The Life and Sad Ending of Smokey Robinson

the life and sad ending of smokey robinson smokey robinson was born william robinson jr on february 19 1940. in detroit michigan u.s his father was an african-american while his mother was of american and french descent he has two sisters geraldine burstin and rose ella jones his family wasn't rich yet his parents supported the various pursuits of their son who was not only an above-average student but also was athletically gifted he studied at northern high school where he first began to demonstrate his musical talent he later enrolled at a college to study electrical engineering but dropped out after two months to pursue a career in music he formed a do-wop group named the five chimes with his childhood friend ronald white and classmate pete moore in 1957 they changed the group's name to the matadors bobby rogers joined the group in the same year soon bobby's cousin claudette was brought in and in 1958. guitarist marv tarplin was added they began performing at various venues in detroit later changing their name to the miracles initially the miracles was rejected by several music production companies including brunswick records in august 1957 robinson and the other members of the group were introduced to songwriter barry gordy who would become robinson's closest friend gordy instantly became a fan of his vocals and writing the miracle's first single got a job was released on end records in 1959 gordy established tamla records and the miracles became one of the first acts to sign with them in 1960 their first hit single shop around was released it reached number one on the billboard rnb chart and later sold over a million copies the group would release eight studio albums as the miracles with high were the miracles 1961 being their debut album after they changed their name to smokey robinson and the miracles they put out 12 more albums as a songwriter robinson contributed tracks like you've really got a hold on me mickey's monkey i second that emotion baby baby don't cry and the tears of a clown during his time with motown robinson also pinned songs for other artists as well these include you beat me to the punch my guy the way you do the things you do my girl since i lost my baby get ready when i am gone and operator for singers and groups like brenda holloway mary wells and the temptations robinson was already looking to retire from the industry by 1969 following the release of flying high together his last album with the miracles he retired to help raise his two children with rogers in 1972 he and the group performed together for the last time in washington dc almost 37 years later on march 20 2009 the group received their own star on the hollywood walk of fame he returned to his musical career in 1973 releasing his first solo album the eponymously titled smokey which contained the miracles tribute songs sweet harmony and baby come close a year later pure smoky was released however the album wasn't a success and many doubted robinson's chances as a solo artist furthermore he had been at the time serving as motown's vice president and a considerable amount of his time was devoted to that as a result his songwriting suffered robinson's seventh solo album love breeze was released through motown in 1978. arranged by sunny burke the album contained eight tracks with four tracks on each side over the years it has emerged to be robinson's most revered work his 1987 release one heartbeat topped the billboard rnb albums chart it contained 10 songs of which just to see her garnered robinson a grammy selling over 900 000 copies in the united states to date the album has been certified gold by the riaa in the following years he proved his critics wrong time and again in 1990 he left motown after the record label was sold to mca he put out only one album in the 1990s the 1991 release double good everything he has since released food for the soul in 2004 timeless love in 2006 time flies when you're having fun in 2009 now and then in 2010 and smokey and friends in 2014. more recently he released christmas every day in 2017. smokey robinson won his first grammy in 1988 for best male r b vocal performance for the single just to see her from the album one heartbeat in 1991 he received the grammy legend award and in 1999 he was awarded the grammy lifetime achievement award he was inducted into the rock and roll hall of fame in 1987 and the songwriters hall of fame in 1989. the howard university honored him with the doctor of music degree honoris causa at its 138th commencement convocation in may 2006. on december 3 2006 robinson along with dolly parton zubin metta stephen spielberg and andrew lloyd webber was honored at the kennedy center in the east room of the white house in personal life smokey robinson has been married twice he and his first wife claudette rogers also a member of the miracles wed on november 7 1959. they were eager to start a family but a hectic touring life took its toll and rogers suffered seven miscarriages in 1968 their son barry robinson was born a year later rogers gave birth to their daughter tom la robinson his 27-year long first marriage was a troubled one in 1974 they briefly separated after robinson had an extramarital affair which later became the subject of the song the agony and the ecstasy robinson's third child a son named trey was born in 1984 to a different woman during his marriage with rogers after this came to light robinson took responsibility for his action and filed for legal separation from rogers their divorce was eventually finalized in 1986 he married his second wife frances gladney in may 2002 he has not consumed red meat since 1972. he adheres to a practice known as transcendental meditation robinson once shared with the press he and legendary singer diana ross were neighbors when they were growing up he later they had briefly dated before his marriage to rogers probably right now as his worst time when his health is slowly deteriorating thank 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Keywords: Smokey Robinson, The Life and Sad Ending of Smokey Robinson, Smokey Robinson and the miracles, Smokey Robinson today, Smokey Robinson 2021, Smokey Robinson speech, Smokey Robinson today show, Smokey Robinson cruisin

Id: QUYOrJg_q4U

Length: 8min 16sec (496 seconds)

Published: Wed Jan 27 2021