Smokey Robinson
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Dubbed as the "Poet Laurete of Soul Music", Smokey Robinson is an American R&B Soul Singer and the founder of the popular band, The Miracles. Smokey has been composing and singing rhythm and blues hits for more than four decades. To name a few of his hit album, A Quiet Storm was the most hit album he released.
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About
Smokey Robinson or "William "Smokey" Robinson, Jr." in real life was born on February 19, 1940 in Detroit, Michigan. When Smokey was ten, his mother died, and his sister Geraldine took him in, raising him along with her ten children. The family was poor but close-knit, and he spent his youth writing songs and singing in local bands. He formed a group named "Five Chimes" in 1955. They changed their name to "The Matadors" in 1957. A chance meeting with record producer "Berry Gordy, Jr." led to a contract with Motown Records as well as an important working relationship. Three years later, the name was changed to The Miracles to accommodate a female singer, "Claudette Rogers", who married Smokey in 1959.
The band has released many hit singles in the 60's such as, "Got A Job", "Bad Girl", "Shop Around", and "I Second The Motion" to name a few. The band became one of the most popular band in the 60's. Smokey quit the band in 1969 so that he could remain at home with his family and concentrate on his duties as vice-president of Tamla Label. However after the surprise success of their single, "Tears of A Clown", he remain with the band until 1972. The band went on without him until the late 1970s.
In 1973, he released his first solo album, Smokey. It chartered at #10 on the Black Albums Chart. The album also features the single, "Sweet Harmony". Other hit album includes, A Quiet Storm which became his biggest album so far, Cruisin in 1979, Smokey's Family Robinson in 1976 which chartered at #9 on Black Albums Chart and Ebony Eyes in 1983 to name a few.
Still a popular entertainer, Smokey continues to perform live and record more singles. He also has been busy as a public speaker, talking to groups about his personal experiences. Exploring new business opportunities, Robinson formed a food company called Smokey Robinson Foods, which includes a line of ready-to-eat meals. Smokey was one of the performer on the finale of American Idol Season 6 held on May 23, 2007.
Awards & Certifications
| Year | Award | Category |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Grammy Awards | Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for "Just To See Her" |
Chart Toppers
| Year | Black Albums | Pop Albums | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | 10 | 70 | Smokey |
| 1974 | 12 | 99 | Pure Smokey |
| 1975 | 7 | 36 | A Quiet Storm |
| 1976 | 9 | 57 | Smokey's Family Robinson |
| 1978 | 19 | 75 | Love Breeze |
| 1980 | 4 | 14 | Warm Thoughts |
News
Tours & Concerts
May 24, 2008 Star of the Desert Arena, Jean, NV
May 30, 2008 Red Robinson Show Theatre, Coquitlam, BC
May 31, 2008 River Rock Casino, Richmond, BC
Announcements
There are no announcements as of this time
Discography
Albums
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Singles
| Date | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 1974 | I Am I Am | Tamla |
| 1991 | Double Good Everything | Capitol |
| 1992 | Rewind | Capitol |
| 1992 | I Love Your Face | SBK |
Compilations & Live Releases
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 20th Century Masters - The Millenium Collection: The Best of Smokey Robinson
September 26, 2000 Motown |
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Other artists
Similar artists
Contemporaries
Influences
Trivia
- Smokey was elected to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987.
- He was nicknamed "Smokey" as a child, because of his love of westerns.
- He and his singing group, The Miracles, were voted the 32nd Greatest Rock 'n' Roll Artists of all time by Rolling Stone.
- He was awarded the U.S. National Medal of Arts in 2002 from the National Endowment of the Arts.
- Awarded Kennedy Center Honors in 2006, with Dolly Parton, Steven Spielberg, Zubin Mehta, and Andrew Lloyd Webber.
- Inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1990.
Reviews
External Links
Categories: Artist | R&B | Soul
