Got to See Her Again by Smokey Robinson

American R&B vocaliser-songwriter and record producer

Smokey Robinson
Robinson in March 2018
Groundwork information
Nativity name	William Robinson Jr.
Born	(1940-02-nineteen) February nineteen, 1940 (historic period 82) Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Genres	R&B soul pop
Occupation(s)	Singer songwriter record producer actor
Instruments	Vocals piano guitar
Years agile	1955–present
Labels	Motown Universal SBK Liquid 8 Robso
Associated acts	The Miracles The Temptations Mary Wells Aretha Franklin Joss Stone Timothy Bloom Marvin Gaye The Marvelettes The Supremes Rick James
Website	Official website

Musical creative person

William "Smokey" Robinson Jr. (born Feb 19, 1940) is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, histrion and former record executive managing director. Robinson was the founder and forepart man of the Motown song group the Miracles, for which he was also principal songwriter and producer.^[i] He led the group from its 1955 origins as "the V Chimes" until 1972, when he appear his retirement from the grouping to focus on his function as Motown's vice president. However, Robinson returned to the music industry every bit a solo artist the following yr. After the sale of Motown Records in 1988, Robinson left the visitor in 1990.

Robinson was inducted into the Rock and Scroll Hall of Fame in 1987 and was awarded the 2016 Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for his lifetime contributions to pop music.^{[2] [iii]} In 2022, he was inducted into the Black Music & Amusement Walk of Fame.

Early life and early career [edit]

William Robinson Jr. was built-in to an African-American father and a mother of African-American and French descent into a poor family unit in the North Cease area of Detroit, Michigan, The states.^[ane] Robinson's ancestry is also role Nigerian, Scandinavian, Portuguese, and Cherokee.^[4] His uncle Claude gave him the nickname "Smokey Joe" when he was a kid.^[5]

He attended Northern High School, where he was in a higher place average academically and a keen athlete, though his main interest was music, and he formed a doo-wop grouping named the Five Chimes. At one point, he and Aretha Franklin lived several houses from each other on Belmont; he once said he'd known Franklin since she was about v, overhearing her play the pianoforte when he had come to play with her elder brother, Clarence after her family unit first moved to Memphis.^{[vi] [7]}

Robinson'due south interest in music started after hearing the groups Nolan Strong & the Diablos and Baton Ward and his Dominoes on the radio as a child, and he has listed Barrett Strong, a Detroit native, as a strong vocal influence.^{[ commendation needed ]} In 1955, he formed the first lineup of the Five Chimes with childhood friend Ronald White and classmate Pete Moore.

Two years later, in 1957, they were renamed the Matadors and included Bobby Rogers. Another fellow member, Emerson (Sonny) Rogers, Bobby Rogers' cousin, was replaced by his sis, Claudette Rogers (who would marry Smokey Robinson in 1959). The group's guitarist, Marv Tarplin, joined them old in 1958. The Matadors began touring Detroit venues effectually this fourth dimension. They later changed their name to the Miracles.

Career [edit]

The Miracles and Motown [edit]

In Baronial 1957, Robinson and the Miracles met songwriter Berry Gordy after a failed audition for Brunswick Records. At that time during the audience, Robinson had brought forth with him a "Large 10" notebook with 100 songs he wrote while in high school. Gordy was impressed with Robinson'due south vocals and even more than impressed with Robinson'due south ambitious songwriting.^[1] With his help, the Miracles released their get-go unmarried, "Got a Job", an answer vocal to the Silhouettes' hit unmarried "Get a Job"^[viii] on End Records. It was the beginning of a long and successful collaboration. During this time, Robinson attended college and started classes in January 1959, studying electric engineering.^[nine] He dropped out later on only two months, following the Miracles' release of their first record.^[ix]

