Smokey Robinson & The Miracles Fans

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At the Smokey Robinson Foundation, we bring awareness to the importance of education for today’s youth. We also want to pass on the necessary tools to build a better future and break down the barriers that prevent their success. Through benefit concerts, other events, corporate sponsorships and individual donors, we are able to invest in existing programs and initiatives that provide funding to qualified students to receive the education they need to help accomplish their goals and dreams, “Creating Leaders Through Education.”

William Robinson was born 19th February 1940 in Detroit, Michigan and if you were a'wondering where those gorgeous green eyes came from - his maternal grandpa's side of the family.....his grandpa's mum hailed from France and had interchangeable blue-green eyes !!. 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 black artists, he commented in Rolling Stone, were "the first inspirational thing I had."He also has two older sisters. Their father William Robinson snr was a truck driver, their mom died when Smokey was 10 years old so Smokey spent most of the time living with one of his sisters Geraldine Burston who had ten children. His neighbours were the Rev. C.L. Franklin , daughters Aretha, Carolyn, Erma and son Cecil. Together with Cecil, neighborhood paperboy, Ronnie White, Smokey began singing street corner doo wop in the early fifties while they were attending Dwyer Elementary School. Even at this young age, he was writing all of their material. As Smokey recalls Robinson describes his childhood in a Detroit neighborhood "that was a great place to grow up because there were so many people. . .who became recognizable in show business.""Aretha Franklin lived right around the corner from me," Robinson said. "I've known her since I was about six years old. Diana Ross lived right down the street. The Four Tops lived about four blocks away. The Temptations lived maybe six blocks away." He would not consider a professional career until he graduated from high school, and even then he tried barber school and courses in dentistry before giving his full attention to music.

1940

When still a child was nicknamed "Smokey Joe" by an uncle because of his love of cowboy movies, later to be shortened to "Smokey".

1955

School : Northern High School, Detroit In 1955, Robinson founded a group called the Five Chimes with his best friend Ronald White, classmates Pete Moore , Clarence Dawson, and James Grice.

1957

By 1957, the group was renamed the Matadors and included cousins Emerson and Bobby Rogers in place of Dawson and Grice. Later Emerson was replaced by Claudette Rogers who married Smokey 7th November 1959.
1958

With Smokey as lead singer, the Matadors began touring the local Detroit venues. In 1958, they met songwriter Berry Gordy, who co-wrote the single "Got a Job"

The group renamed itself the Miracles, and issued singles on both End Records and Chess Records before Smokey suggested to Berry that he start a label of his own.

1959

In 1959 Berry Gordy founded Tamla Records, which he soon reincorporated as Motown. The Miracles were among the label's first signees. Berry and Smokey had a synergistic relationship, with Robinson providing a foundation for Motown's hit-making success and Berry acting as a mentor for the budding singer and songwriter.

1961

By 1961 Berry had appointed Smokey vice-president of Motown Records, a title Smokey held for as long as Berry remained with the company.

Motown and The Miracles
The 1960 single "Shop Around" was Motown's first number one hit on the R&B singles chart, and the first big hit for The Miracles.The song was also Motown's first million-selling hit single.

They scored many more hits over the years, including the much-covered "Who's Loving You" (1960), "You've Really Got a Hold on Me" (1962), "What's So Good About Goodbye" (1962),"I'll Try Something New" (1962), "Mickey's Monkey" (1963), "Ooo Baby Baby (1965), "The Tracks of My Tears" (1965), "Going to a Go-Go" (1965),"My Girl Has Gone", (Come Round Here) I'm The One You Need" (1966), "More Love" (1967), "I Second That Emotion" (1967), "If You Can Want" (1968}, "Baby Baby Don't Cry" (1969), and the international no 1 smash, "The Tears Of A Clown" (1970).

Besides penning hits for his own group, Smokey also wrote and produced hits and album tracks for other Motown artists.

