Smokey Robinson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Smokey Robinson
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Robinson in 2018
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | William Robinson Jr. |
| Born | February 19, 1940 Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
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| Years active | 1955–present |
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William "Smokey" Robinson Jr. (born February 19, 1940) is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer. He is famous for his R&B and soul music. Smokey Robinson was the founder and lead singer of the Miracles, a very important group from the Motown record label. He was also their main songwriter and producer.
He led The Miracles from 1955 until 1972. After that, he focused on being a vice president at Motown Records. Robinson returned to music as a solo artist in 1973. He left Motown in 1999. Smokey Robinson was added to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987. In 2016, he received the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for his amazing contributions to popular music. He has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. One is for his solo work (1983) and one is with The Miracles (2009). In 2022, he joined the Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame.
Contents
Early Life and Music Beginnings
William Robinson Jr. was born into a family in Detroit, Michigan. His family was not rich. His uncle Claude gave him the nickname "Smokey Joe" when he was a child. Smokey explained in 2012 that his uncle loved cowboy movies. He gave Smokey the name "Smokey Joe" because it sounded like a cowboy name. Smokey used this name until he was about 12. Then he just used "Smokey."
He went to Northern High School. He was a good student and athlete. But his biggest interest was music. He formed a doo-wop group called the Five Chimes. Smokey's love for music grew after hearing groups like Nolan Strong & the Diablos on the radio.
In 1955, he started the first version of the Five Chimes. He formed it with his childhood friend Ronald White and classmate Pete Moore. Two years later, in 1957, they changed their name to the Matadors. Bobby Rogers joined the group. Another member, Emerson (Sonny) Rogers, was replaced by his sister, Claudette Rogers. She later married Smokey Robinson in 1959. The group's guitarist, Marv Tarplin, joined them in 1958. The Matadors started playing in Detroit. Later, they changed their name again to The Miracles.
Music Career Highlights
The Miracles and Motown Records
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In August 1957, Smokey Robinson and The Miracles met songwriter Berry Gordy. This happened after they had a tryout for Brunswick Records that didn't go well. Smokey had a notebook with 100 songs he wrote in high school. Gordy was very impressed with Smokey's singing and songwriting. With Gordy's help, The Miracles released their first song, "Got a Job." This song was an "answer song" to another popular hit. It marked the start of a long and successful partnership.
Berry Gordy later started Tamla Records, which became Motown. The Miracles were one of the first groups to sign with Motown. In late 1960, they recorded their first big hit, "Shop Around." This song was Motown's first record to sell over a million copies.
From 1960 to 1970, Smokey Robinson helped The Miracles have 26 songs reach the top 40 charts. He was the lead singer, main songwriter, and producer. Many of their songs were top ten hits. These included "You've Really Got a Hold on Me" and "I Second That Emotion." Their only number-one hit during this time was "The Tears of a Clown." Other popular songs were "Ooo Baby Baby" and "The Tracks of My Tears." In 1965, the group changed its name to Smokey Robinson & the Miracles.
Smokey Robinson was also a major songwriter and producer for other Motown artists. From 1962 to 1966, he wrote many hit songs for Mary Wells, the Temptations, the Four Tops, Brenda Holloway, the Marvelettes, and Marvin Gaye. Some of his famous songs for other artists include "My Guy" for Mary Wells and "My Girl" for The Temptations.
By 1969, Smokey wanted to stop touring. He wanted to spend more time with his two children and focus on his job as Motown's vice president. However, the huge success of "Tears of a Clown" made him stay with the group until 1972. His last show with The Miracles was in July 1972.
Solo Career and New Music
After taking a year off, Smokey Robinson came back with his first solo album, Smokey, in 1973. This album included "Sweet Harmony," a song that honored The Miracles. His next album, Pure Smokey (1974), did not have many hits. Smokey found it hard to compete with other popular artists at the time.
However, in 1975, he released A Quiet Storm. This album was a big success. It had three hit songs, including "Baby That's Backatcha," which was a number-one R&B hit. The album also inspired the "quiet storm" radio format.
Smokey's solo career faced challenges because he was also working as Motown's vice president. His own music sometimes took a backseat. But he had a breakthrough with the song "Cruisin'." This song became his first solo top ten pop hit. It reached number one in some charts and number four on the Billboard Hot 100.
