Christmas album and was released on November 10 2017 In 2018 he appeared on an episode of CMT Crossroads alongside country singer Cam citation needed In April 2017 Robinson visited Fremont Lopez Elementary School in Stockton California where he served as a designated arts mentor under Turnaround Arts citation needed On July 31 2018 Robinson appeared as a special guest on the Fox network s show Beat Shazam as a special guest 15 Robinson appeared on the song Make It Better from Anderson Paak s 2019 album Ventura In 2023 Robinson announced that he would release his first album in almost a decade in April 2023 The nine track album will be called Gasms and will feature entirely new music The first single from the album called If We Don t Have Each Other was already available on streaming service by January 2023 16 Personal life EditRobinson married a fellow Miracles member Claudette Rogers in 1959 The couple had two children a son Berry Robinson born 1968 named after Motown s first label founder Berry Gordy and a daughter Tamla Robinson born 1971 named after the original Tamla label set up by Gordy that would eventually become Motown Robinson also had a son named Trey born 1984 with another woman during his marriage to Claudette After Robinson admitted to having fathered a child with a woman other than his wife he filed for legal separation and later filed for divorce The divorce was finalized in 1986 The Robinsons had also separated in 1974 during that separation Robinson engaged in an extramarital affair that inspired the song The Agony amp The Ecstasy later featured on A Quiet Storm 17 Robinson married Frances Gladney in May 2002 They own a home in Pittsburgh and use it as a winery 18 Robinson has not eaten red meat since 1972 19 He practices Transcendental Meditation 19 20 Robinson is notable for having golden green eyes which he believes were passed down from his French great grandmother 21 Discography EditMain articles The Miracles discography and Smokey Robinson discography solo career Awards and accolades Edit Conductor Zubin Mehta with singers Dolly Parton and Robinson during a reception for the Kennedy Center honorees in the East Room of the White House December 3 2006 On February 22 1983 Smokey was awarded an individual star on The Hollywood Walk of Fame 22 Four years later in 1987 Robinson was inducted to the Rock amp Roll Hall of Fame Robinson s single Just to See Her from the One Heartbeat album was awarded the 1988 Grammy Award for Grammy Award for Best Male R amp B Vocal Performance This was Robinson s first Grammy Award 12 One year later in 1989 he was inducted to the Songwriter s Hall of FameIn 1993 Robinson was awarded a medal at the National Medal of Arts Two years before he won the Heritage Award at the Soul Train Music Awards In 2005 Robinson was voted into the Michigan Rock and Roll Legends Hall of Fame 23 At its 138th Commencement Convocation in May 2006 Howard University conferred on Robinson the degree of Doctor of Music honoris causa In December 2006 Robinson was one of five Kennedy Center honorees along with Dolly Parton Zubin Mehta Steven Spielberg and Andrew Lloyd Webber On March 20 2009 the Miracles were finally honored as a group with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame Smokey was present with original Miracles members Bobby Rogers Pete Moore Bobby s cousin Claudette Rogers and Gloria White accepting for her husband the late Ronnie White whose daughter Pamela and granddaughter Maya were there representing him as well Smokey s replacement 1970s Miracles lead singer Billy Griffin was also honored 24 Controversially original Miracle Marv Tarplin was not honored against the wishes of his fellow Miracles and the group s fans who felt that he should have also been there to share the honor Later Tarplin did receive his star He was also inducted with the rest of the original Miracles Bobby Rogers Pete Moore Ronnie White and Claudette Robinson into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012 25 years after Robinson s controversial solo induction in 1987 He was also awarded Society of Singers Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011 24 In 2009 Robinson received an honorary doctorate degree along with Linda Ronstadt and gave a commencement speech at Berklee College of Music s commencement ceremony In 2015 he was given a BET