View source for Smokey Robinson

{{Short description|American singer (born 1940)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name           = Smokey Robinson
| image          = File:Smokey Robinson at Hollyrod 2023 Design Care gala (cropped).jpg
| caption        = Robinson in 2023
| birth_name     = William Robinson Jr.
| birth_date     = {{Birth date and age|1940|02|19}}
| birth_place    = [[Detroit]], [[Michigan]], U.S.
| death_date     = 
| death_place    = 
| genre          = {{hlist|[[Rhythm and blues|R&B]]|[[Soul music|soul]]|[[pop music|pop]]}}
| occupation     = {{hlist|Singer|songwriter|record producer}}
| years_active   = 1955–present
| label          = {{hlist|[[Motown]]|[[Universal Records|Universal]]|[[SBK Records|SBK]]|Liquid 8|Robso}}
| past_member_of = [[The Miracles]]
| spouse         = {{ubl|{{marriage|[[Claudette Rogers]]|1959|1986|end=div}}|{{marriage|Frances Gladney|May 2002}}}}
| website        = {{URL|smokeyrobinson.com}}
}}
'''William''' "'''Smokey'''" '''Robinson Jr.''' (born February 19, 1940) is an American [[Rhythm and blues|R&B]] and [[Soul music|soul]] singer, songwriter, and record producer. He was the founder and frontman of the pioneering [[Motown]] vocal group [[the Miracles]], for which he was also chief songwriter and producer.<ref name="Larkin"/> 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.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/la-et-ms-gershwin-prize-smokey-robinson-20160705-snap-story.html| title=Smokey Robinson named 2016 Gershwin Prize for Popular Song honoree| newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]| first=Randy| last=Lewis| date=July 5, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://theconcourse.deadspin.com/smokey-robinson-is-the-greatest-american-songwriter-1792170175| title=Smokey Robinson Is The Greatest American Songwriter| website=[[Deadspin]]| first=John| last=Lingan| date=February 10, 2017| access-date=June 15, 2023}}</ref> 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]].

==Early life and early career==
William Robinson Jr. was born on February 19, 1940, to an [[African-American]] father and a mother of [[African-American]] and [[French people|French]] descent, in a poor family in the [[North End, Detroit|North End]] area of [[Detroit]].<ref name="Larkin">{{cite encyclopedia|title=Smokey Robinson| encyclopedia=[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music]]| url=https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofp006lark/page/4584/mode/2up?q=%22smokey+robinson%22| editor-first=Colin| editor-last=Larkin| editor-link=Colin Larkin (writer)| publisher=Groves Dictionaries| year=1998| edition=3rd| volume=6|  isbn=978-1-5615-9237-1| pages=4584–4586| access-date=June 15, 2023| url-access=registration}}</ref> He had two maternal half-sisters, Rose Ella and Geraldine, and his parents divorced when he was three years old.<ref name="GO">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/apr/27/at-83-i-still-feel-sexual-smokey-robinson-on-love-joy-drugs-motown-and-his-affair-with-diana-ross#:~:text=By%20the%20age%20of%20four,he%20changed%20to%20electrical%20engineering.|title='At 83, I still feel sexual': Smokey Robinson on love, joy, drugs, Motown – and his affair with Diana Ross|newspaper=The Guardian|date=April 27, 2023}}</ref>

Robinson's ancestry is also part [[Nigerians|Nigerian]], [[Scandinavian people|Scandinavian]], [[Portuguese people|Portuguese]], and [[Cherokee]].<ref>{{cite AV media| people=Robinson, Smokey; [[The Breakfast Club (radio show)]]| date=October 21, 2016| title=Smokey Robinson Discusses Motown, Playing Music During Segregation Days and How He Got His Name| language=en| url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WdZ3rQCiwk&feature=youtu.be&t=2660| access-date=June 23, 2020| format=video| time=44:20| location=[[New York City]]| publisher=Breakfast Club Power 105.1 FM}}</ref> His uncle Claude gave him the nickname "Smokey Joe" when he was a child.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.cbn.com/cbnmusic/interviews/700club_smokeyrobinson101305.aspx| first=Stephen| last=Hubbard| author2=Scott Ross| title=Smokey Robinson and the Miracle of Salvation| website=[[Christian Broadcasting Network]] Music| access-date=October 11, 2014}}</ref>  In 2012, Robinson explained:

