Background

Ethnicity: Smokey Robinson is of African-American and French descent.

Smokey Robinson was born William Robinson Jr. on February 19, 1940, in Detroit, Michigan, in the rough Brewster ghetto, a poor and generally dangerous neighborhood. Robinson's father, William Robinson, Sr., worked in a bowling alley; his mother, Flossie Mae Smith Bynum Ligon, was a homemaker. His parents divorced when he was three, and his mother died when he was ten, after which he was raised in a household containing many family members, including his sister Geraldine, her ten children and his father. The nickname "Smokey" was applied to him ironically because he was actually quite light skinned. Robinson was interested in singing as early as the age of six. Young Smokey grew up listening to his mother's records, including the works of B. B. King, Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Sarah Vaughan, and Billy Eckstine. These African-American artists, he commented in Rolling Stone, were "the first inspirational thing I had."

Education

Smokey Robinson attended Northern High School, where he was above average academically and a keen athlete. He formed his first vocal group in grade school; he also began writing songs at an early age. His voice was a high tenor, and he claimed to use falsetto only rarely to hit high notes. Robinson's high school group, at first called the Five Chimes, was later dubbed the Matadors. This was the group that would evolve into the Miracles. In addition to Robinson, it consisted of Warren "Pete" Moore, Ronnie White, Emerson "Sonny" Rogers, and Rogers's cousin Bobby Rogers. When Sonny Rogers went into the army, he was replaced by his sister Claudette Rogers, who was also Robinson's girlfriend. When Rogers returned from military service, he rejoined the group, and Claudette retired from touring, although she continued to sing with the Miracles in the studio. After graduating from high school in 1957 Robinson briefly attended the Highland Park Community College in 1959. He dropped out after only two months following the Miracles' release of their first record.

Career

In 1955, Smokey Robinson assembled a vocal group called the Five Chimes, which featured his schoolmates Clarence Dawson, James Grice, Pete Moore, and Ronald White. In 1956, the group adopted a new name, the Matadors, after Dawson left and Emerson Rogers took his place, and a year later, Rogers and James Grice left the lineup, and Claudette Rogers and Bobby Rogers (respectively Emerson Rogers' sister and cousin) stepped in. With their new co-ed lineup, the name the Matadors was considered a poor fit, and they began calling themselves the Miracles. A guitarist, Marv Tarplin, joined the act in 1958, and the Miracles began making a name for themselves on Detroit's rhythm and blues scene.

In 1958, Robinson met Berry Gordy, a Detroit-based songwriter who had penned several hits for Jackie Wilson and was looking to make a name for himself in the music business. Gordy was impressed with the Miracles and Robinson's talents as a songwriter; he helped the band land a deal with End Records, and the Miracles released their first single, "Got a Job" (an answer song to the Silhouettes' hit "Get a Job") later that year. While the single sold well in Detroit, it didn't make much noise nationally, and follow-ups on End and Chess fared no better. Robinson believed he and Gordy could do better themselves, and he urged Gordy to follow through on his idea of forming his own label. The Miracles became the first act signed to Gordy's new record company, Motown, and in 1960, their song "Shop Around," written by Robinson, was the first Motown single to become a nationwide hit.

Through the '60s, the Miracles were a frequent presence on the pop and rhythm and blues charts, scoring hits with such songs as "Tracks of My Tears," "Mickey's Monkey," "You've Really Got a Hold on Me," "Going to a Go-Go," "Ooo Baby Baby," and many more. As Robinson became recognized as the creative force behind the group, their name was changed to Smokey Robinson & the Miracles in 1966. Robinson also shared his talents with many other Motown acts; he wrote "My Guy" and "The One Who Really Loves You" for Mary Wells, "My Girl," "Get Ready," and "The Way You Do the Things You Do" for the Temptations, "Ain't That Peculiar" and "I'll Be Doggone" for Marvin Gaye, and "The Hunter Gets Captured by the Game" for the Marvelettes, among many others. As a vice president at Motown, Robinson was also a key part of the label's management and production team and helped guide the company into being one of the most successful independent American record labels of all time.