Gordy formed Tamla Records which was later reincorporated every bit Motown. The Miracles became one of the first acts signed to the characterization,^[i] although they had actually been with Gordy since before the formation of Motown Records.^[x] In late 1960, the grouping recorded their first hit single, "Store Around", which became Motown's get-go million-selling hit tape.^[8] Between 1960 and 1970, Robinson would produce 26 pinnacle forty hits with the Miracles equally atomic number 82 vocaliser, chief songwriter and producer, including several top ten hits such as "You've Really Got a Hold on Me",^[8] "Mickey'due south Monkey", "I Second That Emotion", "Baby Babe Don't Cry" and the group's only number-one hitting during their Robinson years, "The 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 Demand", "The Honey I Saw in Yous Was Just a Delusion" and "More Dear" peaked in the top xx. In 1965, the Miracles were the first Motown grouping to change their proper name when they released their 1965 anthology Going to a Go-Go equally Smokey Robinson & the Miracles.

Between 1962 and 1966, Robinson was also one of the major songwriters and producers for Motown, penning many hit singles such as "Two Lovers",^[8] "The One Who Actually Loves You", "You Shell Me to the Punch" and "My Guy" for Mary Wells; "The Way You lot Do The Things You lot Practice", "My Girl",^[8] "Since I Lost My Baby" and "Become Fix" for the Temptations; "Stillwater" for the Iv Tops; "When I'g Gone" and "Operator" for Brenda Holloway; "Don't Mess With Neb", "The Hunter Gets Captured by the Game" and "My Baby Must Be a Sorcerer" for the Marvelettes; and "I'll Be Doggone" and "Ain't That Peculiar" for Marvin Gaye.^[1]

Later on the arrival of Holland–Dozier–Holland and the team of Norman Whitfield and Barrett Potent, he was eclipsed as a top author and producer for the label, and other Motown artists such as Gaye and Stevie Wonder began to compose more original material. Later in his career, Robinson wrote lyrics and music for the Contours such as "Offset I Expect at the Pocketbook", besides equally the 4 Tops' "Still H2o" and The Supremes' "Floy Joy". The other Miracles—Bobby Rogers, Pete Moore, Ronnie White, and Marv Tarplin—collaborated with him as writers on many of these hits, and Pete Moore also doubled as co-producer with Robinson on several of them.

By 1969, Robinson wanted to retire from touring to focus on raising his ii children with his wife Claudette, and on his duties as Motown'south vice president, a task he had taken on by the mid-1960s afterward Esther Gordy Edwards had left the position.^[i] However, the success of the group's "Tears of a Clown" made Robinson stay with the grouping until 1972.^[1] His terminal functioning with the grouping was in July 1972 in Washington, D.C.

Solo career [edit]

Robinson in concert at the Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez, California, 2006

Afterward a yr of retirement, Robinson announced his comeback with the release of the eponymous Smokey album, in 1973.^[1] The album included the Miracles tribute vocal, "Sweet Harmony" and the hitting carol "Baby Come up Close". In 1974, Robinson'due south 2d 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, every bit all three had multiple hit singles during this menstruum.

Former Beatle George Harrison featured the track "Pure Smokey" on his 1976 album Thirty Three & i/iii as a tribute to Robinson. (Harrison'southward fellow Beatles John Lennon and Paul McCartney were too fans of Robinson'south songwriting and the group covered "You Really Gotta Hold on Me" on their 2d UK album With the Beatles and U.s. album The Beatles' Second Album, respectively).

Robinson answered his critics the following year with A Quiet Storm, released in 1975.^[1] The album launched three singles – the number-i R&B hit "Babe That's Backatcha", "The Desperation & The Ecstasy" and "Quiet Storm". However, Robinson's solo career suffered from his work equally Motown'south vice president, and his own music took the backseat. As a effect, several albums including Smokey'southward Family Robinson, Deep in My Soul, Dear Breeze and Smokin, saw poor promotion and received bad reviews. At this indicate Robinson relied on other writers and producers to assistance him with his albums.

