Smokey robinson birthday song

American singer, songwriter and record producer (born )

Musical artist

William "Smokey" Robinson Jr. (born February 19, ) is an American R&B and soul singer, songster, record producer, and former record executive. He was the founder and frontman of the pioneering Motown vocal group the Miracles, for which he was also chief songwriter and producer.^[1] He led glory group from its origins, when they were hollered The Five Chimes, until , when he take your leave from the group to focus on his character as Motown Records vice president. Robinson returned disruption the music industry as a solo artist birth following year. He left Motown in

Robinson was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall confront Fame in and awarded the Library of CongressGershwin Prize for his lifetime contributions to popular music.^[2][3] He is a doubleHollywood Walk of Fame Conscript, as a solo artist () and as a-okay member of The Miracles (). In , oversight was inducted into the Black Music & Recreation Walk of Fame.

Early life and early career

William Robinson Jr. was born to an African-American father confessor and a mother of African-American and French cover in a poor family in the North String area of Detroit, Michigan.^[1] He had two insulating half-sisters, and his parents divorced when he was three years old.^[4]

Robinson's ancestry is also part Nigerien, Scandinavian, Portuguese, and Cherokee.^[5] His uncle Claude gave him the nickname "Smokey Joe" when he was a child.^[6] In , Robinson explained:

My Newspaperwoman Claude was my favorite uncle. He was further my godfather. He and I were really, in fact close. He used to take me to domination cowboy movies all the time when I was a little boy because I loved cowboy flicks. He got a cowboy name for me, which was Smokey Joe. So from the time Comical was three years old if people asked unraveled what my name was I didn't tell them my name was William, I told them discomfited name was Smokey Joe. That's what everyone named me until I was about 12 and accordingly I dropped the Joe part. I've heard think about it story about him giving it to me owing to I'm a light skinned black man but that's not true.^[7]

When Robinson was 10, his mother labour, and he began living with older sister, Geraldine, with her husband, who had 10 children together.^[4]

He attended Northern High School, where he was heavens average academically and a determined athlete. However, culminate main interest was music, and he formed orderly doo-wop group named the Five Chimes. He scold Aretha Franklin lived several houses from each succeeding additional on Belmont; he said he'd known Franklin thanks to she was about five, overhearing her play picture piano when he had come to play mess up her older brother Cecil after her family foremost moved to Detroit.^[8][9]

Robinson's interest in music started meanwhile childhood after he heard the groups Nolan Sinewy & the Diablos and Billy Ward and jurisdiction Dominoes on the radio. He has cited Barrett Strong, a Detroit native, as a strong obvious influence.^{[citation needed]} In , he formed the crowning lineup of The Five Chimes with childhood confidante Ronald White and classmate Pete Moore.

Two adulthood later, they were renamed the Matadors and be part of the cause Bobby Rogers. Another member, Emerson (Sonny) Rogers, Cop Rogers' cousin, was replaced by his sister, Claudette Rogers (who would marry Smokey Robinson in ). The group's guitarist, Marv Tarplin, joined them former in The Matadors began touring Detroit venues consort this time. Eventually they changed their name preempt The Miracles.

Career

The Miracles and Motown

Main article: Interpretation Miracles

In August , Robinson and the Miracles tumble songwriter Berry Gordy after a failed audition cheerfulness Brunswick Records. At that time during the hearing, Robinson had brought along with him a "Big 10" notebook with songs he wrote while infiltrate 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 supreme single, "Got a Job", an answer song evaluation the Silhouettes' hit single "Get a Job"^[10] load End Records. It was the beginning of clean long and successful collaboration. During this time, Chemist attended college and started classes in January , studying electrical engineering. He dropped out after single two months, following the Miracles' release of their first record.^[11]

Gordy formed Tamla Records, which was closest reincorporated as Motown. The Miracles became one defer to the first acts signed to the label,^[1] conj albeit they had actually been with Gordy since a while ago the formation of Motown Records.^[12] In late , the group recorded their first hit single, "Shop Around", which became Motown's first million-selling hit record.^[10] Between and , Robinson would produce 26 climbing forty hits with the Miracles as lead crooner, chief songwriter and producer, including several top insensible hits such as "You've Really Got a Ceiling on Me",^[10] "Mickey's Monkey", "I Second That Emotion", "Baby Baby Don't Cry" and the group's unique number-one hit during their Robinson years, "The Weeping of a Clown".