Robinson fell in love with Claudette Rogers not long after she joined the Miracles, and they were married in 1959. By 1969, Robinson was growing tired of dividing his time between his family, Motown, and the Miracles, and he decided to retire from the group so he could spend more time at home and less time on the road. He postponed his departure when "Tears of a Clown" (recorded in 1966) unexpectedly became a major hit in 1970, but a year later, he launched a "farewell tour" with the Miracles, though the group would continue without him (and Robinson would write one of their latter-day hits, "Floy Joy").

After a two-year layoff, Robinson returned to the recording studio with his first solo album, 1973's Smokey. The album found Robinson focusing on midtempo romantic numbers as well as more mature and personal themes, which would carry over to his second solo effort, 1974's Pure Smokey. Robinson scored a pair of major R&B hits with 1975's A Quiet Storm, the title tune and "Baby, That's Backatcha," and the former tune would give a name to the sort of polished, romantic rhythm and blues that was becoming Robinson's stock in trade. Robinson was no longer as consistent a hitmaker as he once was, but he continued to make his presence known on the charts with tunes such as "Cruisin'" (from 1979's Where There's Smoke) and "Being with You" (from the 1981 album of the same name). The year 1987 was a memorable one for Robinson - the album One Heartbeat would score a massive hit for him with the song "Just to See Her," which also earned him a Grammy, and he was also inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (though the rest of the Miracles were not, much to his consternation). But this came near the end of an important era for Robinson - in 1988, Motown was sold to Music Corporation of America, and Robinson stepped down as vice president. In 1990, he recorded a final album for Motown, Love Smokey (Robinson received a Lifetime Achievement Grammy the same year), and he signed with SBK Records for 1992's Double Good Everything.

The end of Motown came during a turbulent period for Robinson - in the mid-'80s, he developed a serious addiction to cocaine, and his marriage to Claudette ended in divorce in 1986. While Robinson would kick drugs shortly after the end of his marriage, following the commercial disappointment of Double Good Everything, he wouldn't record again until 1999, when he recorded Intimate for Music Corporation of America's revived Motown label. In 2004, Robinson (who cited a spiritual reawakening as a key factor in giving up drugs) recorded a contemporary gospel album, Food for the Spirit, and a collection of standards, Timeless Love, followed in 2006. Robinson returned to the smooth soul sounds of his '70s and '80s solo work with 2009's Time Flies When You're Having Fun, released on his own label, Robso Records; several tracks from this album were matched with remakes of Robinson's Motown hits for the collection Now & Then. In 2014, he released a Verve album, Smokey & Friends, for which he remade 11 of his most popular compositions with a roster of duet partners that included Elton John, James Taylor, Mary J. Blige, and Jessie J. It reached number 12 on the Billboard album chart.

Christmas Everyday (an Amazon Original) is Robinson's 1st Post-Miracles Christmas album, and was released on Nov 10th 2017.

Robinson is currently managed by Geffen Management Group, a talent management company founded by Jeremy Geffen, and whose artists under management include Jacob Latimore and the estate of the late singer/songwriter Marvin Gaye.

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

Robinson launched Smokey Robinson Wines in 2017 with the help of Pittsburgh photographer Duane Rieder, who owns Enginehouse 25 Wines.

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

Achievements

• 

  Once pronounced by Bob Dylan as America’s “greatest living poet,” acclaimed singer-songwriter Smokey Robinson’s career spans over 4 decades of hits. He has received numerous awards including the Grammy Living Legend Award, NARAS Lifetime Achievement Award, Doctor of Music, honoris causa (Howard University), Kennedy Center Honors and the National Medal of Arts Award from the President of the United States. He has also been inducted into the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters’ Hall of Fame. On February 22, 1983, Smokey was awarded an individual star on The Hollywood Walk of Fame. 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, Michigan.