<blockquote>My Uncle Claude was my favorite uncle. He was also my godfather. He and I were really, really close. He used to take me to see cowboy movies all the time when I was a little boy 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 name was I didn't tell them my name was William, I told them my name was Smokey Joe. That's what everyone called me until I was about 12 and then I dropped the Joe part. I've heard that story about him giving it to me because I'm a light skinned black man but that's not true.<ref name=sentinel>{{cite news| title=Smokey Robinson—A Poet That You Knoweth| url=http://www.lasentinel.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=9665:smokey-robinson-a-poet-that-you-knoweth&catid=59&Itemid=149| newspaper=[[Los Angeles Sentinel]]| first=Chelsea| last=Battle| date=September 12, 2012| access-date=14 September 2014}}</ref></blockquote>

When Robinson was 10, his mother died, and he began living with his older sister, Geraldine, with her husband, who had 10 children together.<ref name="GO"/>

Robinson attended [[Northern High School (Detroit, Michigan)|Northern High School]], where he was above average academically and a determined athlete. However, his main interest was music, and he formed a [[doo-wop]] group named the Five Chimes. He and [[Aretha Franklin]] lived several houses from each other on Belmont; he said he'd known Franklin since she was about five, overhearing her play the piano when he had come to play with her older brother Cecil after her family first moved to Detroit.<ref>CBS, Steven and Ross, Scott. "Interview with Smokey Robinson." ''The 700 Club''. Retrieved April 12, 2007.</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23vLfHvYG5k&ab_channel=WXYZ-TVDetroit%7CChannel7| title=Smokey Robinson sings to Aretha Franklin during her funeral| work=[[WXYZ-TV|WXYZ]] News| via=[[YouTube]]| date= August 31, 2018}}</ref>

Robinson's interest in music started during childhood after he heard the groups [[Nolan Strong & the Diablos]] and [[Billy Ward and his Dominoes]] on the radio. He has cited [[Barrett Strong]], a Detroit native, as a strong vocal influence.{{citation needed|date=October 2021}} In 1955, he formed the first lineup of the Five Chimes with childhood friend [[Ronnie White|Ronald White]] and classmate [[Warren "Pete" Moore|Pete Moore]].

Two years later, they were renamed the Matadors and included [[Bobby Rogers]]. Another member, Emerson (Sonny) Rogers, Bobby Rogers' cousin, was replaced by his sister, [[Claudette Rogers Robinson|Claudette Rogers]] (who would marry Smokey Robinson in 1959). The group's guitarist, [[Marv Tarplin]], joined them sometime in 1958. The Matadors began touring Detroit venues around this time. Eventually they changed their name to the Miracles.

==Career==
===The Miracles and Motown===
{{Main|The Miracles}}
[[File:The Miracles (1962 Tamla publicity photo).jpg|thumb|Robinson (front row, left) with the Miracles, circa 1962]]
In August 1957, Robinson and the Miracles met songwriter [[Berry Gordy]] after a failed audition for [[Brunswick Records]]. At that time during the audition, Robinson had brought along with him a "Big 10" notebook with 100 songs he had written while in high school. Gordy was impressed with Robinson's vocals and even more impressed with Robinson's ambitious songwriting.<ref name="Larkin" /> With his help, the Miracles released their first single, "Got a Job," an [[answer song]] to [[Get a Job (song)|the Silhouettes' hit single "Get a Job"]]<ref name=pc25>{{Gilliland |url=https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc19780/m1/ |title=Show 25 – The Soul Reformation: Phase two, the Motown story. [Part 4] }}</ref> 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 [[electrical engineering]]. He dropped out after only two months, following the Miracles' release of their first record.<ref name=evening>{{cite episode| title=An Evening With Smokey Robinson| url=https://www.thehistorymakers.org/aneveningwithsmokeyrobinson| series=[[Julieanna Richardson#The HistoryMakers|The History Makers]]|  network=[[PBS]]| air-date=October 10, 2009| credits=Interviewer: Gwen Ifill| access-date=June 15, 2023}}</ref>

