Headlines News : Politik    Sosial    Budaya    Ekonomi    Wisata    Hiburan    Sepakbola    Kuliner    Film   
Home » » Smokey Robinson & The Miracles

Smokey Robinson & The Miracles

Written By Unknown on Rabu, 28 Mei 2014 | 19.24

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Miracles
The Miracles – Depend On Me The Early Albums cover art.jpg
The Miracles in 1961. From bottom left: Claudette Rogers, Bobby Rogers, Ronald White, Smokey Robinson, Marv Tarplin, and Pete Moore.
Background information
Also known as The Five Chimes, the Matadors, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles
Origin Detroit, Michigan, United States
Genres R&B, doo-wop, rock'n'roll, soul, funk, disco
Years active 1955–1978; 1980–1983; 1993–2011
Labels End
Chess
Motown
Tamla
Columbia

Past members Ronald "Ronnie" White
Warren "Pete" Moore
William "Smokey" Robinson
Clarence Dawson
James Grice
Emerson "Sonny" Rogers
Robert "Bobby" Rogers
Claudette Rogers Robinson
Marvin "Marv" Tarplin
Billy Griffin
Donald Griffin
Carl Cotton
Dave Finley
Sidney Justin
Tee Turner
Mark Scott
The Miracles (also known as Smokey Robinson and the Miracles from 1965 to 1972) were an American rhythm and blues group that was the first successful recording act for Berry Gordy's Motown Records, and one of the most important and influential groups in Pop and R&B Music history.[1][2][3] Formed in 1955 by Smokey Robinson, Warren "Pete" Moore, and Ronnie White, the group started off as the Five Chimes, changing their name to the Matadors two years later. The group then settled on the Miracles after the inclusion of Claudette Robinson in 1958. The most notable Miracles lineup included the Robinsons, Moore, White, Bobby Rogers and Marv Tarplin. After a failed audition with Brunswick Records, the group began working with songwriter Berry Gordy, who helped to produce their first records for the End and Chess record labels before establishing Tamla Records in 1959 signing the Miracles as its first act. The group eventually scored the label's first million-selling hit record with "Shop Around" in 1960 and further established themselves as one of Motown's top acts with the hit singles, "You've Really Got a Hold on Me", "What's So Good About Goodbye", "Way Over There", "I'll Try Something New", "Mickey's Monkey", "Going to a Go-Go","(Come 'Round Here) I'm the One You Need", "Just A Mirage", "If You Can Want", "More Love", "I Don't Blame You At All", "Ooo Baby Baby",The multi-award-winning "The Tracks of My Tears","Special Occasion", "I Second That Emotion", "Baby Baby Don't Cry" The Tears of a Clown","Love Machine" "Do It Baby" , and "My Girl Has Gone".
Referred to as Motown's "soul supergroup",[4] the Miracles recorded 26 Top 40 hits, sixteen of which reached the Billboard Top 20,seven top 10 singles, and a number one single ("The Tears of a Clown") while the Robinsons and Tarplin were members. Following the departure of Tarplin and the Robinsons, the rest of the group continued with singer Billy Griffin and scored two final top 20 singles, "Do It Baby" and "Love Machine", a second # 1 hit,which topped the charts before the group departed for Columbia Records in 1977, recording as a quintet with Donald Griffin, where after a few releases, they disbanded in 1978. In all, the group had over fifty charted hits by the time they disbanded.[5] On the R&B charts, The Miracles scored 26 Top 10 Billboard R&B hits, with 4 R&B # 1's. Bobby Rogers and Ronald White revived the group as a touring ensemble sporadically during the 1980s and again in the 1990s with lead singer Sydney Justin. Following White's death in 1995, Rogers and Justin continued to tour with different members until he was forced into retirement due to health issues in 2011, dying less than two years later.
The Miracles have been awarded many top music industry honors over the years. In 1997, the group received the Pioneer Award at the Rhythm and Blues Foundation for their musical achievements.[6] Four years later, in 2001, they were inducted to the Vocal Group Hall of Fame.[7] In 2004, they were ranked thirty-two on the Rolling Stone magazine's list of The 100 Greatest Artists of All Time, retaining that same position seven years later, in 2011.[8] Four of their hit songs were inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. In 2009, the group received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Throughout their careers, the Miracles were also enshrined with honors for their songwriting by both BMI and ASCAP.[9][10] In 2008, Billboard listed them at #61 on their 100 most successful Billboard artists ever list.[11] After much controversy, the Miracles were inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012.[12]

