Smokey Robinson & the Miracles Ooh Baby Baby
| Smokey Robinson | |
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 Robinson in March 2018 | |
| Background information | |
| Nascence name | William Robinson Jr. |
| Born | (1940-02-19) February nineteen, 1940 Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
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| Instruments |
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| Years active | 1955–present |
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| Associated acts |
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| Website | Official website |
William "Smokey" Robinson Jr. (born February 19, 1940) is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and old tape executive director. Robinson was the founder and front end human being of the Motown vocal group the Miracles, for which he was likewise principal songwriter and producer.[i] He led the group from its 1955 origins as "the Five Chimes" until 1972, when he appear his retirement from the group to focus on his part every bit Motown'south vice president. Nonetheless, Robinson returned to the music industry equally a solo artist the following year. After the auction of Motown Records in 1988, Robinson left the company in 1990.
Robinson was inducted into the Rock and Curl Hall of Fame in 1987 and was awarded the 2016 Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for his lifetime contributions to popular music.[2] [three]
Early life and early career [edit]
William Robinson Jr. was born to an Blackness American father and a mother of Black American and French beginnings into a poor family in the N End area of Detroit, Michigan, Us.[1] His ancestry is function Nigerian, Scandinavian, Portuguese, and Cherokee.[4] His uncle Claude gave him the nickname "Smokey Joe" when he was a child.[5]
He attended Northern High School, where he was above average academically and a smashing athlete, though his main involvement was music, and he formed a doo-wop group named the V Chimes. At one indicate, he and Aretha Franklin lived several houses from each other on Belmont; he once said he'd known Franklin since she was well-nigh five.[half dozen]
Robinson's interest in music started subsequently hearing the groups Nolan Stiff & the Diablos and Baton Ward and his Dominoes on the radio as a kid, and he has listed Barrett Stiff, a Detroit native, as a strong song influence.[ citation needed ] In 1955, he formed the start lineup of the Five Chimes with childhood friend Ronald White and classmate Pete Moore.
Ii years afterward, in 1957, they were renamed the Matadors and included Bobby Rogers. Some other member, Emerson (Sonny) Rogers, Bobby Rogers' cousin, was replaced by his sister, Claudette Rogers (who would marry Smokey Robinson in 1959). The grouping's guitarist, Marv Tarplin, joined them sometime in 1958. The Matadors began touring Detroit venues effectually this fourth dimension. They later changed their name to the Miracles.
Career [edit]
The Miracles and Motown [edit]
In August 1957, Robinson and the Miracles met songwriter Berry Gordy later a failed audience for Brunswick Records. At that time during the audition, Robinson had brought along with him a "Big x" notebook with 100 songs he wrote while in high school. Gordy was impressed with Robinson's vocals and even more than impressed with Robinson's aggressive songwriting.[1] With his assistance, the Miracles released their first single, "Got a Job", an respond song to the Silhouettes' striking single "Go a Chore"[7] on End Records. Information technology was the beginning of a long and successful collaboration. During this fourth dimension, Robinson attended college and started classes in January 1959, studying electric engineering.[8] He dropped out after only ii months, post-obit the Miracles' release of their first tape.[viii]
Gordy formed Tamla Records which was later reincorporated every bit 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.[nine] In late 1960, the grouping recorded their start hit single, "Shop Around", which became Motown's kickoff meg-selling hit record.[7] Between 1960 and 1970, Robinson would produce 26 peak forty hits with the Miracles as lead singer, chief songwriter and producer, including several top ten hits such as "You've Really Got a Concord on Me",[7] "Mickey's Monkey", "I Second That Emotion", "Baby Infant Don't Weep" and the group's only number-ane hit during their Robinson years, "The Tears of a Clown".
Other notable hits such as "Ooo Baby Baby", "Going to a Go-Go", "The Tracks of My Tears", "(Come Round Hither) I'm The One Y'all Need", "The Honey I Saw in Y'all Was But a Mirage" and "More Love" peaked in the top twenty. In 1965, the Miracles were the outset Motown group to change their proper name when they released their 1965 album Going 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 striking singles such as "2 Lovers",[7] "The One Who Really Loves Yous", "You Beat Me to the Punch" and "My Guy" for Mary Wells; "The Style Yous Do The Things You Exercise", "My Daughter",[vii] "Since I Lost My Baby" and "Go Fix" for the Temptations; "Stillwater" for the Four Tops; "When I'one thousand Gone" and "Operator" for Brenda Holloway; "Don't Mess With Beak", "The Hunter Gets Captured by the Game" and "My Babe Must Exist a Sorcerer" for the Marvelettes; and "I'll Exist Doggone" and "Ain't That Peculiar" for Marvin Gaye.[1]
After the arrival of Holland–Dozier–Holland and the team of Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong, he was eclipsed as a summit author and producer for the characterization, and other Motown artists such every bit Gaye and Stevie Wonder began to compose more original material. Later on in his career, Robinson wrote lyrics and music for the Contours such as "Kickoff I Look at the Purse", too as the Four Tops' "Still Water" and The Supremes' "Floy Joy". The other Miracles—Bobby Rogers, Pete Moore, Ronnie White, and Marv Tarplin—collaborated with him every bit writers on many of these hits, and Pete Moore besides doubled equally co-producer with Robinson on several of them.