Gordy formed [[Tamla Records]], which was later reincorporated as Motown. The Miracles became one of the first acts signed to the label,<ref name="Larkin" /> although they had actually been with Gordy since before the formation of Motown Records.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.cleveland.com/rockhall/index.ssf/2012/04/the_miracles_in_the_60s_we_lov.html| title=The Miracles: In the '60s, we loved and lost to this Motown legend's smooth songs (Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2012)| newspaper=[[The Plain Dealer]]| location=[[Cleveland]]| date=April 3, 2012| access-date=August 18, 2014}}</ref> In late 1960, the group recorded their first hit single, "[[Shop Around]]", which became Motown's first million-selling hit record.<ref name=pc25 /> Between 1960 and 1970, Robinson would produce 26 top forty hits with the Miracles as lead singer, chief songwriter and producer, including several top ten hits such as "[[You've Really Got a Hold on Me]]",<ref name=pc25 /> "[[Mickey's Monkey]]", "[[I Second That Emotion]]", "[[Baby Baby Don't Cry]]" and the group's only number-one hit during their Robinson years, "[[The Tears of a Clown]]".

Other notable hits such as "[[Ooo Baby Baby]]", "[[Going to a Go-Go]]", the multi-award-winning  "[[The Tracks of My Tears]]", "[[(Come Round Here) I'm The One You Need]]", "[[The Love I Saw in You Was Just a Mirage]]" and "[[More Love (Smokey Robinson & the Miracles song)|More Love]]" peaked in the top twenty. In 1965, the Miracles were the first Motown group to change their name when they released their 1965 album ''[[Going to a Go-Go]]'' as 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 (Mary Wells song)|Two Lovers]]",<ref name=pc25 /> "[[The One Who Really Loves You]]", "[[You Beat Me to the Punch]]" and "[[My Guy]]" for [[Mary Wells]]; "[[The Way You Do The Things You Do]]", "[[My Girl (The Temptations song)|My Girl]]",<ref name=pc25 /> "[[Since I Lost My Baby]]", "[[It's Growing]]", and "[[Get Ready (Temptations song)|Get Ready]]" for [[the Temptations]]; "[[Still Water (Love)]]" for [[the Four Tops]]; "[[When I'm Gone (Motown song)|When I'm Gone]]" and "[[Operator (Motown song)|Operator]]" for [[Brenda Holloway]]; "[[Don't Mess With Bill]]", "[[The Hunter Gets Captured by the Game]]" and "[[My Baby Must Be a Magician]]" for [[the Marvelettes]]; and "[[I'll Be Doggone]]" and "[[Ain't That Peculiar]]" for [[Marvin Gaye]].<ref name="Larkin"/>

After the arrival of [[Holland–Dozier–Holland]] and the team of [[Norman Whitfield]] and [[Barrett Strong]], Robinson was eclipsed as a top writer 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 "[[First I Look at the Purse]]", as well as the [[Four Tops]]' "[[Still Water (Love)|Still Water]]" and [[The Supremes]]' "[[Floy Joy (song)|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 two children with his wife Claudette, and on his duties as Motown's vice president, a job he had taken on by the mid-1960s after [[Esther Gordy Edwards]] had left the position. However, the success of the group's "Tears of a Clown" made Robinson stay with the group until 1972.<ref name="Larkin"/> His last performance with the group was in July 1972 in [[Washington, D.C.]]

===Solo career===
[[File:Smokey Robinson 2.jpg|right|thumb|Robinson in concert at the [[Chumash Casino Resort]] in [[Santa Ynez]], California, 2006]]
After a year of [[retirement]], Robinson announced his comeback with the release of the ''[[Smokey (album)|Smokey]]'' album, in 1973.<ref name="Larkin"/> The album included the Miracles tribute song, "Sweet Harmony", and the hit ballad "Baby Come Close". In 1974, Robinson's second 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]], as all three had multiple hit singles during this period.