History

Initial career and success

The Miracles in 1962: Bobby Rogers, Marv Tarplin, Ronald White, Claudette Robinson, and Smokey Robinson – Pete Moore had been drafted into the Army.
The group that later became the Miracles was formed in 1955 by five teenage friends from Detroit, Michigan, under the name the Five Chimes.[13] Three of the founding members, Smokey Robinson, Pete Moore and Ronald White had been singing together since they each were around the age of eleven.[13] The group, influenced by acts such as Billy Ward and His Dominoes and Nolan Strong & The Diablos, featured Clarence Dawson and James Grice in the original lineup.[13] All five original members attended Northern High School in Detroit.[13] After Dawson quit the group and Grice dropped out to get married, they were replaced by Emerson "Sonny" Rogers and his cousin Bobby and changed their name to the Matadors.[14] Ironically, both Smokey Robinson and Bobby Rogers were born in the same hospital on the same month, date and year, despite not actually meeting each other until they were fifteen.[13] [15] In 1957, Sonny Rogers left to join the United States Army and Claudette Rogers, his sister, who had been singing with the sister group the Matadorettes, joined them shortly afterwards.[14] Following two years of courtship, Smokey and Claudette married in November 1959.
The group auditioned for Brunswick Records in front of Alonzo Tucker (an original member of the Midnighters who had since left the group to join Jackie Wilson's management team),[16][17] Nat Tarnopol (Jackie Wilson's manager) and one of the label's staff songwriters, Berry Gordy, who remained quiet during the audition.[18] Tucker was unimpressed by the audition, stating that because there was the Platters that "there couldn't be two groups in America like that with a woman in the group."[18] After Tarnopol and Tucker rejected the group, Gordy followed them and soon agreed to work with the group after discovering Robinson's notebook full of songs he had written and had been impressed with Robinson's own singing voice.[18][19]
Gordy recorded their first recording, "Got a Job", an answer song to the Silhouettes' "Get a Job" in January 1958.[19][14] Gordy shortly thereafter struck a deal with George Goldner's End Records to distribute the single.[14] Before the song was released, the group changed their name to the Miracles, taking it from the moniker "Miracletones", with the "'Tones" taken out.[14] After earning only $3.19 for his production success, Gordy was told by Robinson to form his own label, which Gordy did, forming Tamla Records in 1959.[19][20] One of the Miracles' first Tamla singles, the ballad "Bad Girl", became the Miracles' first song to chart on the Billboard Hot 100 Pop chart that October when it was licensed to and issued nationally by Chess Records.[18] The next Miracles song, "It", was credited to "Ron & Bill", in a duet between White and Robinson, and was released on Tamla and nationally picked by Argo Records.[21] Following a dismal reception at the Apollo Theater in 1959, Robinson recruited guitarist Marv Tarplin to join them on a few touring dates after Tarplin played with the Primettes (later the Supremes), with Tarplin officially joining the Miracles shortly afterwards.[21] The addition of Tarplin was the final element in making the Miracles "classic lineup" complete.[22]
In 1960, the Miracles reached the charts with the song "Way Over There", which Robinson wrote and based on the Isley Brothers' "Shout".[21] It was released on the Motown label as its first national release.[21] Later that year, the group, returning to Tamla, released the song, Shop Around", backed with "Who's Lovin' You" which became the group's first smash hit, reaching number-one on the R&B charts, number two on the Billboard Hot 100, and number one on the Cash Box Magazine "Top 100" Pop Chart, and was the first Motown single to sell well over a million copies. Both sides of this record became standards for R&B and rock musicians alike for several decades afterwards. As a result of this success, the Miracles became the first Motown act to appear on Dick Clark's "American Bandstand" on December 27, 1960.[23] The Miracles had modest success with their next few singles, including "Ain't It Baby", "Mighty Good Lovin'", "Brokenhearted" and "Everybody's Gotta Pay Some Dues", as 1961 continued. During this early period, the group suffered some problems as Robinson caught the Asian Flu and had to be bedded for a month,[24] leaving wife Claudette Robinson to lead the Miracles on tour until he recovered. Claudette herself had her share of problems, having suffered her first miscarriage that occurred after a car accident and Pete Moore was drafted to serve in the United States Army.[24][25] The group's next charted successes included "What's So Good About Goodbye", and the string-laden "I'll Try Something New".[26]

Mainstream success

The group reached the top ten again with "You've Really Got a Hold on Me" in 1962, featuring lead vocals by Smokey Robinson and Bobby Rogers. The Miracles hit the top ten a third time with the Holland-Dozier-Holland written-and-produced song Mickey's Monkey" the following year. The group's exciting live performances were so well received, they were often referred to as "The Showstoppers".[27] The Miracles' success paved the way for all future Motown stars, and, as Motown's first group, they would serve as the prototype for all other Motown groups to follow. The Miracles had become a national sensation, and their success catapulted them to the position of Motown's top-selling act, making them headliners at the nationwide package Motortown Revue shows, which showcased Motown artists, and that started around late 1962.
In addition to penning their own material, Miracles Robinson, White, Rogers, Tarplin, and Moore wrote for many of their labelmates as well. Motown hits written, but not recorded, by members of the Miracles include songs for the Temptations ("The Way You Do The Things You Do", "My Girl", "Don't Look Back", "Since I Lost My Baby", "It's Growing", "Get Ready", "My Baby"), Mary Wells ("My Guy", "The One Who Really Loves You", "What Love Has Joined Together", "Two Lovers"), Marvin Gaye ("I'll Be Doggone", "Ain't That Peculiar", "One More Heartache"), The Marvelettes ("Don't Mess With Bill", "My Baby Must Be a Magician", "The Hunter Gets Captured by the Game"), The Contours ("First I Look at the Purse), and Brenda Holloway ("When I'm Gone"). Unlike other Motown artists, whose songs were written by staff songwriters, the Miracles were one of the few Motown acts that composed their own songs, adding to the group's already impressive reputation.[28]
Around 1964, Smokey Robinson became Motown's vice president, while the other members of the Miracles also began to work staff jobs with the company. Smokey and Claudette Robinson made plans to begin a family, but the rough life of touring caused Claudette to have several miscarriages. In early 1964, Claudette decided to retire from the road and remain at home in Detroit after another miscarriage, her sixth. From this point on, Claudette did not tour with the Miracles or appear in any official group photographs or on television, although she continued to sing backup with the group in the studio until 1972. [29][30]
After Claudette Robinson's departure, the remaining Miracles appeared in The T.A.M.I. Show, a landmark 1964 concert film released by American International Pictures[31] that included performances by numerous popular rock and roll and R&B musicians from the United States and England, filmed and recorded live at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium on October 28 and 29, 1964.[32] This film had theatrical release in theatres across the United States, and also included performances by fellow Motown artists the Supremes and Marvin Gaye, along with Chuck Berry, Lesley Gore, the Beach Boys, the Rolling Stones, and James Brown and the Famous Flames. The Miracles' performance was one of the show's highlights, called "athletically electrifying" by critics.[33][34][35] Miracles chart hit singles that year included "That's What Love Is Made Of" and "I Like It Like That". In early 1965, the group released Motown Records' first double album, "The Miracles Greatest Hits from the Beginning", which was a success on Billboard's Pop and R&B Album Charts. Also in 1965, the Miracles released their landmark Top 10 album, Going to a Go-Go, under the new group name of Smokey Robinson and the Miracles. This album launched four top 20 singles on the Billboard Hot 100, including the landmark million-selling Grammy Hall of Fame single, "The Tracks of My Tears", "Ooo Baby Baby", "Going to a Go-Go" and "My Girl Has Gone", all of which became top ten R&B hit singles as well. During this period, their music had made its way abroad, influencing several British groups along the way.[36][37] The effects of this influence became even more pronounced when the Beatles, the Hollies, the Zombies, the Who, and The Rolling Stones all began recording covers of Miracles hits. Members of the Beatles, in particular, publicly stated that the music of the Miracles greatly influenced their own.[38]
Around this time, the group had begun performing in nightclubs and other high-profile venues after years on the chitlin' circuit. According to an Ebony article on the group, the group began grossing $150,000 a year due to royalties and personal investments.[39] They also were making between $100,000 and $250,000 for nightly shows.[39] In addition, the Miracles appeared on many of the popular variety television programs of the period, including The Ed Sullivan Show, Shindig!, Hullabaloo, American Bandstand, Where The Action Is, The Mike Douglas Show, The Andy Williams Show,Teen Town,Hollywood A Go-Go, Upbeat, and Britain's Ready Steady Go!. The Miracles' success continued with several hits including "(Come 'Round Here) I'm the One You Need","More Love", "Special Occasion", "If You Can Want", and the Top 10 hit "I Second That Emotion" . Around this time, the group was starting to be billed as Smokey Robinson and The Miracles on several of their albums. The name change didn't appear on their singles until the release of "The Love I Saw in You Was Just a Mirage", a Top 20 hit released in 1967. On that song's flipside was the tune "Come Spy with Me". The Miracles sang the original theme to the 1967 20th Century Fox film of the same name.[40][41][42]
The year 1968 brought a second "greatest hits" collection, "The Miracles Greatest Hits, Vol. 2", which was the group's second Top 10 album, which featured the most popular singles from their successful Going to a Go-Go, Away We A Go-Go and Make It Happen albums of the 1965–67 period. Also in 1968, the group released their hit album "Special Occasion"which spawned 3 Top 40 singles, including the smash "If You Can Want", which the group performed on their first appearance on CBS' "The Ed Sullivan Show", at the time considered television's top talent and entertainment showcase.
The Miracles performing on The Smokey Robinson Show, a 1970 ABC Television special. (L-to-R) Bobby Rogers, Smokey Robinson, Ronnie White.
However, due to constant changes in the music industry and Motown, by 1969, Smokey Robinson sought to leave the Miracles and the stage, to settle for continued work as Motown's vice president as well as become more of a family man to his wife Claudette and their children. The year 1969 had brought a second Ed Sullivan Show appearance for the group, singing their then-current singles "Doggone Right", and their hit cover of Dion's "Abraham, Martin and John".[43][44] Robinson's departure plans however, were thwarted after the group's 1969 song "Baby Baby Don't Cry" hit the Billboard Pop Top 10, and when the Miracles' 1967 song, "Tears of a Clown", was released as a single in 1970, it became a number-one hit in the U.K. It was subsequently released in the U.S., where it duplicated its U.K. success, reaching number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 Pop Chart,and selling over 3 million copies.[45] As a result,The Miracles became hotter than ever, and Robinson decided to stay with the group for another two years. In 1970, the group were given their own ABC television special, "The Smokey Robinson Show", which starred the Miracles, with guest stars the Supremes, the Temptations, Stevie Wonder, and Fran Jeffries.[46][47] In 1971, they scored one more top 20 hit with 1971's "I Don't Blame You At All". In 1972, Robinson made good on his promise to leave the Miracles, starting a six-month tour which ended in July 1972 at Washington, D.C., later introducing Billy Griffin as his official replacement. This series of final live Miracles concerts with Robinson was released by Motown on the double album "Smokey Robinson & The Miracles: 1957–1972"(Tamla TS320). About that final tour, Miracle Pete Moore stated:"We had 12 farewell engagements playing to sold-out houses. It was amazing." [48] Also released that year was the group's final studio album with Smokey,"Flying High Together", with its lead single "We've Come Too Far to End It Now" reaching the Billboard R&B Top Ten. After Smokey's retirement, Billy Griffin was introduced to national television audiences on NBC's The Midnight Special, on an episode guest-starring The Miracles and hosted by Smokey Robinson, broadcast on July 13, 1973.[49][50] Within a year afterwards, Marv Tarplin also decided to leave the group and continued working with Robinson on his solo material, while Claudette, who had essentially retired from the Miracles' live performances in 1964, permanently left the Miracles when her husband Smokey did, retiring from recording with them as well.