Following these albums, Robinson got out of a writer'southward block later his close collaborator Marv Tarplin, who joined him on the road in 1973 after Robinson left the Miracles, presented him a melody he had equanimous on his guitar. Robinson later wrote the lyrics that became his get-go solo top ten Pop single, "Cruisin'".^[1] The song hitting number ane in Cash Box and peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100. It also became his kickoff solo number one in New Zealand. Robinson would follow a similar approach with his next album, Warm Thoughts, which produced another top 40 hitting, "Let Me Exist the Clock", though it did not echo the success of "Cruisin'".

In 1981, Robinson topped the charts once more with another sensual ballad, "Being with You", which was another number 1 hit in Cash Box and peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100.^[1] It also striking number one in the Great britain Singles Nautical chart, becoming his most successful single to date.^[one] The Aureate-plus parent album sparked a partnership with George Tobin and with Tobin, Robinson released his next several Motown albums, Yes It'southward You Lady, which produced the hit "Tell Me Tomorrow", Touch the Sky and Essar. In 1983, Robinson teamed up with boyfriend Motown label mate Rick James recording the R&B ballad, "Ebony Optics".

In 1987, following a menses of personal and professional person issues, Robinson made a comeback with the album, I Heartbeat and the singles, "Only to Meet Her" and "One Heartbeat",^[1] which were Top ten hits on Billboard 'southward Pop, Soul, and Adult Contemporary charts. They were aided by pop music videos. "Just to Meet Her" won Robinson his first Grammy Award in 1988.^[11] The album became one of his most successful always, selling over 900,000 copies in the United states lone. In the aforementioned twelvemonth, Robinson released I Heartbeat, the Uk grouping ABC released a tribute song, "When Smokey Sings".

He was inducted every bit a solo creative person to the Rock and Coil Hall of Fame in 1988,^[one] later igniting controversy equally the committee had inducted only Robinson and not members of his grouping, the Miracles, which Robinson was personally offended past.^{[12] [13]} In 2012, however, the committee rectified the fault announcing that the grouping would be inducted on their own merit. Though Robinson was not listed every bit an inductee, he was due to induct his former group at the ceremony in April 2012.

After Motown was sold off to MCA in 1988, Robinson relinquished his position as vice president. Following the release of the anthology, Love Smokey, in 1990, Robinson left Motown for a deal with SBK Records in 1991. However, the album, Double Skillful Everything failed to chart. Robinson remained about repose during the nineties (though he would make a notable cameo appearance in The Temptations 1998 miniseries), making a cursory comeback in 1999 when he re-signed with Motown and issued the album, Intimate, which included the vocal "Piece of cake to Beloved".

In 2003, he once again split ties with Motown, releasing the gospel anthology, Food for the Soul on Liquid 8 Records in 2004. In 2004 Robinson sang the main title theme song "Colorful Globe" to the American children's animated serial ToddWorld for Discovery Kids, TLC and Mike Young Productions. 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 number 59 on the Billboard album chart, his highest showing since One Heartbeat. He afterwards released "At present And Then" in 2010, which peaked at number 131.

Robinson with Senator Doug Jones while testifying at the United States Congress to support the CLASSICS Act in 2018.

Smokey & Friends was released in mid-August 2014. It was an anthology of duets, including songs with Elton John, Linda Ronstadt and James Taylor. It reached number 12 on the Billboard album chart.

Christmas Everyday was Robinson'due south first mail-Miracles Christmas album, and was released on November 10, 2017. In 2018, he appeared on an episode of CMT Crossroads alongside land singer Cam.^{[ commendation needed ]}

In April 2017, Robinson visited Fremont-Lopez Elementary Schoolhouse in Stockton, California, where he served equally a designated arts mentor under Turnaround Arts.^{[ citation needed ]}

On July 31, 2018, Robinson appeared every bit a special guest on the Fox network's show Trounce Shazam as a special guest.^[14]

Robinson appeared on the vocal "Brand It Better" from Anderson Paak's 2019 album Ventura.