Former [[The Beatles|Beatle]] [[George Harrison]] featured the track "[[Pure Smokey (song)|Pure Smokey]]" on his 1976 album ''[[Thirty Three & 1/3]]'' as a tribute to Robinson.{{citation needed|date=July 2024}} (Harrison's fellow Beatles [[John Lennon]] and [[Paul McCartney]] were also fans of Robinson's songwriting and the group covered "You Really Gotta Hold on Me" on their second UK album ''[[With the Beatles]]'' and US album ''[[The Beatles' Second Album]]'', respectively.)

Robinson answered his critics the following year with ''[[A Quiet Storm]]'', released in 1975.<ref name="Larkin"/> The album launched three singles – the number-one R&B hit "[[Baby That's Backatcha]]", "The Agony & The Ecstasy" and "Quiet Storm" (the radio format [[quiet storm]], originated by DJ [[Melvin Lindsey]], is named after the album). However, Robinson's solo career suffered from his work as Motown's vice president, and his own music took the backseat. As a result, several albums including ''[[Smokey's Family Robinson]]'', ''[[Deep in My Soul]]'', ''[[Love Breeze]]'' and ''[[Smokin' (Smokey Robinson album)|Smokin]]'', saw poor promotion and received bad reviews. At this point Robinson relied on other writers and producers to help him with his albums.

Following these albums, Robinson got out of a [[writer's block]] after his close collaborator (and fellow Miracle), [[Marv Tarplin]], who joined him on the road in 1973 after Robinson left the Miracles, presented him a tune he had composed on his guitar. Robinson later wrote the lyrics that became his first solo top ten Pop single, "[[Cruisin' (Smokey Robinson song)|Cruisin']]".<ref name="Larkin"/> The song hit number one in [[Cash Box]] and peaked at number four on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]].  It also became his first solo number one in [[New Zealand]]. Robinson would follow a similar approach with his next album, ''[[Warm Thoughts]]'', which produced another top 40 hit, "Let Me Be the Clock", though it did not repeat the success of "Cruisin'".

In 1981, Robinson topped the charts again with another sensual ballad, "[[Being with You (song)|Being with You]]", which was another number one hit in [[Cash Box]] and peaked at number two on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100.<ref name="Larkin"/> It also hit number one in the [[UK Singles Chart]], becoming his most successful single to date.<ref name="Larkin"/> The Gold-plus [[Being with You (album)|parent album]] sparked a partnership with [[George Tobin]] and with Tobin, Robinson released his next several Motown albums, ''Yes It's You Lady'', which produced the hit "Tell Me Tomorrow", ''Touch the Sky'' and ''Essar''. In 1983, Robinson teamed up with fellow Motown label mate [[Rick James]] recording the R&B ballad, "[[Ebony Eyes (Rick James song)|Ebony Eyes]]".

In 1987, following a period of personal and professional issues, Robinson made a comeback with the album, ''[[One Heartbeat (album)|One Heartbeat]]'' and the singles, "[[Just to See Her]]" and "[[One Heartbeat (song)|One Heartbeat]]",<ref name="Larkin"/> which were Top 10 hits on ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]''{{'}}s Pop, Soul, and Adult Contemporary charts.  They were aided by popular music videos.  "Just to See Her" won Robinson his first [[Grammy Award]] in 1988.<ref name=":0">{{cite web| url=https://www.grammy.com/artists/smokey-robinson/7944| title=Smokey Robinson| date=March 17, 2014| website=The Grammys| language=en| access-date=January 9, 2019}}</ref> The album became one of his most successful ever, selling over 900,000 copies in the United States alone. In the same year, Robinson released ''One Heartbeat'', the UK group [[ABC (band)|ABC]] released a tribute song, "[[When Smokey Sings]]".