Later career

In 1973, the Miracles, with Griffin, re-emerged with the critically acclaimed album, Renaissance – their first without Smokey Robinson on lead vocals, which included the Marvin Gaye composition, "I Love You Secretly", "What Is a Heart Good For" (the intended first single),[51] and the charting single,"Don't Let It End (Til You Let It Begin)". The following year, in 1974, after releasing the much-covered single "Give Me Just Another Day", the group had their first top 20 hit in three years with the million-selling funk song, "Do It Baby".[52][53] This was followed by the top 10 R&B hit, "Don't-Cha Love It." [54] Late that following year, the group recorded the disco smash, "Love Machine", which came off their self-written-and-produced hit album, City of Angels. "Love Machine" reached number-one on the Hot 100 in early 1976, the Miracles' first since "Tears of a Clown", and later sold over 4.5 million copies.[55] The Miracles, who had long been written off by the music industry, had proven that they could have big hits without Robinson. Despite this success,however, in 1976, the Miracles' relationship with Motown imploded during contract renewals after their contract with the label had expired.[56] When Motown, then going through a contract issue with Stevie Wonder, advised the group to wait "six months" to discuss a new contract, the group took on an offer to sign with Columbia Records, signing with them in 1977.[56] Following this, Billy's brother Donald joined them on lead guitar, replacing Marv Tarplin. The group immediately had problems after signing with Columbia, starting with the release of their first Columbia single, "Spy For Brotherhood". Expecting controversy from the single as well as possible threats from the FBI, Columbia pulled the song from the airwaves.[57][58] The group failed to have a hit during their short Columbia run and in 1978, Pete Moore decided to retire from the road while Billy Griffin wanted to return to his solo career, leading to the group to disband.[56]
In 1980, Ronnie White and Bobby Rogers decided to carry on with the Miracles as a touring unit replacing Pete Moore and Billy Griffin with Dave Finley and Carl Cotton, which carried on for three years as "The New Miracles".[56][59] This version of the Miracles was short-lived though after White decided to retire from show business following the death of his wife Earlyn, who died from breast cancer in 1983, disbanding the group again. Around this same time, most of the original Miracles including Smokey Robinson and Claudette Robinson as well as Pete Moore, Marv Tarplin, and Bobby Rogers reunited to perform a medley of their songs on Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever. White was attending his wife Earlyn's funeral around this time, and wasn't able to attend. Following his exit from the Miracles, Smokey Robinson enjoyed a successful solo career; in 1979, he and Tarplin co-wrote his signature hit, "Cruisin'". Following his reunion with the original Miracles on Motown 25, Robinson was dependent on cocaine, which affected his life and career. He broke the addiction in the late 1980s and revived his singing career, with the Grammy Award-winning single, "Just to See Her". In 1986, Smokey's marriage with Claudette Robinson ended in divorce, as did Bobby's marriage to Marvelettes member Wanda Young . After the release of a 35th anniversary commemorative compilation album in 1993, Ronnie White and Bobby Rogers decided to regroup the Miracles yet again, with Dave Finley returning to the fold and Sydney Justin, former NFL player and formerly of Shalamar, as the lead singer. Two years later, Ronnie White died from a longtime bout with leukemia, leaving the remaining Miracles as a trio until Tee Turner joined the group in 2001. In 1998 the group including Sydney, Bobby, Claudette and Pete performed on the PBS television network. In 2009, the group received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame with Bobby Rogers, Berry Gordy, Smokey Robinson, Pete Moore and Claudette Robinson in attendance. Following White's death in 1995, Rogers and Justin continued to tour with different members until Rogers was forced into retirement due to health issues in 2011, dying less than two years later.[55] Bobby Rogers died in March 2013, 2 weeks after his 73rd birthday (R.I.P.) Former members Carl Cotton and Marv Tarplin are also deceased (in 2003 and 2011 respectively).[60][61]