Personal life [edit]

Robinson married a boyfriend Miracles member, Claudette Rogers, in 1959. The couple had two children: a son, Berry Robinson (born 1968), named afterwards Motown'south first label founder Berry Gordy; and a daughter, Tamla Robinson (born 1971), named after the original "Tamla" label set up by Gordy that would eventually go Motown.

Robinson also had a son named Trey (born 1984) with another adult female during his marriage to Claudette. After Robinson admitted to having fathered a child with a woman other than his married woman, he filed for legal separation and later filed for divorce. The divorce was finalized in 1986. The Robinsons had as well separated in 1974; during that separation, Robinson engaged in an extramarital matter that inspired the song "The Agony & The Ecstasy" (later on featured on A Tranquility Storm).^[15]

Robinson married Frances Gladney in May 2002. They own a home in Pittsburgh and use information technology equally a winery.^[16]

Robinson has non eaten red meat since 1972.^[17] He practices Transcendental Meditation.^{[17] [18]} Robinson is notable for having aureate light-green optics, which he believes were passed down from his French great-grandmother.^[19]

"Smokey" nickname [edit]

In 2012, Robinson explained:

My Uncle Claude was my favorite uncle, he was likewise my godfather. He and I were really, actually close. He used to accept me to run into cowboy movies all the time when I was a little male child because I loved cowboy movies. He got a cowboy name for me, which was Smokey Joe. So from the time I was three years old if people asked me what my proper name was I didn't tell them my name was William, I told them my name was Smokey Joe. That's what anybody called me until I was about 12 and so I dropped the Joe part. I've heard that story about him giving it to me considering I'yard a calorie-free skinned blackness homo but that's non true.^[20]

Discography [edit]

Awards and accolades [edit]

On February 22, 1983, Smokey was awarded an private star on The Hollywood Walk of Fame.^[21] Four years later, in 1987, Robinson was inducted to the Rock & Gyre Hall of Fame. Robinson's single "But to See Her"" from the One Heartbeat album was awarded the 1988 Grammy Award for Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance. This was Robinson's kickoff Grammy Award.^[11] One year 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. 2 years earlier, he won the Heritage Honour at the Soul Train Music Awards. In 2005, Robinson was voted into the Michigan Stone and Curlicue Legends Hall of Fame.^[22] At its 138th Commencement Convocation in May 2006, Howard University conferred on Robinson the caste 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 every bit 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 married man, the belatedly Ronnie White, whose girl Pamela and granddaughter Maya were there representing him also. Smokey's replacement, 1970s Miracles lead vocaliser Billy Griffin, was likewise honored.^[23]

Controversially, original Phenomenon Marv Tarplin was not honored, against the wishes of his boyfriend Miracles and the grouping's fans, who felt that he should have also been there to share the honor. Later, Tarplin did receive his star. He was also inducted with the remainder 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. He was likewise awarded Society of Singers Lifetime Accomplishment Award in 2011.^[23]

In 2009, Robinson received an honorary doctorate degree — along with Linda Ronstadt — and gave a commencement oral communication at Berklee College of Music'due south commencement anniversary. In 2015, he was given a BET Lifetime Achievement Honour.

In 2016, Robinson received the Library of Congress' Gershwin Prize for Popular Song; and, on August 21, 2016, he was inducted into the Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame in his hometown of Detroit.

In 2019, he received the Gilded Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement presented past Awards Council members Jimmy Page and Peter Gabriel.^{[24] [25]}

References [edit]