He was inducted as a solo artist to the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]] in 1988,<ref name="Larkin"/> later igniting controversy as the committee had inducted only Robinson and not members of his group, the Miracles, which Robinson saw as an affront.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.rockhall.com/inductees/smokey-robinson| title=Smokey Robinson| website=Rock and Roll Hall of Fame| access-date=October 20, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.goldminemag.com/blogs/mary-miracles-marvelettes-motowns-missing-from-rock-hall| title=Rock & Roll Hall of Fame still missing 3 Motown stalwarts| magazine=[[Goldmine (magazine)|Goldmine]]| first=Phill| last=Marder| date=December 15, 2010| access-date=November 9, 2011}}</ref> In 2012, however, the committee rectified the mistake announcing that the group would be inducted on their own merit. Though Robinson was not listed as an inductee, he was due to induct his former group at the ceremony in April 2012.

After [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]] purchased Motown in 1988, Robinson relinquished his position as vice president. Following the release of the album, ''Love Smokey'', in 1990, Robinson left Motown for a deal with [[SBK Records]] in 1991. However, the album, ''[[Double Good Everything]]'' failed to chart. Robinson remained virtually quiet during the nineties (though he would make a notable cameo appearance in [[The Temptations (miniseries)|The Temptations 1998 miniseries]]), making a brief comeback in 1999 when he re-signed with Motown and issued the album, ''Intimate'', which included the song "Easy to Love".

In 2003, he once again split ties with Motown, releasing the [[gospel music|gospel]] album, ''[[Food for the Spirit (album)|Food for the Spirit]]'' on Liquid 8 Records in 2004. In 2004, Robinson sang the main title theme song "Colorful World" to the American children's animated series ''[[ToddWorld]]'' for [[Discovery Kids]], [[TLC (TV network)|TLC]] and Mike Young Productions. Two years later, Robinson released the [[Standard (song)|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 subsequently released "Now And Then" in 2010, which peaked at number 131.
[[File:Doug Jones and Smokey Robinson.jpg|thumb|Robinson with Senator [[Doug Jones (politician)|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 album 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's first post-Miracles Christmas album, and was released on November 10, 2017. In 2018, he appeared on an episode of [[CMT Crossroads]] alongside country singer [[Cam (singer)|Cam]].{{citation needed|date=October 2021}}

In April 2017, Robinson visited Fremont-Lopez Elementary School in Stockton, California, where he served as a designated arts mentor under Turnaround Arts.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.recordnet.com/picture-gallery/news/local/2018/05/12/music-icon-smokey-robinson-makes/712427007/| title=Music icon Smokey Robinson makes repeat visit to Stockton school| date=May 11, 2018| website=[[The Record (Stockton, California)|Recordnet]]| access-date=February 3, 2023| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230203234429/https://www.recordnet.com/picture-gallery/news/local/2018/05/12/music-icon-smokey-robinson-makes/712427007/| archive-date=February 3, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/stockton/music-legend-smokey-robinson-visits-stockton-elementary-school/103-428157561| title=Music legend Smokey Robinson visits Stockton elementary school| last=Rivera| first=Kurt| date=April 3, 2017| website=[[KXTV|ABC 10]]| access-date=February 3, 2023}}</ref>

On July 31, 2018, Robinson appeared on the Fox network's show ''[[Beat Shazam]]'' as a special guest.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://blog.feelingthevibe.com/news/smokey-robinson-is-special-guest-on-beat-shazam-hosted-by-jamie-foxx-tonight-on-fox/| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180801064233/http://blog.feelingthevibe.com/news/smokey-robinson-is-special-guest-on-beat-shazam-hosted-by-jamie-foxx-tonight-on-fox/| url-status=dead| archive-date=August 1, 2018| title=Smokey Robinson is Special Guest on 'Beat Shazam' Hosted by Jamie Foxx Tonight on FOX| website=Feeling the Vibe Magazine| language=en-US| date=July 31, 2018| access-date=June 15, 2023}}</ref>

Robinson appeared on the song "Make It Better" from [[Anderson Paak]]'s 2019 album ''[[Ventura (Anderson Paak album)|Ventura]]''.

