Smokey Robinson | |
|---|---|
 Robinson in 2018 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | William Robinson Jr. |
| Born | (1940-02-19)February 19, 1940 (age 85) Detroit,Michigan, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1955–present |
| Labels | |
| Formerly of | The Miracles |
| Spouses | |
| Website | smokeyrobinson |
William "Smokey"Robinson Jr. (born February 19, 1940) is an AmericanR&B andsoul singer, songwriter, record producer, and formerrecord executive. He was the founder and frontman of the pioneeringMotown vocal groupthe Miracles, for which he was also chief songwriter and producer.[1] He led the group from its 1955 origins, when they were called The Five Chimes, until 1972, when he retired from the group to focus on his role as Motown Records vice president. Robinson returned to the music industry as a solo artist the following year. He left Motown in 1999.
Robinson was inducted into theRock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987 and awarded the 2016Library of CongressGershwin Prize for his lifetime contributions to popular music.[2][3] He is a doubleHollywood Walk of Fame Inductee, as a solo artist (1983) and as a member of The Miracles (2009). In 2022, he was inducted into theBlack Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame.
William Robinson Jr. was born to anAfrican-American father and a mother ofAfrican-American andFrench descent in a poor family in theNorth End area ofDetroit, Michigan.[1] He had two maternal half-sisters, and his parents divorced when he was three years old.[4]
Robinson's ancestry is also partNigerian,Scandinavian,Portuguese, andCherokee.[5] His uncle Claude gave him the nickname "Smokey Joe" when he was a child.[6] 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.[7]
When Robinson was 10, his mother died, and he began living with older sister, Geraldine, with her husband, who had 10 children together.[4]
He attendedNorthern High School, where he was above average academically and a determined athlete. However, his main interest was music, and he formed adoo-wop group named the Five Chimes. He andAretha Franklin lived several houses from each other on Belmont; he 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.[8][9]
Robinson's interest in music started during childhood after he heard the groupsNolan Strong & the Diablos andBilly Ward and his Dominoes on the radio. He has citedBarrett Strong, a Detroit native, as a strong vocal influence.[citation needed] In 1955, he formed the first lineup of The Five Chimes with childhood friendRonald White and classmatePete Moore.
Two years later, they were renamed the Matadors and includedBobby 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. Eventually they changed their name to The Miracles.
.jpg)
In August 1957, Robinson and the Miracles met songwriterBerry Gordy after a failed audition forBrunswick 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", ananswer song tothe Silhouettes' hit single "Get a Job"[10] onEnd Records. It was the beginning of a long and successful collaboration. During this time, Robinson attended college and started classes in January 1959, studyingelectrical engineering. He dropped out after only two months, following the Miracles' release of their first record.[11]
Gordy formedTamla 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.[12] In late 1960, the group recorded their first hit single, "Shop Around", which became Motown's first million-selling hit record.[10] 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",[10] "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 albumGoing 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",[10] "The One Who Really Loves You", "You Beat Me to the Punch" and "My Guy" forMary Wells; "The Way You Do The Things You Do", "My Girl",[10] "Since I Lost My Baby", "It's Growing", and "Get Ready" forthe Temptations; "Still Water (Love)" forthe Four Tops; "When I'm Gone" and "Operator" forBrenda Holloway; "Don't Mess With Bill", "The Hunter Gets Captured by the Game" and "My Baby Must Be a Magician" forthe Marvelettes; and "I'll Be Doggone" and "Ain't That Peculiar" forMarvin Gaye.[1]
After the arrival ofHolland–Dozier–Holland and the team ofNorman Whitfield andBarrett Strong, Robinson was eclipsed as a top writer and producer for the label, and other Motown artists such as Gaye andStevie Wonder began to compose more original material. Later in his career, Robinson wrote lyrics and music forthe Contours such as "First I Look at the Purse", as well as theFour Tops' "Still Water" andThe 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 afterEsther Gordy Edwards had left the position. 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 inWashington, D.C.
After a year ofretirement, Robinson announced his comeback with the release of the eponymousSmokey 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 memberEddie Kendricks, as all three had multiple hit singles during this period.
FormerBeatleGeorge Harrison featured the track "Pure Smokey" on his 1976 albumThirty Three & 1/3 as a tribute to Robinson.[citation needed] (Harrison's fellow BeatlesJohn Lennon andPaul McCartney were also fans of Robinson's songwriting and the group covered "You Really Gotta Hold on Me" on their second UK albumWith the Beatles and US albumThe Beatles' Second Album, respectively.)
