smokey robinson

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 (1940-02-19) (age 69) Origin Detroit, Michigan, U.S. Genre(s) R&B, Soul Occupation(s) Singer, songwriter, record producer, record executive Instrument(s) Vocals, Piano Years active 1955 – present Label(s) Motown, Universal, SBK, Liquid 8 Associated acts The Miracles, The Temptations, Mary Wells Website http://www.smokeyrobinson.com

William "Smokey" Robinson, Jr. (born February 19, 1940) is an American R&B and soul singer-songwriter, record producer, and former record executive. Robinson is noted for being one of the primary figures associated with Motown Records, second only to the company's founder, Berry Gordy. Robinson's countless hits, and consistent contributions to the Motown label earned him the title of the "King of Motown". As both a member of Motown group The Miracles and a solo artist, Robinson recorded thirty-seven Top 40 hits for Motown between 1960 and 1987, and also served as the company's vice president from 1961 to 1988. Contents [hide] 1 Biography 1.1 Early years and formation of the Miracles 1.2 Motown and The Miracles 1.3 Successful solo career 1.4 Later years, The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Controversy, and Awards and Accolades 2 Smokey Robinson in popular culture 3 Solo discography 3.1 Albums 3.2 Pop Chart singles 4 References 5 External links //

Biography

Early years and formation of the Miracles

Robinson was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan's North End neighborhood. When he was a child, he was nicknamed "Smokey Joe" by an uncle because of his love of cowboy movies. In his teens, this was shortened to "Smokey". In an interview, Robinson claims he has been friends with Diana Ross since they were eleven years old.[1] In 1955, Robinson founded a group he called the Five Chimes with his best friend Ronald White, and Northern High School classmates Pete Moore , Clarence Dawson, and James Grice. By 1957, the group was called the Matadors and included cousins Emerson and Bobby Rogers in place of Dawson and Grice. Later Emerson was replaced by his sister Claudette Rogers who later married Robinson, and guitarist Marv Tarplin joined the group in 1958.

With Robinson as lead singer, the Matadors began touring the local Detroit venues. In 1958, Robinson met songwriter Berry Gordy, who co-wrote for them the single "Got a Job", an answer song to the Silhouettes' hit single "Get a Job". The group renamed itself the Miracles, and issued singles on both End Records and Chess Records before Robinson suggested to Gordy that he start a label of his own.

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