In 2023, Robinson announced that he would release his first album in almost a decade in April 2023. The nine-track album will be called ''[[Gasms]]'', and will feature entirely new music. The first single from the album, called "If We Don't Have Each Other", was already available on streaming services by January 2023.<ref>{{cite news| date=January 27, 2023| title=Smokey Robinson, 'King of Motown,' to release new solo album| url=https://apnews.com/article/smokey-robinson-new-album-9eed570fa523b73e0af00ab0f398bcb6| access-date=January 29, 2023| website=AP News| language=en}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Robinson married a fellow Miracles member, [[Claudette Rogers Robinson|Claudette Rogers]], in 1959. The couple had two children: a son, Berry Robinson (born 1968), named after Motown's founder [[Berry Gordy]], and a daughter, Tamla Robinson (born 1971), named after the original "Tamla" label set up by Gordy that would eventually become Motown.

According to Robinson, he had affairs with multiple women while married to Claudette, among them an approximately year-long affair with [[Diana Ross]]. According to Robinson, Ross ended it because she felt uncomfortable as she was friends with Claudette, whom Robinson admitted he still loved. (A representative for Ross had no comment on Robinson's claim.) Robinson says that [[Polyamory|loving multiple people]] in that way simultaneously is natural.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.today.com/popculture/news/smokey-robinson-affair-diana-ross-rcna82043|title=Smokey Robinson says he had an affair with Diana Ross, and that she ended it|first=Liz|last=Calvario|date=April 28, 2023|website=TODAY.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/smokey-robinson-diana-ross-affair-1235317468/|title=Smokey Robinson Reveals He Had a Year-Long Affair With Diana Ross: 'She's a Beautiful Lady'|first=Rania|last=Aniftos|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |date=April 28, 2023}}</ref>

Robinson also had a son named Trey (born 1984) with another woman during his marriage to Claudette. After Robinson admitted to having fathered a child with a woman other than his wife, he filed for [[legal separation]] and later filed for divorce that was finalized in 1986. The Robinsons had also separated in 1974 and during that separation, Robinson engaged in an extramarital affair that inspired the song "The Agony & The Ecstasy" (later featured on ''[[A Quiet Storm]]'').<ref name="Company1989">{{cite news| title=Smokey Robinson Reveals How Infidelity And Drugs Destroyed His Marriage| magazine=[[Ebony (magazine)|Ebony]]|first=Smokey|last=Robinson| url={{google books |plainurl=y |id=0csDAAAAMBAJ |page=150}}|date=May 1989| pages=148–154| issn=0012-9011}}</ref>

Robinson married Frances Gladney in May 2002. They own a home in [[Pittsburgh]] and use it as a [[winery]].<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSWgIQt6izg&ab_channel=CBSPittsburgh| title=Smokey Robinson Teams With Pittsburgh's Engine House 25 Wines| date=October 22, 2018| website=[[KDKA-TV|KDKA News]]| via=YouTube}}</ref>

Robinson has not eaten red meat since 1972.<ref name=telegraph>{{cite news| last1=McLean| first1=Craig| date=September 7, 2014| title=Smokey Robinson interview: 'God saved me from cocaine'| url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/rockandpopfeatures/11077737/Smokey-Robinson-interview-God-saved-me-from-cocaine.html| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/rockandpopfeatures/11077737/Smokey-Robinson-interview-God-saved-me-from-cocaine.html| archive-date=January 11, 2022| url-access=subscription| url-status=live| newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]]| location=London| access-date=September 14, 2014}}{{cbignore}}</ref> He practices [[Transcendental Meditation technique|Transcendental Meditation]].<ref name=telegraph/><ref>{{cite book| last1=Gluck| first1=Bob| title=You'll Know When You Get There: Herbie Hancock and the Mwandishi Band| url={{google books |plainurl=y |id=MeTpCQosic0C|page=229}}| publisher=The University of Chicago Press| date=August 15, 2012| access-date=September 14, 2014| page=229| isbn=978-0-2263-0004-7}}</ref> Robinson has golden green eyes, which he believes were passed down from his French great-grandmother.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/rockandjazzmusic/6400006/Smokey-Robinson-interview.html| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/rockandjazzmusic/6400006/Smokey-Robinson-interview.html| archive-date=January 11, 2022| url-access=subscription| url-status=live| title=Smokey Robinson interview| first=Lisa| last=Sweetingham| newspaper=The Daily Telegraph| date=October 21, 2009}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