Robinson answered his critics the following year withA 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" (the radio formatquiet storm, originated by DJMelvin Lindsey, is named after the album). 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 includingSmokey's Family Robinson,Deep in My Soul,Love Breeze andSmokin, 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 awriter's block after his close collaborator (and fellow Miracle),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 inCash Box and peaked at number four on theBillboard Hot 100. It also became his first solo number one inNew 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 inCash Box and peaked at number two on theBillboard Hot 100.[1] It also hit number one in theUK Singles Chart, becoming his most successful single to date.[1] The Gold-plusparent album sparked a partnership withGeorge 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 andEssar. In 1983, Robinson teamed up with fellow Motown label mateRick 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 onBillboard's Pop, Soul, and Adult Contemporary charts. They were aided by popular music videos. "Just to See Her" won Robinson his firstGrammy Award in 1988.[13] The album became one of his most successful ever, selling over 900,000 copies in the United States alone. In the same year, Robinson releasedOne Heartbeat, the UK groupABC released a tribute song, "When Smokey Sings".
He was inducted as a solo artist to theRock 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 saw as an affront.[14][15] 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.
AfterMCA purchased Motown 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 withSBK 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 inThe 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 thegospel album,Food for the Spirit on Liquid 8 Records in 2004. In 2004, Robinson sang the main title theme song "Colorful World" to the American children's animated seriesToddWorld forDiscovery Kids,TLC and Mike Young Productions. Two years later, Robinson released thestandards 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 theBillboard album chart, his highest showing sinceOne Heartbeat. He subsequently released "Now And Then" in 2010, which peaked at number 131.
Smokey & Friends was released in mid-August 2014. It was an album of duets, including songs withElton John,Linda Ronstadt andJames Taylor. It reached number 12 on theBillboard 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 ofCMT Crossroads alongside country singerCam.[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.[16][17]
On July 31, 2018, Robinson appeared on the Fox network's showBeat Shazam as a special guest.[18]
Robinson appeared on the song "Make It Better" fromAnderson Paak's 2019 albumVentura.
In 2023, Robinson announced that he would release his first album in almost a decade in April 2023. The nine-track album will be calledGasms, 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 services by January 2023.[19]
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 founderBerry Gordy, and a daughter, Tamla Robinson (born 1971), named after the original "Tamla" label set up by Gordy that would eventually become Motown.
According to Robinson, he had affairs with multiple women while married to Claudette, among them an approximately year-long affair withDiana Ross. According to Robinson, Ross ended it because she felt uncomfortable as she was friends with Claudette, whom Robinson admitted he still loved. (A representative for Ross had no comment on Robinson's claim.) Robinson says thatloving multiple people in that way simultaneously is natural.[20][21]
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 forlegal separation and later filed for divorce that was finalized in 1986. The Robinsons had also separated in 1974 and during that separation, Robinson engaged in an extramarital affair that inspired the song "The Agony & The Ecstasy" (later featured onA Quiet Storm).[22]
Robinson married Frances Gladney in May 2002. They own a home inPittsburgh and use it as awinery.[23]
Robinson has not eaten red meat since 1972.[24] He practicesTranscendental Meditation.[24][25] Robinson has golden green eyes, which he believes were passed down from his French great-grandmother.[26]
Beginning in November 2023, Robinson is the current owner and host of theSiriusXM channelSoul Town, a station that plays R&B and soul hits from the 1950s to the early 1980s. Released under the bannerSmokey's Soul Town, Robinson occasionally appears on the channel, recalling his best moments with Motown and meeting other artists as well as pick his favorite songs during that time period.[27][28]
On February 22, 1983, Smokey was awarded an individual star on The Hollywood Walk of Fame.[29]Four years later, in 1987, Robinson was inducted to theRock & Roll Hall of Fame. Robinson's single "Just to See Her" from theOne Heartbeat album was awarded the 1988Grammy Award forGrammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance. This was Robinson's first Grammy Award.[13] One year later, in 1989, he was inducted to theSongwriter's Hall of Fame
In 1993, Robinson was awarded a medal at theNational Medal of Arts. Two years before, he won the Heritage Award at theSoul Train Music Awards. In 2005, Robinson was voted into the Michigan Rock and Roll Legends Hall of Fame.[30] At its 138thCommencement Convocation in May 2006,Howard University conferred on Robinson the degree ofDoctor of Music,honoris causa. In December 2006 Robinson was one of fiveKennedy Center honorees, along withDolly Parton,Zubin Mehta,Steven Spielberg andAndrew Lloyd Webber.
On March 20, 2009,the Miracles were finally honored as agroup with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Smokey was present with original Miracles membersBobby Rogers,Pete Moore, (Bobby's cousin)Claudette Rogers, and Gloria White, accepting for her husband, the lateRonnie White, whose daughter Pamela and granddaughter Maya were there representing him as well. Smokey's replacement, 1970s Miracles lead singerBilly Griffin, was also honored.[31]
Controversially, original MiracleMarv 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 theRock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012, 25 years after Robinson's controversial solo induction in 1987. He was also awardedSociety of Singers Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011.[31]
In 2009, Robinson received an honorary doctorate degree—along withLinda Ronstadt—and gave a commencement speech atBerklee 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 National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame in his hometown of Detroit.
In 2019, he received the Golden Plate Award of theAmerican Academy of Achievement presented by Awards Council membersJimmy Page andPeter Gabriel.[32][33]
In 2023,Rolling Stone ranked Robinson at No. 23 on their list of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time.[34]