Accolades and 2012 Induction

During their tenure, the Miracles were awarded several times for their songwriting work from both the BMI and ASCAP songwriting organizations.[9][10] In 1997, the Miracles were honored by the Rhythm and Blues Foundation with the Pioneer Award for their contributions to music.[6] In 2001, the group was inducted to the Vocal Group Hall of Fame.[7] Three years later, the Miracles were included in Rolling Stone's list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time at #32, still holding to that position in a revised 2011 edition,making The Miracles the highest-ranking Motown group on the Rolling Stone listing. In both editions, they were immortalized by rock musician Bob Seger, who grew up a Miracles fan.[8] In 2006, Woodbridge Estates, an exclusive residential development in Detroit, named their community park "Miracles Park" and one of its streets "Miracles Boulevard", in recognition of the legendary Motown group's importance to the city, and as a tribute to their many accomplishments in the music industry.[9][62]
In 2009, all the known members of the group (including Billy Griffin) got a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, attended by Berry Gordy and Stevie Wonder, who thanked the Miracles (in particular Ronnie White, who brought the then 11-year-old to Motown's studios), for discovering him.[63] Wonder stated: "Were it not for The Miracles, there would not be a Stevie Wonder".[64] Gordy added that without the Miracles, "Motown would not be the Motown that it is today".[65][66] In 2011, the Miracles were inducted to the Doo-Wop Hall of Fame.[67] That same year, Goldmine magazine named them as one of the twenty greatest doo-wop groups of all time.[68] Finally, in 2012, 25 years after frontman Smokey Robinson's controversial solo induction, the rest of the original Miracles were inducted to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, with Robinson inducting them along with five other groups.[12] The group's induction meant that they would be retroactively included with Robinson under the premise that they should have been inducted with him back in 1987. The inducted members were original members Claudette Rogers-Robinson, Pete Moore, Bobby Rogers, Ronnie White (posthumously), and Marv Tarplin (posthumously) .[69][70]

Legacy

The Miracles and their music have had worldwide impact, influencing scores of artists of many different musical genres around the globe. The original lineup of the group has consistently been revered by several critics in major rock and music magazines and have received numerous honors and awards for their contributions to the music industry. One of their most honored songs, "The Tracks of My Tears", was included in the Library of Congress' National Recording Registry because of its "culturally, historically and aesthetically significance" in 2008. It was also chosen as one of the Top 10 Best Songs of All Time by a panel of 20 top industry songwriters and producers including Hal David, Paul McCartney, Brian Wilson, Jerry Leiber, and others as reported to Britain's Mojo music magazine,[71][72] and was also winner of "The Award Of Merit" from The American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP) for the song's writers, Miracles members Pete Moore, Marv Tarplin and Smokey Robinson.[9] In addition, "The Tracks of My Tears" has been ranked by the Recording Industry Association of America and The National Endowment for the Arts at #127 in its list of the Songs of the Century – the 365 Greatest Songs of the 20th Century.[73][74] Their hit-filled 1965 album, Going to a Go-Go is listed on Rolling Stone Magazine's list of "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time".[75] Four of the group's songs were inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame including "You Really Got a Hold on Me", "Tears of a Clown", "Shop Around" and "Tracks of My Tears". In addition, "You Really Got a Hold on Me", "Going to a Go-Go", "Shop Around" and "Tracks of My Tears" were inducted to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as part of their 500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll list.[76] The group was also ranked #61 on VH-1's 100 Greatest Rock Stars of All Time in 1998 while also ranking at #71 on Billboard's 100 Greatest Artists of All Time in 2008.They have also been inducted into the Hit Parade Hall of Fame as of 2014.[77][78]
Commenting to Rolling Stone Magazine, Bob Seger said: "I used to go to the Motown Revues, and the Miracles always closed the show. They were that good, and everybody knew it."[8] Producer Quincy Jones called the group the "Beethovens of The 20th Century" due to their songwriting talents.[79] In addition, the Miracles have been regarded as the most covered act in Motown's roster and have influenced numerous artists worldwide in the last 50 years.[80][81]
The success of The Miracles actually launched the Motown Records label, and, according to Motown Records founder, Berry Gordy, without the Miracles,the Motown Record Corporation would not have been possible.[5]

The 1987 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame controversy

In 1987, former Miracles lead singer Smokey Robinson was inducted to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist,without his fellow Miracles, which Robinson expressed deep regret and shock that his group-mates weren't inducted with him.[82][83][84] This solo induction triggered shockwaves and cries of protest throughout the music industry.[85][86][87][88] In an article in the oldies music magazine Goldmine, editor Phil Marder stated: "How did Smokey Robinson get inducted without (the rest of) the Miracles?"
"Robinson certainly deserves solo induction due to his songwriting, producing, solo career and his contributions in many official capacities in Motown’s front office. But if the Supremes got in with Diana Ross and the Vandellas made it in with Martha Reeves and the three other Tops made it in with Levi Stubbs, how could the Miracles, who were much more important, not get in with Smokey?"[85]
Miracles bass singer Pete Moore told the Cleveland Plain Dealer, "It was a slap in the face, very disappointing. We are the premier group of Motown. We were there before there was a Motown. We set the pace for all the other artists to come after us. We were a little older, and the other artists looked up to us. How could we not be in there?" Moore later stated, "When Terry Stewart [Rock Hall president and CEO] called and told me we were to be inducted, he was apologetic," Moore said. "He said it should have been done years ago, everybody knew it. He said they received many, many calls over the years from angry (Miracles) fans."[55]
Robinson had told Billboard Magazine that he had been lobbying for the Miracles since his own induction, "making calls and signing petitions and everything, because they really deserve it." Though some felt Robinson should've been included as an inductee with the other Miracles, Robinson said, "I don't really even care about that. I'm already in there. I don't understand why it was, like, a task to get the Miracles in there. We were one of the hottest and most prolific groups in the world at that time, so I don't understand the hesitancy."[89] Claudette Robinson stated, "When I spoke to (Rock and Roll Hall of Fame & Museum President and CEO) Terry Stewart, he said he got no less than 900 e-mails per day saying the Miracles should be inducted, and why aren't they? I was surprised by that. I would think five or 10, but he said that amount, so it's a lot of people that were really pulling for us. You have to be thankful and grateful for that." [89] However, before this decision, Miracle Marv Tarplin died in September 2011 at the age of 70, just months before the induction ceremony.[90]
In 2014, The Miracles are scheduled to be inductees into The new R&B Music Hall of Fame in Cleveland. On their website it is stated that The Miracles' exclusion from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame was "outrageous", pointing out Robinson’s solo induction went against its own rules. Robinson had only spent 14 years as a solo performer and his name wasn’t in front of the group’s until 1967. It further stated the Miracles were "the heartbeat of Motown in the 1960′s, one of the best vocal groups ever formed and owners of some of the greatest records Rock has ever produced." It was also stated also that with The Miracles’ induction, the Hall of Fame “remedied its most shameful chapter and the biggest miracle is it took this long to do it.