Lifetime Achievement Award In 2016 Robinson received the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song and on August 21 2016 he was inducted into the Rhythm amp Blues Hall of Fame in his hometown of Detroit In 2019 he received the Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement presented by Awards Council members Jimmy Page and Peter Gabriel 25 26 References Edit a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Larkin Colin ed 1997 The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music Concise ed Virgin Books pp 1022 3 ISBN 1 85227 745 9 Lewis Randy July 5 2016 Smokey Robinson named 2016 Gershwin Prize for Popular Song honoree Los Angeles Times Smokey Robinson Is The Greatest American Songwriter Theconcourse deadspin com February 10 2017 Robinson Smokey The Breakfast Club radio show October 21 2016 Smokey Robinson Discusses Motown Playing Music During Segregation Days and How He Got His Name video United States Breakfast Club Power 105 1 FM Event occurs at 44 20 Retrieved June 23 2020 Hubbard Stephen Scott Ross Smokey Robinson and the Miracle of Salvation CBN Music Retrieved October 11 2014 Battle Chelsea September 12 2012 Smokey Robinson A Poet That You Knoweth Los Angeles Sentinel Retrieved September 14 2014 CBS Steven and Ross Scott Interview with Smokey Robinson The 700 Club Retrieved April 12 2007 Smokey Robinson sings to Aretha Franklin during her funeral YouTube August 31 2018 a b c d e Gilliland John 1969 Show 25 The Soul Reformation Phase two the Motown story Part 4 audio Pop Chronicles University of North Texas Libraries a b Interview 2009 An Evening with Smokey Robinson PBS The Miracles In the 60s we loved and lost to this Motown legend s smooth songs Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2012 Cleveland com April 3 2012 Retrieved August 18 2014 a b Smokey Robinson Grammy com March 17 2014 Retrieved January 9 2019 Smokey Robinson Rockhall com Retrieved October 20 2009 Rock amp Roll Hall of Fame still missing 3 Motown stalwarts Goldmine Magazine Goldminemag com Retrieved November 9 2011 Smokey Robinson is Special Guest on Beat Shazam Hosted by Jamie Foxx Tonight on FOX Feeling the Vibe Magazine Blog feelingthevibe com Retrieved July 31 2018 Smokey Robinson King of Motown to release new solo album AP NEWS January 27 2023 Retrieved January 29 2023 Smokey Robinson Reveals How Infidelity And Drugs Destroyed His Marriage Ebony Johnson Publishing Company May 1989 pp 150 ISSN 0012 9011 Smokey Robinson Teams With Pittsburgh s Engine House 25 Wines Pittsburgh cbslocal com a b McLean Craig September 7 2014 Smokey Robinson interview God saved me from cocaine The Daily Telegraph Archived from the original on January 11 2022 Retrieved September 14 2014 Gluck Bob 2012 You ll Know When You Get There Herbie Hancock and the Mwandishi Band The University of Chicago Press p 229 Retrieved September 14 2014 Sweetingham Lisa October 21 2009 Smokey Robinson interview Telegraph co uk Archived from the original on January 11 2022 Smokey Robinson Hollywood Walk of Fame Walkoffame com October 25 2019 Retrieved April 20 2020 Michigan Rock and Roll Legends SMOKEY ROBINSON Michiganrockandrolllegends com Retrieved October 2 2019 a b Ella Award Special Events February 12 2011 Archived from the original on May 14 2015 Retrieved May 10 2015 Golden Plate Awardees of the American Academy of Achievement www achievement org American Academy of Achievement 2019 Summit Highlights Photo Roger Daltrey the lead singer of The Who greets a friend and fellow honoree Motown legend Smokey Robinson Academy of Achievement Further reading EditChristgau Robert June 1972 Smokey Robinson Newsday External links Edit Wikiquote has quotations related to Smokey Robinson Wikimedia Commons has media related to Smokey Robinson Smokey Robinson interview by Pete Lewis Blues amp Soul December 1992 Interview on Fresh Air Smokey Robinson Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Smokey Robinson s page at soulwalking co uk Smokey Robinson Biography and Update at SoulTracks Smokey Robinson at cosmopolis ch Smokey Robinson at IMDb Smokey Robinson interviewed on the Pop Chronicles 1969 Smokey Robinson Wines Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Smokey Robinson amp oldid 1136381593, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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