About Smokey Robinson

Birth name: William Robinson Jr.
Born: Feb. 19, 1940 in Detroit, Michigan. Raised in the Detroit area.

Smokey Robinson was raised in Detroit's North End area. When he was a little boy, an uncle gave him the nickname 'Smokey Joe,' which stuck and over time evolved to just 'Smokey.' Smokey began singing seriously in his teens and while in high school in 1955 formed a vocal group called The Five Chimes with four friends. The name was eventually changed to The Matadors, and by 1957, they had become The Miracles. In 1958, Smokey was preparing to enter college to study electrical when, after a chance meeting with songwriter Berry Gordy, Smokey decided to put off college and focus on songwriting with Gordy.

Smokey's group, The Miracles began its career recording singles for a small, local label called End Records as well as for Chess Records. Eventually, the group signed with Berry Gordy's first label, Tamla Records, which was later renamed Motown Records. In addition to being part of the group, Smokey was also made vide president of the label and was one of the chief songwriters. Also, The Miracles were not only the label's first act, but also generated it's first hit on the Billboard R&B chart, the 1960 single "Shop Around." The song, which was written by Smokey and Berry, went on to sell over a million copies.

The Miracles, which were renamed The Miracles feat. Bill "Smokey" Robinson and then Smokey Robinson & the Miracles, went on to have a successful career on the Motown label. Among the hits the group is known for are the 1962 song "You've Really Got a Hold On Me," "Ooh Baby Baby" and "The Tracks of My Tears" (both 1965). During this time, Smokey also continued his songwriting duties for the label, and penned numerous songs that become hits for others, including The Temptations' 1964 hit "My Girl," which Smokey wrote about his then-wife Claudette, a singer who joined The Miracles in 1957 and married Smokey in 1959.

Smokey left The Miracles for a solo career in 1972 and had a string of hit R&B songs from the mid-1970s to the mid-1980s, including "Crusin" in 1979 and the Rick James duet "Ebony Eyes" in 1983. In the '70s, Smokey was one of the pioneers of the "Quiet Storm" genre of smooth, soothing, jazz-like R&B. By the mid-1980s, however, Smokey was deeply addicted to cocaine and was divorced by his wife Claudette in 1986 and left Motown after it was sold to MCA in 1986. Smokey eventually broke his cocaine addiction with the help of friends and religion and went on to revive his career. His most recent album was released in 2009.

2005: Inducted into the Michigan Rock and Roll Legends Hall of Fame.
2002: Received the U.S. National Medal of Arts.
1999: Received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
1988: Won the Best Male R&B Vocal performance for the song "Just to See Her."
1987: Inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

2009: Time Flies When You're Having Fun.
2006: Timeless Love.
2004: Food For the Spirit (Gospel album).
1999: Intimate. 1991: Double Good Everything.
1990: Love, Smokey.
1989: One Heartbeat.
1986: Smoke Signals.
1984: Essar.
1983: Touch the Sky.
1982: Yes It's You Lady.
1981: Being with You.
1980: Warm Thoughts.
1979: Where There's Smoke...
1978: Smokin'
1978: Love Breeze.
1977: Deep in My Soul.
1976: Smokey's Family Robinson.
1975: A Quiet Storm.
1974: Pure Smokey.
1973: Smokey.