Cover versions

Main article: List of cover versions of The Miracles songs

Awards and achievements

Main article: List of The Miracles awards and achievements

Members

Main article: List of The Miracles group members
Original members:

Discography

Main article: The Miracles discography

Top 20 US and UK singles

Top 40 albums

References

  1. "Smokey Robinson & the Miracles | Music Biography, Credits and Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-02-11.
  2. "Smokey Robinson & The Miracles Full Biography". Mp3lyrics.org. Retrieved 2014-02-11.
  3. "The.100.Most.influential.musicians.of.All.time". Scribd.com. 2013-08-27. Retrieved 2014-02-11.
  4. "Rebound in Motown – Hitsville USA | National Society of Newspaper Columnists". Columnists.com. Retrieved 2012-12-18.
  5. "The Miracles - Motown Sounds Featured Artist - Motown Museum Home of Hitsville U.S.A". Motownmuseum.org. 1958-02-19. Retrieved 2014-02-11.
  6. "Rhythm & Blues Foundation – Preserving America’s Soul". Rhythm-n-blues.org. Retrieved 2012-04-16.
  7. "Smokey Robinson and The Miracles – Inductees – The Vocal Group Hall of Fame Foundation". Vocalgroup.org. Retrieved 2012-04-16.
  8. "The Immortals: The First Fifty". Rolling Stone Issue 946.
  9. "WBMM Pete Moore Awards". Gbelv.com. Retrieved May 4, 2011.
  10. Ebony October 1971, pp. 169.
  11. "Billboard Hot 100 Chart 50th Anniversary". Billboard.com. Retrieved 2012-04-16.
  12. "Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Adds Six Backing Groups To The Class of 2012". Retrieved 2012-03-25.
  13. Dahl 2011, pp. 124.
  14. Dahl 2011, pp. 125.
  15. "The Miracles of Motown_Bobby Rogers: We've Got Smokey". YouTube. 2010-12-02. Retrieved 2014-02-11.
  16. "Marv Goldberg's R&B Notebooks - The Royals". Uncamarvy.com. Retrieved 2014-02-11.
  17. "Hank Ballard & The Midnighters helped to shape rock and roll". Goldminemag.com. 2011-08-23. Retrieved 2014-02-11.
  18. Dahl 2011, pp. 127.
  19. Gilliland, John (1969). "Show 25 – The Soul Reformation: Phase two, the Motown story. [Part 4, : UNT Digital Library" (audio). Pop Chronicles. Digital.library.unt.edu. Retrieved May 4, 2011.
  20. Dahl 2011, pp. 124–127.
  21. Dahl 2011, pp. 128.
  22. The Supremes: A Saga of Motown Dreams, Success, and Betrayal-Page 65
  23. "American Bandstand Timeline - Dick Clark - History, Biography and Trivia". Oldies.about.com. Retrieved 2014-02-11.
  24. Gulla 2008, pp. 256.
  25. Dahl 2011, pp. 129.
  26. Dahl 2011, pp. 130.
  27. "The Miracles – Hollywood Star Walk". Retrieved September 25, 2012.
  28. "The African American Experience". Testaae.greenwood.com. Retrieved 2012-07-28.
  29. Dahl 2011, pp. 132.
  30. Ebony October 1971, pp. 165.
  31. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0058631/
  32. "The T.A.M.I. Show Collector's Edition: The Rolling Stones, The Beach Boys, James Brown and The Flames, Chuck Berry, Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, The Supremes, Lesley Gore, Jan and Dean, Gerry And The Pacemakers, Billy J. Kramer And The Dakotas, and The Barbarians., Steve Binder: Movies & TV". Amazon.com. Retrieved 2014-02-11.
  33. "iTunes – Music – Smokey Robinson". Itunes.apple.com. 1940-02-19. Retrieved 2012-04-16.
  34. Unterberger, Richie (1940-02-19). "Smokey Robinson". AllMusic. Retrieved 2012-04-16.
  35. "Smokey Robinson Miracles Diana Ross Supremes From Rock Concert TAMI". YouTube. 2010-09-04. Retrieved 2012-04-16.
  36. "Smokey Robinson and the Miracles | Ed Sullivan Show". Edsullivan.com. Retrieved 2012-04-16.
  37. ""You Really Got A Hold On Me" by The Beatles. The in-depth story behind the songs of the Beatles. Recording History. Songwriting History". Beatlesebooks.com. Retrieved 2012-04-16.
  38. ""You Really Got A Hold On Me" by The Beatles. The in-depth story behind the songs of the Beatles. Recording History. Songwriting History". Beatlesebooks.com. Retrieved 2014-02-11.
  39. Ebony October 1971, pp. 166.
  40. "Probabilistic Jukebox: "Come Spy With Me" by Smokey Robinson & the Miracles". Wiresandwaves.com. 2010-01-20. Retrieved 2012-04-16.
  41. "Smokey Robinson & The Miracles - Come Spy With Me.wmv". YouTube. 2009-12-02. Retrieved 2012-04-16.
  42. "smokey robinson and the miracles- come spy with me- get smart; the avengers; undercovers". YouTube. 2013-04-11. Retrieved 2014-02-11.
  43. "The Ed Sullivan Show - Season 21, Episode 32: June 1, 1969: Smokey Robinson & the Miracles, Lesley Gore, Gwen Verdon". TV.com. Retrieved 2014-02-11.
  44. "YouTube". YouTube. Retrieved 2014-02-11.
  45. "Miracles (Smokey Robinson &)". Michigan Rock and Roll Legends. 2011-09-30. Retrieved 2014-02-11.
  46. "The Smokey Robinson Show Dvd Very Rare Koop". Ioffer.com. Retrieved 2014-02-11.
  47. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0783584/
  48. "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. Retrieved 2014-04-19.
  49. "Watch The Midnight Special S1E25 Online | Host: Smokey Robinson | TV Shows". SideReel. Retrieved 2014-02-11.
  50. "The Midnight Special - Host: Smokey Robinson (S01E25)". Seplis.com. 1973-07-13. Retrieved 2014-02-11.
  51. "★Soul Train #307 - THE MIRACLES "What Is A Heart Good For" 1974". YouTube. 2013-06-10. Retrieved 2014-02-11.
  52. The Book of Golden Discs – by Joseph Murrells, pgs 348 & 361
  53. "The Miracles - Do It Baby (Audio Redone By Dj Cole 1974)". YouTube. 2011-08-10. Retrieved 2014-02-11.
  54. "The Miracles | Music Biography, Credits and Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved 2014-02-11.