Past 1969, Robinson wanted to retire from touring to focus on raising his two children with his wife Claudette, and on his duties as Motown'southward vice president, a job he had taken on past the mid-1960s after Esther Gordy Edwards had left the position.[i] However, the success of the group's "Tears of a Clown" made Robinson stay with the grouping until 1972.[one] His terminal functioning with the group was in July 1972 in Washington, D.C.
Solo career [edit]
Robinson in concert at the Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez, California, 2006
Afterward a year of retirement, Robinson announced his improvement with the release of the eponymous Smokey album, in 1973.[1] The album included the Miracles tribute song, "Sweet Harmony" and the striking carol "Infant 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 member Eddie Kendricks, as all three had multiple striking singles during this menstruum.
Former Beatle George Harrison featured the runway "Pure Smokey" on his 1976 album Thirty 3 & 1/3 every bit a tribute to Robinson. (Harrison's young man Beatles John Lennon and Paul McCartney were as well fans of Robinson'southward songwriting and the group covered "You Really Gotta Hold on Me" on their second United kingdom of great britain and northern ireland album With the Beatles and The states album The Beatles' 2d Album, respectively).
Robinson answered his critics the following year with A Tranquillity Storm, released in 1975.[1] The album launched iii singles – the number-one R&B hitting "Infant That's Backatcha", "The Desperation & The Ecstasy" and "Quiet Storm". Nonetheless, Robinson's solo career suffered from his piece of work as Motown'south vice president, and his ain music took the backseat. As a consequence, several albums including Smokey's Family Robinson, Deep in My Soul, Love Cakewalk and Smokin, saw poor promotion and received bad reviews. At this point Robinson relied on other writers and producers to aid him with his albums.
Post-obit these albums, Robinson got out of a writer's cake afterwards his shut collaborator Marv Tarplin, who joined him on the road in 1973 afterwards Robinson left the Miracles, presented him a tune he had equanimous on his guitar. Robinson subsequently wrote the lyrics that became his get-go solo summit ten Pop single, "Cruisin'".[ane] The song hit number one in Cash Box and peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100. It too became his start solo number i in New Zealand. Robinson would follow a like approach with his next album, Warm Thoughts, which produced another top 40 hitting, "Let Me Exist 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 ane hit in Cash Box and peaked at number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100.[1] It also hit number ane in the UK Singles Nautical chart, becoming his about successful single to appointment.[one] The Gilt-plus parent album sparked a partnership with George Tobin and with Tobin, Robinson released his next several Motown albums, Yes It's You Lady, which produced the hit "Tell Me Tomorrow", Bear upon the Heaven and Essar. In 1983, Robinson teamed upward with fellow Motown label mate Rick James recording the R&B ballad, "Ebony Optics".
In 1987, post-obit a menstruum of personal and professional issues, Robinson fabricated a comeback with the album, I Heartbeat and the singles, "Just to See Her" and "1 Heartbeat",[1] which were Top 10 hits on Billboard 'due south Popular, Soul, and Adult Contemporary charts. They were aided by popular music videos. "Just to Meet Her" won Robinson his offset Grammy Award in 1988.[x] The album became one of his most successful ever, selling over 900,000 copies in the U.s.a. alone. In the aforementioned year, Robinson released One Heartbeat, the U.k. group ABC released a tribute song, "When Smokey Sings".
He was inducted as a solo artist to the Rock and Whorl Hall of Fame in 1988,[one] later igniting controversy as the committee had inducted but Robinson and not members of his group, the Miracles, which Robinson was personally offended by.[11] [12] In 2012, still, the committee rectified the error announcing that the group would be inducted on their own merit. Though Robinson was non listed as an inductee, he was due to induct his quondam grouping at the anniversary in April 2012.
Afterward Motown was sold off to MCA 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 with SBK Records in 1991. However, the album, Double Good Everything failed to nautical chart. Robinson remained virtually tranquility during the nineties (though he would brand a notable cameo appearance in The Temptations 1998 miniseries), making a brief comeback in 1999 when he re-signed with Motown and issued the album, Intimate, which included the song "Piece of cake to Dear".
