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Smokey Robinson music biography continued...

in Detroit, Michigan, Robinson form a rhythm and blues band in 1954 called the Matadors; the name was changed to The Miracles three years later when a female singer, Claudette Rogers, who would later become Robinson's wife, joined the group. During an audition for an agent, Robinson met Berry Gordy, then a fledgling record producer trying to get a label off the ground. Gordy began to produce the Miracles' singles in 1958, collaborating with Robinson on lyrics and tunes. Their first release, "Got a Job"—an answer to the Silhouettes' number one hit "Get a Job"—hit number 93 on the nationwide Billboard Top 100 chart. But Smokey Robinson and The Miracles would really break through in 1960 with the upbeat single, "Shop Around," which became a chart-topping million-seller. The Miracles became a national phenomenon, and Gordy was able to launch Motown Records, a landmark production company that introduced such talents as Diana Ross and the Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye (1939-1984), and the Temptations. Robinson and the Miracles were favorites among the Motown personnel, earning more than six gold records yielding such hits as "The Tracks of My Tears," "You've Really Got a Hold on Me," "I Second That Emotion," "Ooo Baby Baby" and "Tears of a Clown." With their reach stretching beyond Motown fans, Smokey Robinson and The Miracles became true superstars.



Robinson went solo in 1972, creating a more mellow sound for himself. Often associated with romantic soul music, he released such successful albums as A Quiet Storm (1974) and Touch the Sky (1983). The mid-1980s were a difficult time for him as he battled a drug addiction, but ultimately overcame it by relying on his religious faith. Coupled with his success with the Miracles and as a major Motown song writer, Robinson's solo achievements in the music industry led to his 1986 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and in 1989 he was named a Grammy Living Legend. He continued to perform and record as a solo entertainer, releasing such albums as Double Good Everything (1991) and Intimate (1999). Robinson has remained active in the industry and in 2006 became a Kennedy Center Honoree for his contributions to the arts and American culture.