  55. Plain Dealer File. "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. Retrieved 2012-07-28.
  56. Ryan 2011, pp. 88.
  57. "Miracles – Love Machine: The 70'S Collection CD Album". Cduniverse.com. Retrieved May 4, 2011.
  58. "Smokey Robinson and the Miracles – Biography for These Soulful Singing Phenoms". Soullyoldies.com. Retrieved May 4, 2011.
  59. "Carl Cotton ( – 2003) – Find A Grave Memorial". Findagrave.com. Retrieved May 4, 2011.
  60. "Carl Cotton ( - 2003) - Find A Grave Memorial". Findagrave.com. Retrieved 2014-02-11.
  61. [1][dead link]
  62. "Woodbridge Estates Honors Motown Legends; Developer Holds Street Naming and Ground Breaking Celebration. – PR Newswire, HighBeam Research: Online Press Releases". Encyclopedia.com. April 6, 2002. Retrieved May 24, 2011.
  63. "Honors on the Hollywood Walk of Fame". Retrieved 2012-03-25.
  64. "Smokey Robinson & The Miracles Get A Star! - HipHollywood.com". YouTube. Retrieved 2014-02-11.
  65. "New stars on Hollywood Walk of Fame". Cleveland.com. Retrieved May 24, 2011.
  66. "Rush, The Miracles Getting Walk Of Fame Stars". Buffaloathome.com. Retrieved May 24, 2011.
  67. "at". Doowophof.com. April 5, 2011. Retrieved May 4, 2011.
  68. "Goldmine's 20 Greatest Doo-Wop Groups". Retrieved 2012-03-26.
  69. "Belated Hall of Fame Induction for Smokey Robinson's Miracles". Retrieved 2012-03-26.
  70. "Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Announces More Inductees". Retrieved 2012-03-26.
  71. "Mojo – the 100 greatest songs of all time (august 2000)". Muzieklijstjes.nl. Retrieved May 4, 2011.
  72. "TOP 10 tag: Rock". WatchMojo.com. Retrieved May 4, 2011.
  73. "Songs of the Century List". Mylistpad.com. 2011-01-31. Retrieved 2012-04-16.
  74. Whitaker, Dave (2012-03-07). "Dave's Music Database: The RIAA/NEA's Top 365 Songs of the 20th Century". Davesmusicdatabase.blogspot.com. Retrieved 2012-04-16.
  75. "500 Greatest Albums: Going to a Go-Go – Smokey Robinson and the Miracles". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2012-04-16.
  76. "Experience the Music: One-Hit Wonders and the Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll". The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame & Museum. Retrieved September 20, 2012.
  77. "Inductees". Hit Parade Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2014-02-11.
  78. "Smokey Robinson & the Miracles". Hit Parade Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2014-02-11.
  79. Smokey Robinson and the Miracles: The Definitive Performances (1963–1987)
  80. "Motown Legends Today : Tamla Motown News". Funandmusic.biz. Retrieved May 24, 2011.
  81. "GONNNA TAKE SOME MIRACLES The Miracles on Blurt Online". Blurt-online.com. August 28, 2009. Retrieved May 24, 2011.
  82. "Rock and Roll Hall of Fame adds six backing groups to the class of 2012". CNN.com. 2012-02-09. Retrieved 2012-04-16.
  83. "Rock & Roll Hall of Fame still missing 3 Motown stalwarts". Goldmine Magazine. December 15, 2010. Retrieved May 4, 2011.
  84. Grow, Kory (October 30, 2009). "Bruce! Sam! Billy! Bonnie! Live From The Ludicrously Star-Studded MSG Rock Hall Extravaganza". The Village Voice. Retrieved May 4, 2011.
  85. "Rock & Roll Hall of Fame still missing 3 Motown stalwarts". Goldminemag.com. 2010-12-15. Retrieved 2014-02-11.
  86. "Smokey Robinson: Miracles get inducted into Rock Hall - 13 WTHR Indianapolis". Wthr.com. 2012-04-16. Retrieved 2014-02-11.
  87. "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. Retrieved 2014-02-11.
  88. Andy Greene (2012-02-09). "Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Adds Six Backing Groups to the Class of 2012 | Music News". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2014-04-19.
  89. "The Miracles Grateful of Effort to Get Them Into Rock Hall of Fame". Billboard.com. 2009-09-14. Retrieved 2012-07-28.
  90. "Marv Tarplin, Miracles Guitarist, Dies at 70". Billboard.com. 2009-09-14. Retrieved 2012-04-16.

Further reading

Wikimedia Commons has media related to The Miracles.

External links

Book icon

 

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Smokey Robinson
SmokeyRobinson2.jpg
Robinson in concert at the Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez, California, on August 17, 2006.
Background information
Birth name William Robinson, Jr.
Born February 19, 1940 (age 74)
Detroit, Michigan, United States
Genres R&B, soul, pop, adult contemporary
Occupations Singer, songwriter, record producer, record executive
Instruments Vocals, piano
Years active 1955–present
Labels Motown, Universal, SBK, Liquid 8, Robso
Associated acts The Miracles, The Temptations, Mary Wells, Marvin Gaye, The Marvelettes
Website Official website
William "Smokey" Robinson, Jr. (born February 19, 1940) is an American R&B and pop singer-songwriter, record producer, and former record executive. Robinson was the founder and front man of the Motown vocal group The Miracles, for which he also served as the group's chief songwriter and producer. Robinson led the group from its 1955 origins as The Five Chimes until 1972 when he announced a retirement from the stage to focus on his role as Motown's vice president.
However, Robinson returned to the music industry as a solo artist the following year, later scoring Top 10 solo hits such as "Cruisin'" (1979), "Being With You" (1981) and "Just to See Her" (1987). Following the sale of Motown Records in 1988, Robinson left Motown in 1990. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987.

