Smokey Robinson

Smokey Robinson
William "Smokey" Robinson, Jr. (born February 19, 1940) is an R&B and soul singer and songwriter. Robinson is noted for being one of the primary figures associated with the Motown record label, second only to the company's founder, Berry Gordy. As both a member of Motown group The Miracles and a solo artist, Robinson recorded thirty-seven Top 40 hits for Motown between 1960 and 1987, and also served as the company's Vice President from 1961 to 1988.

Smokey Robinson was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan's North End Neighborhood, USA, and when still a child was nicknamed "Smokey Joe" by an uncle because of his love of cowboy movies. In his teens, this was shortened to "Smokey". In 1955, Robinson founded a group he called the Five Chimes with his best friend Ronald White, and Northern High School classmates Pete Moore, Clarence Dawson, and James Grice. By 1957, the group was called the Matadors.

With Robinson as lead singer, the Matadors began touring the local Detroit venues. In 1958, Robinson met songwriter Berry Gordy, who co-wrote for them the single "Got a Job", an answer song to the Silhouettes' hit single "Get a Job". The group renamed itself the Miracles, and issued singles on both End Records and Chess Records before Robinson suggested to Gordy that he start a label of his own.The 1960 single "Shop Around" was Motown's first number one hit on the R&B singles chart and the first big hit for The Miracles. The song was also Motown's first million-selling single. They scored many more hits over the years.

Besides penning hits for his own group, Robinson also wrote and produced hits and album tracks for other Motown artists. Mary Wells had a big hit with the Robinson-penned "My Guy" (1964), and Robinson served as The Temptations' primary songwriter and producer from 1963 to 1966, penning hits such as "The Way You Do the Things You Do", "My Girl", "Since I Lost My Baby", and "Get Ready". Among Robinson's numerous other Motown compositions are "Still Water (Love)" by The Four Tops, "Don't Mess With Bill" and "My Baby Must Be a Magician" by The Marvelettes, "When I'm Gone" by Brenda Holloway, "Ain't That Peculiar" and "I'll Be Doggone" by Marvin Gaye, and "First I Look at the Purse" by The Contours.Smokey Robinson began a low-key solo career while concentrating on his duties as vice-president of Motown, releasing his first solo LP, Smokey, in 1973. His first hit single, "Sweet Harmony" (1973), was dedicated to The Miracles.

In 1975, Robinson's solo career went into full-drive after the success of the number one R&B hit "Baby That's Backatcha". Robinson's 1976 single "Quiet Storm" and its accompanying album typified a smooth, slow style of R&B that is today called "quiet storm." He also recorded the soundtrack to the film Big Time (1977).During the mid-1980s, Robinson fell victim to cocaine addiction thus his recording slowed. With the help of friend Leon Kennedy, Robinson was dramatically healed of his addiction at a religious service. He eventually revitalized his career, scoring hits in 1987 with the Grammy Award-winning "Just To See Her" and "One Heartbeat". Both songs were Top 10 pop hits. Also in 1987, British band ABC scored a US and UK hit with their tribute to Robinson, entitled "When Smokey Sings". In 1988, Robinson published his autobiography, Smokey, and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Upon Motown's sale to MCA in 1988, Robinson resigned from his position as vice-president. After one last album for Motown, Love, Smokey (1990), Robinson departed the company. He released one record for SBK Records, Double Good Everything (1991), the same year he won a Soul Train Music Award for Career Achievement. Eight years later, he returned to Motown, which by then was a subsidiary of Universal Music Group, and released Intimate (1999). The same year, Robinson received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

Since then, Smokey has continued to periodically perform and tour. In 2003, Robinson served as a guest judge for American Idol during "Billy Joel Week". He issued a gospel LP, Food for the Spirit in 2004. A new album of pop standards from the early 20th century, Timeless Love, was released in June 2006. It was originally recorded with a jazz combo, but strings were added after the fact, giving the album more of a lush sound but removing much of the jazz feeling of the disc.In 2004, Robinson's company, SFGL Foods, launched a special brand of gumbo called "Smokey Robinson's 'The Soul is in the Bowl' Gumbo".[1].In May 2006, at its 138th Commencement Convocation, Howard University conferred on Robinson the degree of Doctor of Music, honoris causa.

In recent months, Robinson has appeared on Friday Night with Jonathan Ross, the NBC daytime drama Days of Our Lives, and on The Rachael Ray Show. He is scheduled to appear on Duets on Fox along with Randy Travis, Patti Labelle, Chaka Khan, Dionne Warwick, Aaron Neville, Clint Black, Michael Bolton, Kenny Loggins, Brian McKnight, Macy Gray, Richard Marx, and Cyndi Lauper. David Foster will be a judge.Smokey Robinson in popular cultureABC recorded a tribute song called "When Smokey Sings", that references his influence on the music industry.The song was a top 10 pop hit. Amazingly, Smokey himself had a top 10 record on the Billboard pop chart that same week. It was said to be a music industry first, having a tributor and tributee in the top 10 at the same time.

For an R&B music fan, there's nothing like Smokey Robinson tickets. It is a wonderful time to treat yourself with live performance as Smokey Robinson is coming to rock your city soon. The exclusive music style of this music icon will have you singing right along. As the popularity of this celebrity can lead to shortage of tickets, you need to be on your toes to grab some tickets for the show before you miss out this great opportunity.

Smokey Robinson is also a song writer and record producer other than being a singer. Because of his graet music and creativity in the music scene, he was got the title "King of Motown." He was originally a member of The Miracles. As a part of the band as well as a solo artist, Robinson has produced a number of U.S. and U.K. Top 40 hits. "Baby That's Backatcha", "The Agony and the Ecstasy", "When You Came", and "There Will Come a Day (I'm Gonna Happen to You)" include some of his best singles. Robinson's popular albums include Smokey, Pure Smokey, Smokey's Family Robinson, Deep in My Soul, Big Time, Love Breeze, Where There's Smoke and Warm Thoughts.

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