Mary Wells had a big hit with the Robinson-penned "My Guy" (1964), and Smokey served as The Temptations' primary songwriter and producer from 1963 to 1966, penning hits such as "The Way You Do the Things You Do", "My Girl", "Since I Lost My Baby", and "Get Ready"

Among Smokey's numerous other Motown compositions are "Still Water (Love)" by The Four Tops, "Don't Mess With Bill" and "My Baby Must Be a Magician" by The Marvelettes, "When I'm Gone" by Brenda Holloway, "Ain't That Peculiar" and "I'll Be Doggone" by Marvin Gaye, and "First I Look at the Purse" by The Contours.

Fellow singer-songwriter Bob Dylan named Smokey as "one of his favorite 'poets'" and his hit ballads also earned him the title "America's poet laureate of love".

Over the course of his 50-year career in music, Robinson has over 4,000 songs to his credit.

John Lennon of The Beatles made countless remarks regarding Smokey's influence on his music. In a 1969 interview, Lennon stated that one of his favorite songs was The Miracles "I've Been Good To You", which has similar lyrics to Lennon's "Sexy Sadie".

George Harrison also greatly admired Smokey and paid tribute to him in his 1976 song 'Pure Smokey'. (The Beatles had recorded Smokey's "You've Really Got A Hold On Me" in 1963.)

After marrying Claudette Rogers, Smokey started a family, and named both of his children after Motown

His son Berry William named after the company's founder, and daughter Tamla Claudette after the Motown imprint for which Smokey and The Miracles recorded.

“More Love” was written in 1967 following the premature birth and death of the Robinson's twin daughters. He actually has three children, two sons Berry & Tre and daughter Tamla.

The Miracles remained a premier Motown act through most of the 1960s. Albums were released as "Smokey Robinson & the Miracles" after 1965. By 1969, the group's fortunes began to falter and Smokey decided to quit The Miracles so that he could remain at home with his family and concentrate on his duties as vice-president. The group stopped recording and Smokey prepared to leave the group. Unexpectedly, however, their 1969 recording "Baby Baby Don't Cry" hit the national Pop Top 10, and when their 1966 recording of "The Tears of a Clown" was released as a single in 1970, it became a number one hit in both the United States and the United Kingdom. Suddenly, The Miracles were hot again.

Due to the surprise success of "The Tears of a Clown", Smokey was to remain with The Miracles for a few more years. In 1972, he followed through on his original plans to leave the group, and The Miracles began a six-month farewell tour. On July 16, 1972, Smokey and Claudette Robinson gave their final performances as Miracles in Washington, DC, and Smokey introduced the group's new lead singer, Billy Griffin. The Miracles went on for a while, even having another number one hit, "Love Machine", in 1976.

Smokey Robinson began a low-key solo career while concentrating on his duties as vice-president of Motown, releasing his first solo LP, Smokey, in 1973. His first hit single, "Sweet Harmony" (1973), was dedicated to The Miracles.

In 1975 Smokey's solo career went into full-drive after the success of the number one R&B hit "Baby That's Back atcha". Robinson's 1976 single "Quiet Storm" and its accompanying album typified a genre of smooth, slow style R&B that still today has spawned late night radio shows called "quiet storm." Other Robinson solo hits include "Cruisin'" (1979), "Being With You" (a UK number one hit) (1981), "Tell Me Tomorrow" (1982), and "Ebony Eyes", a duet with labelmate Rick James (1983). He also recorded the soundtrack to the film Big Time (1977).

During the mid-1980s Smokey fell victim to cocaine addiction. His recording slowed, and his marriage to Claudette faltered; the two were divorced in 1986. With the help of friend Leon Kennedy (as described in Robinson's autobiography "Smokey") he was dramatically healed of his addiction at a religious service

He eventually revitalized his career, scoring hits in 1987 with the Grammy Award-winning "Just To See Her" and "One Heartbeat." Both songs were Top 10 pop hits. In 1987 British band ABC scored a US and UK hit with their tribute to Smokey, entitled "When Smokey Sings." In 1988, he published his autobiography "Smokey" and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

1989: Smokey Robinson introduced a new women's fragrance called "Smoke."