Early life and early career

Smokey Robinson was born into a poor family in the North End area of Detroit. He was raised by his elder sister and her husband, after his mother died of a brain hemorrhage.[1] He attended Northern High School, where he was above-average academically, and a keen athlete, though his main interest was music and he formed a doo-wop group named the Five Chimes.[1] At one point, he and Diana Ross lived several houses from each other on Belmont; he once said he has known Ross since she was about eight.[2]
Robinson said his interest in music started after hearing the groups Nolan Strong & The Diablos and Billy Ward and His Dominoes on the radio as a child. Robinson later listed Strong, a Detroit native, as a strong vocal influence during an interview with Goldmine as he and Strong shared similar vocals. In 1955, he formed the first lineup of what became The Miracles with childhood friend Ronald White and classmate Pete Moore. Two years later, in 1957, they were renamed The Matadors and included Bobby Rogers. Another member, Emerson Rogers, was replaced by Bobby's cousin Claudette Rogers. The group's guitarist, Marv Tarplin, joined them sometime in 1958. The Matadors began touring Detroit venues around this time. They later changed their name to the Miracles, taking inspiration from the name, "Miracletones". Early in Smokey's life he loved Detroit and thought it was the greatest city in the world.

Career

The Miracles and Motown

Main article: The Miracles
In August 1957, Robinson and The Miracles met songwriter Berry Gordy after a failed audition for Brunswick Records. Gordy was impressed with Robinson's vocals and even more impressed with Robinson's ambitious songwriting. With his help, the Miracles released their first single, "Got a Job", an answer song to the Silhouettes' hit single "Get a Job"[3] on End Records. During this time, Robinson attended college and started classes in January 1959, studying electrical engineering.[4] Robinson dropped out after only two months following the Miracles' release of their first record.[4]
After a number of failures and difficulties with money, Robinson suggested to Gordy that he start his own label. Gordy formed Tamla Records which was later reincorporated as Motown. The Miracles became one of the first acts signed to the label. In point of fact, they had actually been with Gordy since before the formation of Motown Records.[5] In late 1960, the group recorded their first hit single, "Shop Around", which became Motown's first million-selling hit record.[3] Between 1960 and 1970, Robinson would produce 26 top forty hits with the Miracles as lead singer, chief songwriter and producer, including several top ten hits such as "You've Really Got a Hold on Me",[3] "Mickey's Monkey", "I Second That Emotion", "Baby Baby Don't Cry" and the group's only number-one hit during their Robinson years, "Tears of a Clown". Other notable hits such as "Ooo Baby Baby", "Going to a Go-Go", "The Tracks of My Tears", "(Come Round Here) I'm The One You Need", "The Love I Saw in You Was Just a Mirage" and "More Love" peaked in the top twenty. In 1965, the Miracles were the first Motown group to adapt a name change when they were listed as Smokey Robinson & The Miracles on the cover of their 1965 album Going to a Go-Go. Their name change would be confirmed on singles after 1966.
Between 1962 and 1966, Robinson was also one of the in-demand songwriters and producers for Motown, penning several hit singles such as "Two Lovers",[3] "The One Who Really Loves You", "You Beat Me to the Punch" and "My Guy" for Mary Wells, "The Way You Do The Things You Do", "My Girl",[3] "Since I Lost My Baby" and "Get Ready" for The Temptations, "When I'm Gone" and "Operator" for Brenda Holloway, "Don't Mess With Bill", "The Hunter Gets Captured by the Game" and "My Baby Must Be a Magician" for The Marvelettes and "I'll Be Doggone" and "Ain't That Peculiar" for Marvin Gaye. His top rank as songwriter and producer dropped after the arrivals of Holland–Dozier–Holland and the team of Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong, and other Motown artists such as Gaye and Stevie Wonder. He later contributed lyrics and musical composition for the works of The Contours' "First I Look at the Purse", the Four Tops' "Still Water" and The Supremes' "Floy Joy".
By 1969, Robinson had voiced his opinion on wanting to retire from the road to concentrate on raising his two children with his wife Claudette, and also focus on his duties as Motown's vice president. He earned the job by the mid-1960s after Esther Gordy Edwards had left the position and began mentoring Motown acts on Motown's Motortown Revues. However, the late success of the group's track, "Tears of a Clown", caused Robinson to stay with the group until 1972. Robinson's last performance with the group was in July 1972 in Washington, D.C.