Works

More photos

• book

  • Smokey: Inside My Life

    (Traces the fabled career of the legendary singer over a t...)

    1989
  • Smokey Robinson - Sheet Music Collection

    (17 Smokey Robinson classics arranged for piano and voice ...)

    2018

• music

  • Hi We're The Miracles 1961
  • Cookin' With The Miracles 1961
  • I'll Try Something New 1962
  • Christmas With The Miracles 1963
  • The Fabulous Miracles 1963
  • Recorded Live On Stage 1963
  • Doin' Mickey's Monkey 1963
  • I Like It Like That 1964
  • Going To A Go-Go 1965
  • Away We A Go-Go 1966
  • Make It Happen 1967
  • Special Occasion 1968
  • Smokey Robinson & The Miracles Live 1969
  • Time Out For Smokey Robinson & The Miracles 1969
  • Four In Blue 1969
  • What Love Has... Joined Together 1970
  • A Pocket Full Of Miracles 1970
  • The Season For Miracles 1970
  • One Dozen Roses 1971
  • Flying High Together 1972
  • Smokey Robinson & The Miracles: 1957–1972 1972
  • Smokey 1973
  • Pure Smokey 1974
  • A Quiet Storm 1975
  • Smokey's Family Robinson 1976
  • Deep In My Soul 1977
  • Big Time 1977
  • Love Breeze 1978
  • Smokin’ 1978
  • Where There's Smoke... 1979
  • Warm Thoughts 1980
  • Being With You 1981
  • Yes It's You Lady 1982
  • Touch The Sky 1983
  • Essar 1984
  • Smoke Signals 1986
  • One Heartbeat 1987
  • Love, Smokey 1990
  • Double Good Everything 1991
  • Intimate 1999
  • Food for the Spirit 2004
  • My World: The Definitive Collection 2005
  • Timeless Love 2006
  • Time Flies When You're Having Fun 2009
  • Now & Then 2010
  • Smokey & Friends 2014

Religion

Later in his life, Robinson became very religious and also became clean and sober. He has described his experiences in his autobiography titled “Inside My Life.” He claims religion helped him to overcome drug addiction.

Politics

Robinson is not a politically involved person. Though, he expressed a reserved criticism of Donald Trump. He also thinks that people in the Republican Party are thinking more about their party than the country and wishes them to stand up to President Donald Trump and put Americans first.

Views

Smokey Robinson and the Miracles recorded hits like Shop Around, I Second That Emotion, and Tears of a Clown. But those classic tunes don't enjoy the same copyright protections as songs recorded after 1972 and digital streaming services and stations aren't required pay royalties for playing the music. Robinson states that musicians that recorded before February 15, 1972, which is when federal copyright protections kick in, deserve the same compensation as those that recorded after that date. The 78-year-old Robinson was on Capitol Hill testifying in favor of the Music Modernization Act, a bill that would change music licensing rules to fit with the digital era.

Quotations: “Once you're a Motown artist, you're always a Motown artist.”

“As human beings, we're very materialistic and have all this stuff - furs and cars and diamonds and money.”

“If you feel like loving me, if you've got the notion, I second that emotion.”

“I don't ever balk at being considered a Motown person, because Motown is the greatest musical event that ever happened in the history of music.”

“Put your trust in me, let this love be. This is for real, let time stand still.”

“That's what love is made of, snakes, snails, and puppy dog tails, sugar, spice, and everything nice.

“Even if I don't release it myself, somebody else might hear it and want to record it. When you write a song, it gives it that potential.”

“One thing I can say about the Motown acts is that we were a family. That's not a myth.”

“You are most certainly the inspiration for all of today's rock 'n' roll guitarists. Your music is timeless. ”

“You know what, life is full of temptations.”