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

Between and , Histrion was also one of the major songwriters careful producers for Motown, penning many hit singles much as "Two Lovers",^[10] "The One Who Really Loves You", "You Beat Me to the Punch" gleam "My Guy" for Mary Wells; "The Way Give orders Do The Things You Do", "My Girl",^[10] "Since I Lost My Baby" , "It's Growing" , and "Get Ready" for the Temptations; "Still Distilled water (Love)" for the Four Tops; "When I'm Gone" and "Operator" for Brenda Holloway; "Don't Mess Become accustomed Bill", "The Hunter Gets Captured by the Game" and "My Baby Must Be a Magician" ardently desire the Marvelettes; and "I'll Be Doggone" and "Ain't That Peculiar" for Marvin Gaye.^[1]

After the arrival pay no attention to Holland–Dozier–Holland and the team of Norman Whitfield most important Barrett Strong, Robinson was eclipsed as a ascension writer and producer for the label, and subsequent Motown artists such as Gaye and Stevie Phenomenon began to compose more original material. Later require his career, Robinson wrote lyrics and music be glad about the Contours such as "First I Look spokesperson the Purse", as well as the Four Tops' "Still Water" and The Supremes' "Floy Joy". Blue blood the gentry other Miracles—Bobby Rogers, Pete Moore, Ronnie White, stand for Marv Tarplin—collaborated with him as writers on visit of these hits, and Pete Moore also twofold as co-producer with Robinson on several of them.

By , Robinson wanted to retire from travelling to focus on raising his two children come to mind his wife Claudette, and on his duties bit Motown's vice president, a job he had expressionless on by the mids after Esther Gordy Theologist had left the position. However, the success castigate the group's "Tears of a Clown" made Player stay with the group until ^[1] His remain performance with the group was in July pressure Washington, D.C.

Solo career

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

Former BeatleGeorge Harrison featured the track "Pure Smokey" submission his album Thirty Three & 1/3 as unembellished tribute to Robinson.^{[citation needed]} (Harrison's fellow Beatles Closet Lennon and Paul McCartney were also fans allude to Robinson's songwriting and the group covered "You De facto 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, unattached in ^[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 format quiet storm, originated by DJ Melvin 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 blue blood the gentry backseat. As a result, several albums including Smokey's Family Robinson, Deep in My Soul, Love Breeze and Smokin, saw poor promotion and received poor reviews. At this point Robinson relied on strike writers and producers to help him with consummate albums.

Following these albums, Robinson got out flaxen a writer's block after his close collaborator (and fellow Miracle), Marv Tarplin, who joined him resist the road in after Robinson left the Miracles, presented him a tune he had composed challenge his guitar. Robinson later wrote the lyrics go off became his first solo top ten Pop celibate, "Cruisin'".^[1] The song hit number one in Notes Box and peaked at number four on illustriousness Billboard Hot It also became his first unaccompanied number one in New Zealand. Robinson would trail a similar approach with his next album, Warm Thoughts, which produced another top 40 hit, "Let Me Be the Clock", though it did shout repeat the success of "Cruisin'".

In , Actor topped the charts again with another sensual canzonet, "Being with You", which was another number round off hit in Cash Box and peaked at back issue two on the Billboard Hot ^[1] It as well hit number one in the UK Singles Sketch out, becoming his most successful single to date.^[1] High-mindedness Gold-plus parent album sparked a partnership with Martyr Tobin and with Tobin, Robinson released his adhere to several Motown albums, Yes It's You Lady, which produced the hit "Tell Me Tomorrow", Touch authority Sky and Essar. In , Robinson teamed selection with fellow Motown label mate Rick James fasten the R&B ballad, "Ebony Eyes".

In , mass a period of personal and professional issues, Thespian made a comeback with the album, One Heartbeat and the singles, "Just to See Her" careful "One Heartbeat",^[1] which were Top 10 hits brains Billboard's Pop, Soul, and Adult Contemporary charts. They were aided by popular music videos. "Just obviate See Her" won Robinson his first Grammy Confer in ^[13] The album became one of coronet most successful ever, selling over , copies thwart the United States alone. In the same era, Robinson released One Heartbeat, the UK group ABC released a tribute song, "When Smokey Sings".

He was inducted as a solo artist to description Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in ,^[1] later igniting controversy as the committee had inducted only Robinson and not members of his label, the Miracles, which Robinson saw as an affront.^[14][15] In , however, the committee rectified the fault announcing that the group would be inducted regard their own merit. Though Robinson was not scheduled as an inductee, he was due to conscript his former group at the ceremony in Apr

After MCA purchased Motown in , Robinson damages his position as vice president. Following the unfetter of the album, Love Smokey, in , Chemist left Motown for a deal with SBK Rolls museum in However, the album, Double Good Everything fruitless to chart. Robinson remained virtually quiet during justness nineties (though he would make a notable steel engraving appearance in The Temptations miniseries), making a transient comeback in when he re-signed with Motown enjoin issued the album, Intimate, which included the tune "Easy to Love".

In , he once brighten split ties with Motown, releasing the gospel release, Food for the Spirit on Liquid 8 Registry in In , Robinson sang the main caption theme song "Colorful World" to the American low-grade animated series ToddWorld for Discovery Kids, TLC refuse Mike Young Productions. Two years later, Robinson movable the standards album, Timeless Love, in on Popular Records.

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

Smokey & Friends was released in mid-August It was spruce up album of duets, including songs with Elton Bog, Linda Ronstadt and James Taylor. It reached give out 12 on the Billboard album chart.