Upon Motown's sale to MCA in 1988 Smokey resigned from his position as vice-president. After one last album for Motown, Love, Smokey (1990)he departed the company. Released one record for SBK Records, Double Good Everything (1991)and the same year he won a Soul Train Music Award for Career Achievement. Smokey Robinson would remain absent from the music scene for most of the 1990's, returning only at the very end of the decade with the album Intimate (1999) on the now Universal-controlled Motown. In the interim he pursued his non-musical business interests, as well as collaborating with Ron Milner on the score to a Broadway musical called Hoops! based on the history of the Harlem Globetrotters (this project, apparently later renamed Hoopz, continued to be developed without his involvement). Eight years later, he returned to Motown, which by then was a subsidiary of Universal Music Group, and released Intimate (1999). The same year Smokey received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award

2002

In May 2002 Smokey married an old friend Frances Glandney, an interior designer. They both share the same birthday - A double celebration in the Robinson household !!. Their home is in the scenic hills of the San Fernando Valley section of Los Angeles. Smokey is an avid golfer in his leisure time

Since then, Smokey has continued to periodically perform and tour. In 2003 he served as a guest judge for American Idol during "Billy Joel Week".

Issued a gospel LP, Food for the Spirit in 2004. A new album of standards "Timeless Love, was released in June 2006. It was originally recorded with a jazz combo, but strings were added after the fact, giving the album more of a lush sound

In 2004 Smokey's company, SFGL Foods, launched a special brand of gumbo called "Smokey Robinson's 'The Soul is in the Bowl' Gumbo”

In May 2006, at its 138th Commencement Convocation, Howard University conferred on Smokey "The degree of Doctor of Music-honoris causa"

Smokey on Friday Night with Jonathan Ross 2006 UK

In 2006 Smokey appeared on Friday Night with Jonathan Ross, the NBC daytime drama Days of Our Lives, and on The Rachael Ray Show.
Fox "Duets" with Lucy Lawless

Smokey in Days of our lives

2006 On receiving The Q Outstanding Contribution To Music Award, Motown legend Smokey Robinson said: "I consider myself to be one of the most blessed men that ever lived"...

Smokey Robinson is the spokesman of the Great American Smokeout, which takes place annually one week before Thanksgiving. It is a day when smokers quit smoking for at least a day.

In December 2006 Smokey was one of five Kennedy Center honorees along with Dolly Parton (with whom Robinson had recorded a 1987 duet, "I Know You By Heart"), Zubin Mehta, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Steven Spielberg. The ceremony was held on December 3, 2006

Robinson sang "The Tracks Of My Tears" as a cameo in the 2006 film "Last Holiday".

On February 11, 2007 Robinson sang "Tracks Of My Tears" at the 49th annual Grammy Awards as part of a tribute to R&B music. This included Motown labelmate Lionel Richie and current R&B star Chris Brown

The Grammy awards "Tears of a clown"

Smokey performed on the finale of American Idol Season 6 on May 23, 2007. He and the top six male contestants performed a medley of his hits

BBC breakfast TV UK 2007

In 2007 Smokey toured Australia and performed with Australian band Human Nature on the set of local television programme . He also toured the UK and promoted his latest album "Smokey Robinson - The Definitive collection and Timeless Love".

In 2007 Motown and Smokey celebrated their 50th Anniversary !!

Smokey Robinson, Frances Robinson and Tamla Robinson United Negro College Fund Presents An Evening of Stars Tribute to Smokey Robinson at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium Pasadena, California - 22.09.07

50th Annual GRAMMY Awards(Salute to Industry Icons)10.2.2008

20th Annual "A Candle in the Dark" Gala 16.2.2008 - Hyatt Regency Atlanta Atlanta

Smokey Robinson speaks at the Cruisin with Ford-Employees African Ancestry Network "Honouring Smokey Robinson" 29.2.2008

Smokey in concert - Sinatra Theatre 5.3.2008

Smokey in concert 13.4.2008 Little River Resort Manistee

14.5.2008 "Tracks of my tears " added to historic registry. WASHINGTON It's among the 25 recordings added to the Library of Congress' National Recording Registry, which preserves recorded works that are considered culturally or historically important. This year's additions include "The Tracks of My Tears" by Smokey Robinson and the Miracles.

2.6.2008 Smokey inducted into the Apollo Hall of Fame

Smokey live in concert at the Barvadon Gala Poughkeepsie 8.6.2008