Smokey Robinson

Smokey Robinson
Robinson in 2018
Robinson in 2018
Background information
Birth nameWilliam Robinson Jr.
Born (1940-02-19) February 19, 1940 (age 84)
Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Genres
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • record producer
Years active1955–present
Labels
Formerly ofThe Miracles
Spouses
  • ​
    ​
    (m. 1959; div. 1986)​
  • Frances Gladney
    ​
    (m. 2002)​
Websitesmokeyrobinson.com

William "Smokey" Robinson Jr. (born February 19, 1940) is an American R&B and soul singer, songwriter, record producer, and former record executive. He was the founder and frontman of the pioneering Motown vocal group the Miracles, for which he was also chief songwriter and producer.[1] He led the group from its 1955 origins, when they were called The Five Chimes, until 1972, when he retired from the group to focus on his role as Motown Records vice president. Robinson returned to the music industry as a solo artist the following year. He left Motown in 1999.

Robinson was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987 and awarded the 2016 Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for his lifetime contributions to popular music.[2][3] He is a double Hollywood Walk of Fame Inductee, as a solo artist (1983) and as a member of The Miracles (2009). In 2022, he was inducted into the Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Larkin was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Lewis, Randy (July 5, 2016). "Smokey Robinson named 2016 Gershwin Prize for Popular Song honoree". Los Angeles Times.
  3. ^ Lingan, John (February 10, 2017). "Smokey Robinson Is The Greatest American Songwriter". Deadspin. Retrieved June 15, 2023.