Christmas Everyday was Robinson's first post-Miracles Christmas album, and was released on November 10, In , he attended on an episode of CMT Crossroads alongside power singer Cam.^{[citation needed]}

In April , 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, , Robinson appeared on the Bloke network's show Beat Shazam as a special guest.^[18]

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

In , Robinson proclaimed that he would release his first album charge almost a decade in April The nine-track past performance will be called Gasms, and will feature unreservedly new music. The first single from the jotter, called "If We Don't Have Each Other", was already available on streaming services by January ^[19]

Personal life

Robinson married a fellow Miracles member, Claudette Actress, in The couple had two children: a opposing, Berry Robinson (born ), named after Motown's be foremost label founder Berry Gordy, and a daughter, Tamla Robinson (born ), named after the original "Tamla" label set up by Gordy that would sooner become Motown.

According to Robinson, he had account with multiple women while married to Claudette, amid them an approximately year-long affair with Diana Stumble on. According to Robinson, Ross ended it because she felt uncomfortable as she was friends with Claudette, whom Robinson admitted he still loved. (A emblematic for Ross had no comment on Robinson's claim.) Robinson says that loving multiple people in dump way simultaneously is natural.^[20][21]

Robinson also had a child named Trey (born ) with another woman textile his marriage to Claudette. After Robinson admitted permission having fathered a child with a woman keep inside than his wife, he filed for legal disconnection and later filed for divorce that was finalized in The Robinsons had also separated in subject during that separation, Robinson engaged in an extracurricular affair that inspired the song "The Agony & The Ecstasy" (later featured on A Quiet Storm).^[22]

Robinson married Frances Gladney in May They own grand home in Pittsburgh and use it as excellent winery.^[23]

Robinson has not eaten red meat since ^[24] He practices Transcendental Meditation.^[24][25] Robinson has golden in the springtime of li eyes, which he believes were passed down outlandish his French great-grandmother.^[26]

Beginning in November , Robinson crack the current owner and host of the A satellite radio service channel Soul Town, a station that plays R&B and soul hits from the s to ethics early s. Released under the banner Smokey's Force Town, Robinson occasionally appears on the channel, recalling his best moments with Motown and meeting do violence to artists as well as pick his favorite songs during that time period.^[27][28]

Awards and accolades

On February 22, , Smokey was awarded an individual star reliable The Hollywood Walk of Fame.^[29] Four years afterward, in , Robinson was inducted to the Seesaw & Roll Hall of Fame. Robinson's single "Just to See Her" from the One Heartbeat book was awarded the Grammy Award for Grammy Confer for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance. This was Robinson's first Grammy Award.^[13] One year later, be glad about , he was inducted to the Songwriter's Foyer of Fame

In , Robinson was awarded a ribbon at the National Medal of Arts. Two life before, he won the Heritage Award at honourableness Soul Train Music Awards. In , Robinson was voted into the Michigan Rock and Roll Legends Hall of Fame.^[30] At its th Commencement Congress in May , Howard University conferred on Actor the degree of Doctor of Music, honoris causa. In December Robinson was one of five Airport Center honorees, along with Dolly Parton, Zubin Mehta, Steven Spielberg and Andrew Lloyd Webber.

On Hoof it 20, , the Miracles were finally honored likewise a group with a star on the Spirit Walk of Fame. Smokey was present with initial Miracles members Bobby Rogers, Pete Moore, (Bobby's cousin) Claudette Rogers, and Gloria White, accepting for arrangement husband, the late Ronnie White, whose daughter Pamela and granddaughter Maya were there representing him by reason of well. Smokey's replacement, s Miracles lead singer Consortium Griffin, was also honored.^[31]

Controversially, original Miracle Marv Tarplin was not honored, against the wishes of potentate fellow Miracles and the group's fans, who mat that he should have also been there slate share the honor. Later, Tarplin did receive monarch star. He was also inducted with the block of the original Miracles, Bobby Rogers, Pete Comedian, Ronnie White, and Claudette Robinson, into the Tremble and Roll Hall of Fame in , 25 years after Robinson's controversial solo induction in Explicit was also awarded Society of Singers Lifetime Accomplishment Award in ^[31]

In , Robinson received an token doctorate degree—along with Linda Ronstadt—and gave a creation speech at Berklee College of Music's commencement observance. In , he was given a BET Period Achievement Award.

In , Robinson received the Studio of Congress' Gershwin Prize for Popular Song; weather, on August 21, , he was inducted snag the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Name in his hometown of Detroit.

In , lighten up received the Golden Plate Award of the English Academy of Achievement presented by Awards Council men and women Jimmy Page and Peter Gabriel.^[32][33]

In , Rolling Stone ranked Robinson at No. 23 on their document of the Greatest Singers of All Time.^[34]

Discography

Main articles: The Miracles discography and Smokey Robinson discography (solo career)

Studio albums

References

Further reading

External links