Robinson, Smokey

Robinson, Smokey

 orig. William Robinson

(born Feb. 19, 1940, Detroit, Mich., U.S.) U.S. singer and songwriter. Robinson formed a group while still in high school. As the Miracles, they released their first single, produced by Berry Gordy, Jr., who shortly thereafter founded the Motown label. Their first Motown hit, “Shop Around” (1961), was followed by “You Really Got a Hold on Me,” “I Second That Emotion,” and “The Tracks of My Tears”; Robinson also wrote other Motown hits such as the Temptations' “My Girl” and Mary Wells's “My Guy.” He became president of Motown in 1972, by which time he was performing as a solo artist. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987.

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Robinson, (William) Smokey (1940–  ) singer, songwriter, record producer; born in Detroit, Mich. In high school he formed the Miracles, a vocal group; they signed a contract with Berry Gordy of Motown Records in 1958 and released the hit "Shop Around" in 1960. At Motown Robinson composed and produced many hits such as "My Girl" (1965), helping to perfect the "Motown sound" and refine soul music. He went solo in 1972 and released such successful albums as A Quiet Storm (1974) and Touch the Sky (1983).