In 2003, he one time once again separate ties with Motown, releasing the gospel album, Nutrient for the Soul on Liquid 8 Records in 2004. In 2004 Robinson sang the principal title theme song "Colorful World" to the American children'due south animated series ToddWorld for Discovery Kids, TLC and Mike Young Productions. Two years later, Robinson released the standards anthology, Timeless Dear, in 2006 on Universal Records.
In 2009, he issued the album, Time Flies When Yous're Having Fun on his own label, Robso Records. It reached number 59 on the Billboard album chart, his highest showing since One Heartbeat. He subsequently released "Now And And then" in 2010, which peaked at number 131.
Robinson with Senator Doug Jones while testifying at the United States Congress to back up the CLASSICS Human activity in 2018.
Smokey & Friends was released in mid-Baronial 2014. It was an album of duets, including songs with Elton John, Linda Ronstadt and James Taylor. Information technology reached number 12 on the Billboard album chart.
Christmas Everyday was Robinson's commencement post-Miracles Christmas anthology, and was released on November 10, 2017. In 2018, he appeared on an episode of CMT Crossroads alongside country singer Cam.[ 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.[ citation needed ]
On July 31, 2018, Robinson appeared equally a special guest on the Fox network's show Beat out Shazam as a special invitee.[13]
Robinson appeared on the vocal "Arrive Better" from Anderson Paak's 2019 anthology Ventura.
Personal life [edit]
Robinson married a beau Miracles member, Claudette Rogers, in 1959. The couple had two children: a son, Berry Robinson (built-in 1968), named afterwards Motown'southward first label founder Berry Gordy; and a girl, Tamla Robinson (born 1971), named subsequently the original "Tamla" label set upwards by Gordy that would eventually become Motown.
Robinson too had a son named Trey (born 1984) with some other adult female during his marriage to Claudette. After Robinson admitted to having fathered a child with a woman other than his married woman, he filed for legal separation and later on filed for divorce. The divorce was finalized in 1986. The Robinsons had too separated in 1974; during that separation, Robinson engaged in an extramarital affair that inspired the song "The Agony & The Ecstasy" (later featured on A Quiet Storm).[14]
Robinson married Frances Gladney in May 2002. They own a dwelling in Pittsburgh and employ it as a winery.[15]
Robinson has not eaten cerise meat since 1972.[16] He practices Transcendental Meditation.[16] [17] Robinson is notable for having golden green eyes, which he believes were passed down from his French swell-grandmother.[18]
"Smokey" nickname [edit]
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 accept me to see cowboy movies all the time when I was a little male child considering I loved cowboy movies. He got a cowboy name for me, which was Smokey Joe. So from the fourth dimension I was 3 years erstwhile if people asked me what my name was I didn't tell them my name was William, I told them my proper name was Smokey Joe. That'south what anybody chosen 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'grand a light skinned black man simply that's not true.[nineteen]
Discography [edit]
Awards and accolades [edit]
On Feb 22, 1983, Smokey was awarded an individual star on The Hollywood Walk of Fame.[20] Four years subsequently, in 1987, Robinson was inducted to the Rock & Ringlet Hall of Fame. Robinson'due south single "Only to See Her"" from the One Heartbeat album was awarded the 1988 Grammy Award for Grammy Honour for Best Male person R&B Song Operation. This was Robinson's first Grammy Award.[10] One twelvemonth later, in 1989, he was inducted to the Songwriter's Hall of Fame
In 1993, Robinson was awarded a medal at the National Medal of Arts. Two years before, he won the Heritage Honour at the Soul Train Music Awards. In 2005, Robinson was voted into the Michigan Rock and Scroll Legends Hall of Fame.[21] At its 138th Commencement Convocation in May 2006, Howard University conferred on Robinson the degree of Physician of Music, honoris causa. In December 2006 Robinson was i of five Kennedy Eye honorees, along with Dolly Parton, Zubin Mehta, Steven Spielberg and Andrew Lloyd Webber.
On March twenty, 2009, the Miracles were finally honored as a grouping with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Smokey was present with original Miracles members Bobby Rogers, Pete Moore, (Bobby's cousin) Claudette Rogers, and Gloria White, accepting for her husband, the late Ronnie White, whose daughter Pamela and granddaughter Maya were there representing him equally well. Smokey'southward replacement, 1970s Miracles lead vocalizer Baton Griffin, was also honored.[22]
Controversially, original Miracle Marv Tarplin was not honored, confronting the wishes of his fellow Miracles and the grouping's fans, who felt that he should accept also been there to share the honour. Later, Tarplin did receive his star. He was too inducted with the residual of the original Miracles, Bobby Rogers, Pete Moore, Ronnie White, and Claudette Robinson, into the Rock and Whorl Hall of Fame in 2012, 25 years after Robinson's controversial solo induction in 1987. He was too awarded Society of Singers Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011.[22]
In 2009, Robinson received an honorary doctorate caste — along with Linda Ronstadt — and gave a commencement speech at Berklee College of Music's commencement anniversary. In 2015, he was given a BET Lifetime Achievement Laurels.