“I really haven't strayed too far, musically, from my roots.”

“I've been speaking at churches for years, as well as juvenile jails, rehabs and hospitals, and I always talk about my faith. That is a declaration of my relationship with God.”

“We're very physical creatures, and we worry about how we look sometimes more than our spiritual selves.”

“When someone picks up one of my songs and records it, I'm a flattered man, it's a blessing to me.”

“Motown will always be a heavy-duty part of my life because those are my roots.”

“So I wanted to sing inspirational music, and that's exactly how I approached it - only the words have been changed to declare my relationship with God.”

Personality

For a time, Smokey Robinson had a troubled personal life as he had an extramarital affair which led to divorce and his close friend Marvin Gaye died. He started using cocaine and became heavily addicted to it. He was 41 when he started taking the drug, following the success of the single “Being With You.” For two years, he suffered through his addiction; his health declined, his marriage disintegrated, he withdrew from his friends. He says that his habit emerged later in life because he had always been “protected” by his friends and colleagues. Having smoked “a whole lot of weed” when he was younger, Robinson thought that he was immune to the perils of addiction. Later he managed to overcome the addiction. Robinson has not eaten red meat since 1972. He practices Transcendental Meditation. His favorite movie is Back to the Future.

Robinson has a number of good friends that include Sam Cooke, Berry Gordy, Levi Stubbs, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Curtis Mayfield, Teena Marie, Rick James, and Leon Isaac Kennedy.

Physical Characteristics: Robinson is notable for having golden green eyes, which he attributes to having been passed down from his French great-grandmother. He is 5' 10½" or 1,79 meters of height.

Quotes from others about the person

• "Smokey Robinson writes the heartfelt songs, whereas it was my job to write the songs about weakness and failure in love." - Elvis Costello
  
  "Smokey Robinson is the greatest living American Poet." - Bob Dylan
  
  "I think he’s [Smokey Robinson] got the most perfect voice." - John Lennon

Interests

• Transcendental Meditation

• Politicians

  Martin Luther King

• Writers

  William Shakespeare

• Artists

  Directors: Robert Zemeckis

• Sport & Clubs

  basketball, Detroit Pistons

• Music & Bands

  Nolan Strong and the Diablos, Billy Ward and the Dominoes, Barrett Strong

Connections

Smokey is currently married to Frances Robinson, née Gladney. They were married in May 2002. Robinson married his fellow Miracles member Claudette Rogers in 1959. The couple had two children, son Berry Robinson named after Motown's first label founder Berry Gordy, and daughter Tamla Robinson, named after the original "Tamla" label set up by Gordy that would eventually become Motown. Robinson has another son, Trey, with another woman, during his marriage to Claudette. After Robinson admitted this, he filed for legal separation and, later, divorce, which was granted in 1986. The Robinsons had separated once before, in 1974, and Robinson conducted an extramarital affair that became the concept of the song, "The Agony & The Ecstasy", later featured on A Quiet Storm.

Father:

William Robinson Sr.

Mother:

Flossie Mae Smith Bynum Ligon

ex-wife:

Claudette Rogers

Son:

Berry Robinson

Daughter:

Tamla Robinson

Son:

Trey Robinson

Wife:

Frances Gladney

Acquaintance:

Aretha Franklin

Robinson and Aretha Franklin grew up together. He has known her since he was five or seven years old.

Acquaintance:

Whitney Houston

Friend:

Berry Gordy Jr.

Friend:

Marvin Gaye

Friend:

Michael Jackson

Friend:

Leon Isaac Kennedy

Friend:

Stevie Wonder

References

• The Story of Motown
  2018
• Your Song Changed My Life: From Jimmy Page to St. Vincent, Smokey Robinson to Hozier, Thirty-Five Beloved Artists on Their Journey and the Music That Inspired It
  2017
• Smokey Robinson | Official Site
• Smokey Robinson Wines | Official Site