1. ^ ^{a b c d due east f g h i j k 50 k n} Colin Larkin, ed. (1997). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music (Concise ed.). Virgin Books. p. 1022/3. ISBN1-85227-745-9.
2. ^ Smokey Robinson named 2016 Gershwin Prize for Popular Vocal honoree Los Angeles Times, July 5, 2016
3. ^ Smokey Robinson Is The Greatest American Songwriter, Theconcourse.deadspin.com, February 10, 2017
4. ^ Robinson, Smokey; The Breakfast Club (radio evidence) (Oct 21, 2016). Smokey Robinson Discusses Motown, Playing Music During Segregation Days and How He Got His Name (video). Us: Breakfast Society Power 105.1 FM. Event occurs at 44:20. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
5. ^ Stephen Hubbard and Scott Ross, "Smokey Robinson and the Miracle of Salvation", CBN Music. Retrieved October xi, 2014.
6. ^ CBS, Steven and Ross, Scott. "Interview with Smokey Robinson." The 700 Club. Retrieved April 12, 2007.
7. ^ "Smokey Robinson sings to Aretha Franklin during her funeral". YouTube.
8. ^ ^{a b c d e} Gilliland, John (1969). "Show 25 – The Soul Reformation: Phase ii, the Motown story. [Part 4]" (sound). Pop Chronicles. Academy of North Texas Libraries.
9. ^ ^{a b} Interview. (2009) An Evening with Smokey Robinson, PBS
10. ^ "The Miracles: In the '60s, we loved and lost to this Motown fable's smooth songs (Rock and Gyre Hall of Fame Form of 2012)". Cleveland.com. April 3, 2012. Retrieved Baronial 18, 2014.
11. ^ ^{a b} "Smokey Robinson". Grammy.com. March 17, 2014. Retrieved January 9, 2019.
12. ^ "Smokey Robinson". Rockhall.com. Retrieved October 20, 2009.
13. ^ "Stone & Roll Hall of Fame still missing 3 Motown stalwarts | Goldmine Magazine". Goldminemag.com . Retrieved Nov ix, 2011.
14. ^ "Smokey Robinson is Special Guest on 'Crush Shazam' Hosted by Jamie Foxx Tonight on FOX | Feeling the Vibe Magazine". Blog.feelingthevibe.com . Retrieved July 31, 2018.
15. ^ Smokey Robinson Reveals How Infidelity And Drugs Destroyed His Marriage. Ebony. Johnson Publishing Visitor. May 1989. pp. 150–. ISSN 0012-9011.
16. ^ "Smokey Robinson Teams With Pittsburgh's Engine Business firm 25 Wines". Pittsburgh.cbslocal.com.
17. ^ ^{a b} McLean, Craig. "Smokey Robinson interview: 'God saved me from cocaine'". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on January 11, 2022. Retrieved September fourteen, 2014.
18. ^ Gluck, Bob. Y'all'll Know When You Get There: Herbie Hancock and the Mwandishi Band. p. 229. Retrieved September 14, 2014.
19. ^ Sweetingham, Lisa. "Smokey Robinson interview". Telegraph.co.britain. Archived from the original on Jan eleven, 2022.
20. ^ "Smokey Robinson—A Poet That You lot Knoweth". Los Angeles Watch . Retrieved September 14, 2014.
21. ^ "Smokey Robinson - Hollywood Walk of Fame". Walkoffame.com. October 25, 2019. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
22. ^ "Michigan Stone and Roll Legends - SMOKEY ROBINSON". Michiganrockandrolllegends.com . Retrieved October 2, 2019.
23. ^ ^{a b} "Ella Accolade Special Events". February 12, 2011. Archived from the original on May 14, 2015. Retrieved May 10, 2015.
24. ^ "Golden Plate Awardees of the American Academy of Achievement". www.achievement.org. American Academy of Achievement.
25. ^ "2019 Summit Highlights Photograph: Roger Daltrey, the lead vocaliser of The Who, greets a friend and beau honoree, Motown legend Smokey Robinson". Academy of Achievement.

Further reading [edit]

• Christgau, Robert (June 1972). "Smokey Robinson". Newsday.

External links [edit]

• Smokey Robinson interview by Pete Lewis, 'Blues & Soul' December 1992
• Interview on Fresh Air
• "Smokey Robinson". Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
• Smokey Robinson's page at soulwalking.co.uk
• Smokey Robinson Biography and Update at SoulTracks
• Smokey Robinson at cosmopolis.ch
• Smokey Robinson at IMDb
• Smokey Robinson interviewed on the Pop Chronicles (1969)
• Smokey Robinson Wines

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Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smokey_Robinson

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