In 2016, Robinson received the Library of Congress' Gershwin Prize for Pop Vocal; and, on August 21, 2016, he was inducted into the Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame in his hometown of Detroit.
In 2019, he received the Gilded Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement presented by Awards Council members Jimmy Folio and Peter Gabriel.[23] [24]
References [edit]
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l g due north Colin Larkin, ed. (1997). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music (Concise ed.). Virgin Books. p. 1022/3. ISBN1-85227-745-ix.
- ^ Smokey Robinson named 2016 Gershwin Prize for Pop Song honoree Los Angeles Times, July 5, 2016
- ^ Smokey Robinson Is The Greatest American Songwriter, Theconcourse.deadspin.com, February 10, 2017
- ^ Robinson, Smokey; The Breakfast Lodge (radio show) (October 21, 2016). Smokey Robinson Discusses Motown, Playing Music During Segregation Days and How He Got His Name (video). United States: Breakfast Social club Ability 105.i FM. Event occurs at 44:20. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
- ^ Stephen Hubbard and Scott Ross, "Smokey Robinson and the Phenomenon of Salvation", CBN Music. Retrieved October 11, 2014.
- ^ CBS, Steven and Ross, Scott. "Interview with Smokey Robinson." The 700 Club. Retrieved April 12, 2007.
- ^ a b c d e Gilliland, John (1969). "Show 25 – The Soul Reformation: Phase ii, the Motown story. [Role 4]" (audio). Pop Chronicles. University of N Texas Libraries.
- ^ a b Interview. (2009) An Evening with Smokey Robinson, PBS
- ^ "The Miracles: In the '60s, we loved and lost to this Motown legend's smooth songs (Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2012)". Cleveland.com. April 3, 2012. Retrieved August eighteen, 2014.
- ^ a b "Smokey Robinson". Grammy.com. March 17, 2014. Retrieved January nine, 2019.
- ^ "Smokey Robinson". Rockhall.com. Retrieved October 20, 2009.
- ^ "Rock & Roll Hall of Fame yet missing iii Motown stalwarts | Goldmine Magazine". Goldminemag.com . Retrieved Nov 9, 2011.
- ^ "Smokey Robinson is Special Guest on 'Beat Shazam' Hosted past Jamie Foxx Tonight on FOX | Feeling the Vibe Magazine". Web log.feelingthevibe.com . Retrieved July 31, 2018.
- ^ Smokey Robinson Reveals How Infidelity And Drugs Destroyed His Marriage. Ebony. Johnson Publishing Company. May 1989. pp. 150–. ISSN 0012-9011.
- ^ "Smokey Robinson Teams With Pittsburgh'due south Engine House 25 Wines". Pittsburgh.cbslocal.com.
- ^ a b McLean, Craig. "Smokey Robinson interview: 'God saved me from cocaine'". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on January xi, 2022. Retrieved September 14, 2014.
- ^ Gluck, Bob. You lot'll Know When You Go At that place: Herbie Hancock and the Mwandishi Band. p. 229. Retrieved September fourteen, 2014.
- ^ Sweetingham, Lisa. "Smokey Robinson interview". Telegraph.co.uk. Archived from the original on January 11, 2022.
- ^ "Smokey Robinson—A Poet That You Knoweth". Los Angeles Sentinel . Retrieved September 14, 2014.
- ^ "Smokey Robinson - Hollywood Walk of Fame". Walkoffame.com. October 25, 2019. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
- ^ "Michigan Rock and Roll Legends - SMOKEY ROBINSON". Michiganrockandrolllegends.com . Retrieved Oct two, 2019.
- ^ a b "Ella Award Special Events". February 12, 2011. Archived from the original on May 14, 2015. Retrieved May ten, 2015.
- ^ "Gilt Plate Awardees of the American University of Accomplishment". www.achievement.org. American Academy of Achievement.
- ^ "2019 Acme Highlights Photo: Roger Daltrey, the lead singer of The Who, greets a friend and beau honoree, Motown legend Smokey Robinson". Academy of Achievement.
Farther reading [edit]
- Christgau, Robert (June 1972). "Smokey Robinson". Newsday.
External links [edit]
- Smokey Robinson interview by Pete Lewis, 'Blues & Soul' December 1992
- Interview on Fresh Air
- "Smokey Robinson". Rock and Coil Hall of Fame.
- Smokey Robinson's page at soulwalking.co.uk
- Smokey Robinson Biography and Update at SoulTracks
- Smokey Robinson at cosmopolis.ch
- Smokey Robinson at IMDb
- Smokey Robinson interviewed on the Popular Chronicles (1969)
- Smokey Robinson Wines
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smokey_Robinson
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