In 1981, Smokey had another huge hit with the song "Being with You." This song was a number one hit in the UK Singles Chart, making it his most successful single ever. He then released several more albums, including Yes It's You Lady and Touch the Sky. In 1983, he worked with Rick James on the song "Ebony Eyes."
In 1987, Smokey made a big comeback with the album One Heartbeat. The songs "Just to See Her" and "One Heartbeat" were top 10 hits. "Just to See Her" won Smokey his first Grammy Award in 1988. This album sold over 900,000 copies in the United States.
He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist in 1988. Later, in 2012, The Miracles group was also inducted, correcting an earlier oversight.
After MCA bought Motown in 1988, Smokey left his vice president role. He released a few more albums, but then stayed mostly quiet during the 1990s. He made a brief return in 1999 when he rejoined Motown and released the album Intimate.
In 2003, he left Motown again. He released a gospel album called Food for the Spirit in 2004. In 2004, Smokey sang the theme song "Colorful World" for the children's TV show ToddWorld. In 2006, he released an album of classic songs called Timeless Love.
In 2009, he released Time Flies When You're Having Fun on his own record label. This album reached number 59 on the Billboard album chart, his highest since One Heartbeat.
Smokey & Friends was released in 2014. It was an album of duets with famous artists like Elton John and James Taylor. It reached number 12 on the Billboard album chart.
In 2017, he released his first Christmas album since The Miracles, called Christmas Everyday. In 2018, he appeared on a TV show called CMT Crossroads with country singer Cam.
In 2023, Smokey Robinson announced he would release his first album in almost ten years. The album is called Gasms and features all new music.
Personal Life and Interests
Smokey Robinson married Claudette Rogers, a member of The Miracles, in 1959. They had two children: a son named Berry (born 1968), named after Motown founder Berry Gordy, and a daughter named Tamla (born 1971), named after the original Motown label.
Smokey and Claudette later separated and divorced in 1986.
Robinson married Frances Gladney in May 2002. They have a home in Pittsburgh that they use as a winery.
Smokey Robinson has not eaten red meat since 1972. He also practices Transcendental Meditation. He has golden green eyes, which he believes came from his French great-grandmother.
Since November 2023, Smokey Robinson has been the owner and host of the SiriusXM channel Soul Town. This station plays R&B and soul hits from the 1950s to the early 1980s. Smokey sometimes appears on the channel, sharing stories about Motown and his favorite songs.
Awards and Achievements
On February 22, 1983, Smokey Robinson received his own star on The Hollywood Walk of Fame. Four years later, in 1987, he was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
His song "Just to See Her" won the 1988 Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance. This was Smokey's first Grammy Award. In 1989, he was inducted into the Songwriter's Hall of Fame.
In 1993, Robinson received a medal at the National Medal of Arts. In 2005, he was voted into the Michigan Rock and Roll Legends Hall of Fame. In December 2006, Smokey Robinson was one of five Kennedy Center honorees.
On March 20, 2009, The Miracles group finally received their own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Smokey was there with other original members.
In 2012, The Miracles, including original members Bobby Rogers, Pete Moore, Ronnie White, Claudette Robinson, and Marv Tarplin, were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. This happened 25 years after Smokey's solo induction. He also received the Society of Singers Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011.
In 2009, Robinson received an honorary doctorate degree from Berklee College of Music. In 2015, he was given a BET Lifetime Achievement Award.
In 2016, Robinson received the Library of Congress' Gershwin Prize for Popular Song. On August 21, 2016, he was inducted into the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame in Detroit.
In 2019, he received the Golden Plate Award from the American Academy of Achievement. In 2023, Rolling Stone magazine ranked Robinson at No. 23 on their list of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time.
Discography
Studio albums
- Smokey (1973)
- Pure Smokey (1974)
- A Quiet Storm (1975)
- Smokey's Family Robinson (1976)
- Deep in My Soul (1977)
- Love Breeze (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)
- Timeless Love (2006)
- Time Flies When You're Having Fun (2009)
- Now and Then (2010)
- Smokey & Friends (2014)
- Gasms (2023)
See also
- In Spanish: Smokey Robinson para niños