Solo career

After a year of retirement, Robinson announced his comeback with the release of the eponymous Smokey album, in 1973. The album included the Miracles tribute song, "Sweet Harmony" and the hit ballad "Baby Come Close". On his 1976 album Thirty Three & 1/3, former Beatle George Harrison featured the track "Pure Smokey" as a tribute to his idol. Harrison and fellow Beatles John Lennon and Paul McCartney were also fans of Robinson's songwriting. 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 hit singles during this period.
Robinson answered his critics the following year with A Quiet Storm, released in 1975. The album launched three singles - the number-one R&B hit "Baby That's Backatcha", "The Agony & The Ecstasy" and "Quiet Storm". However, Robinson's solo career continued to struggle as Robinson mainly focused as Motown's vice president, rather than work on his own career. As a result, several albums including Smokey's Family Robinson, Deep in My Soul, Love Breeze and Smokin, suffered from dismal promotion and even more dismal reviews from critics. Robinson had by then relied on other writers and producers to help with his albums.
Following these albums, Robinson got out of a writer's block after his close collaborator Marv Tarplin, who joined him on the road in 1973 after Robinson left the Miracles, presented him a musical composition he had composed on his guitar. Robinson later wrote the lyrics that became his first top ten Pop single, "Cruisin'". The song hit #1 in Cash Box and peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100. It also became his first solo number one in New Zealand. Robinson would follow a similar approach with his next album, Warm Thoughts, which produced another top 40 hit, "Let Me Be the Clock", though it didn't repeat the success of "Cruisin'".
In 1981, Robinson topped the charts again with another sensual ballad, "Being with You", which was another #1 hit for Smokey in Cash Box and peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100. It also hit #1 number-one in the United Kingdom, becoming his most successful single to date. The Gold-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"; Touch the Sky and Essar. In 1983, Robinson teamed up with fellow Motown label mate Rick James recording the R&B ballad, "Ebony Eyes".
In 1987, following a period of personal and professional issues, Robinson made a comeback with the album, One Heartbeat and the singles, "Just to See Her" and "One Heartbeat", which were Top 10 hits on Billboard's Pop, Soul, and Adult Contemporary charts. They were aided by hugely popular music videos. "Just to See Her" won Smokey his first Grammy Award in 1988. The album became one of Robinson's most successful ever, selling over 900,000 copies in the United States alone. In the same year Robinson released One Heartbeat, he was inducted as a solo artist to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, later igniting controversy as the committee had only inducted Robinson but not members of his group, the Miracles, which Smokey was personally offended by.[6][7] In 2012, however, the committee rectified that mistake announcing that the group would be inducted on their own merit. Though Robinson was not listed as an inductee, the musician is due to induct his former group at the ceremony in April 2012. The same year he was inducted, the UK group, ABC released a tribute song, "When Smokey Sings".
After 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 chart. Robinson remained virtually quiet during the nineties making a brief comeback in 1999 when he re-signed with Motown and issued the album, Intimate, which included the song "Easy to Love". In 2003, he once again split ties with Motown, releasing the gospel album, Food for the Soul on Liquid 8 Records in 2004. Two years later, Robinson released the standards album, Timeless Love, in 2006 on Universal Records. In 2009, he issued the album, Time Flies When You're Having Fun on his own label, Robso Records. It reached a respectable #59 on the Billboard album chart, his highest showing since One Heartbeat. As of 2014, Time Flies is currently the last full studio album Smokey has released. (He did, however, release "Now And Then" in 2010.) According to Billboard, he is working on tracks for a new Spanish album, to be released sometime in 2014. However, Billboard later announced the upcoming release of Smokey Robinson - Duets (with Elton John , Linda Ronstadt, and James Taylor among his duet partners) in September, 2014.

Personal life

Robinson married his fellow Miracles member Claudette Rogers in 1959. The couple had two children, son Berry Robinson (b. 1968) and named after Motown's first label founder Berry Gordy and daughter Tamla Robinson (b. 1969), respectively. Robinson has another son, Trey (b. 1984), 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.
Until the late sixties, Robinson was teetotal, drug-free, a vegetarian and a self-described "health nut". However, by the time he was in his late twenties, Robinson began using marijuana. By the seventies, he was also dabbling in cocaine; however, Robinson said he only used it for recreation. By the early eighties, however, he began a cocaine addiction. Following the deaths of his father and his close label-mate Marvin Gaye, the demise of his marriage and his own career troubles, Robinson developed an addiction to crack.
Robinson got clean in 1986 after visiting a church under the advice of longtime friend Leon Kennedy. Robinson has said that since the church visit, he has been clean and sober. In 1989, Robinson wrote the memoirs, Inside My Life, in which he opened up about his drug use. In 2004, Robinson married his second wife, Frances Robinson. The couple currently lives in Los Angeles. That same year, his company, SFGL Foods, launched a gumbo brand called "Smokey Robinson's The Soul is in the Bowl Gumbo", which was produced after the release of Robinson's gospel album, "Food for the Spirit".

"Smokey" nickname

Robinson later told reporters when he was a child, his uncle christened him "Smokey Joe", which Robinson assumed was a "cowboy name for me" until he was later told that smokey was a pejorative term for dark-skinned Blacks. Robinson, who is mainly of African American descent and is light-skinned, remembers his uncle saying to him, "I'm doing this so you won't ever forget that you're black." Smokey later disavowed that his Uncle had said that he was "Smokey" to remind him that he was Black in an interview for the Sentinel at the El Portal Theater to promote his poetry show, "Words" in the year 2012. In his Entertainment Weekly article in the year 2000, writer Tom Sinclair does not indicate where he got the quote.[8] Robinson grew up as a fan of Western films.[8]

Awards and accolades

Conductor Zubin Mehta laughs with singers Dolly Parton and Robinson during a reception for the Kennedy Center honorees in the East Room of the White House on Sunday, December 3, 2006.
In 1987, Robinson was inducted to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.That same year, he was awarded an individual star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.[9] Two years 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 Award at the Soul Train Music Awards. At its 138th Commencement Convocation in May 2006, Howard University conferred on Robinson the degree of Doctor of Music, honoris causa. In December 2006 Robinson was one of five Kennedy Center honorees, along with Dolly Parton, Zubin Mehta, Steven Spielberg and Andrew Lloyd Webber.
On March 20, 2009, The Miracles were finally honored as a group 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 as well. Smokey's replacement, 1970s Miracles lead singer, Billy Griffin was also honored. Controversially, original Miracle Marv Tarplin was not honored, against the wishes of his fellow Miracles, and the group's fans, who felt that he should have also been there to share the honor. However, later, Tarplin did receive his star. He was also finally inducted with the rest of the original Miracles, Bobby Rogers, Pete Moore, Ronnie White, and Claudette Robinson, into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012, 25 years after Robinson's controversial solo induction in 1987.
In 2009 Smokey Robinson received an honorary doctorate degree - along with Linda Ronstadt - and gave a commencement speech at Berklee College of Music's commencement ceremony.

Discography

Main article: Smokey Robinson discography

References

  1. Tom Sinclair (26 May 2000). "Smokey Robinson | EW.com". ew.com. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
  2. Hubbard, Steven and Ross, Scott. "Interview with Smokey Robinson." The 700 Club. Retrieved April 12, 2007.
  3. Gilliland, John (1969). "Show 25 - The Soul Reformation: Phase two, the Motown story. [Part 4]" (audio). Pop Chronicles. Digital.library.unt.edu.
  4. Interview. (2009) An Evening with Smokey Robinson, PBS
  5. http://www.cleveland.com/rockhall/index.ssf/2012/04/the_miracles_in_the_60s_we_lov.html
  6. "Smokey Robinson". www.rockhall.com. Retrieved 2009-10-20.
  7. "Rock & Roll Hall of Fame still missing 3 Motown stalwarts | Goldmine Magazine". goldminemag.com. Retrieved November 9, 2011.
  8. "Smokey Robinson". EW.com. 1940-02-19. Retrieved 2012-04-24.
  9. "Smokey Robinson". Los Angeles Times.

Further reading

External links

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Smokey Robinson
Book icon
Share this post :
Label:

Posting Komentar

 
Support : Creating Website | Johny Template | Mas Template
Copyright © 2011. Radio Aceel21 - All Rights Reserved
Template Created by Creating Website Published by Mas Template
Proudly powered by Blogger