Beginning in November 2023, Robinson is the current owner and host of the [[SiriusXM]] channel ''Soul Town'', a station that plays R&B and soul hits from the 1950s to the early 1980s. Released under the banner ''Smokey's Soul Town'', Robinson occasionally appears on the channel, recalling his best moments with Motown and meeting other artists as well as pick his favorite songs during that time period.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/entertainment/music/2023/11/08/smokey-robinson-launches-smokeys-soul-town-station-on-siriusxm-radio/71507728007/|title=Smokey Robinson launches Smokey's Soul Town station on SiriusXM radio|website=The Detroit News|first=Adam|last=Graham|date=November 8, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://d1io3yog0oux5.cloudfront.net/_784ca535394ed7b9bdea600067f17dd9/siriusxm/news/2023-11-08_Smokey_Robinson_to_Launch_Exclusive_SiriusXM_2008.pdf|title=Smokey Robinso to Launch Exclusive Sirius XM|date=November 8, 2023 }}</ref>

===2025 sexual assault allegations===
On May 6, 2025, it was reported that Robinson and his wife were being sued by four former female housekeepers who were alleging sexual battery, assault and false imprisonment from 2012 to 2024. The women are asking for a trial with general damages for several allegations of no less than $50 million. The women also claimed that Robinson's wife Frances created a hostile work environment by using "ethnically pejorative words and language." The women said that they did not take action against Robinson prior to 2025 for fear of losing their livelihood, familial reprisal or embarrassment. Some of the women were fearful it could affect their immigration status.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://variety.com/2025/music/news/smokey-robinson-sued-for-50-million-sexual-assault-battery-1236388996/| title=Smokey Robinson Sued by Former Female Employees Alleging Sexual Assault and Battery| date=May 6, 2025| website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|first=Steven J. |last=Horowitz}}</ref> Robinson has denied the allegations. According to a statement from his lawyer, Christopher Frost, "the evidence will show that this is simply an ugly method of trying to extract money from an 85-year-old American icon".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/music-news/smokey-robinson-denies-sexual-assault-allegations-1236210663/|title=Smokey Robinson Denies 'Vile, False' Sexual Assault Allegations, Lawyer Says Suit Is an Attempt to 'Extract Money From an American Icon'|website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|first=McKinley|last=Franklin|date=May 7, 2025|access-date=May 8, 2025}}</ref> 

On May 15, 2025, it was reported that Robinson was under criminal investigation by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. Robinson's lawyer responded to the investigation by stating, "It is clear to us what is happening here. Plaintiffs filed a police report only after they filed a $50 million lawsuit. This means only that the police are now required to investigate."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/music-news/smokey-robinson-denies-sexual-assault-allegations-1236210663/|title=Smokey Robinson under criminal investigation after sexual abuse lawsuit|website=[[USA Today]]|date=May 15, 2025|access-date=May 15, 2025}}</ref>

On May 28, 2025, Robinson filed a $500 million counter-complaint against his former employees accusing them of slander, intentional infliction of emotional distress and financial elder abuse. The suit states that the women made pre-litigation demands for $100 million or more, which were not met, prompting them to "[create] a media circus and [make] a public spectacle of themselves."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2025/music/news/smokey-robinson-files-500-million-counter-suit-accusers-1236412178/?fbclid=IwY2xjawKkVHhleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFLenB1b2MxRnJUM2twU29NAR4zGDbiM1BVHD7dFRfQi1aQGt7uPFcVcUZG20EsBiZPZHZ5iA1TweYWtNNlkg_aem_2mPSTdvKZl3Fx53SZgGPBw|title=Smokey Robinson Files $500 Million Counter-Complaint Against Former Employees, Claiming Slander and Elder Abuse|website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|first=Steven J. |last=Horowitz|
date=May 28, 2025|access-date=May 28, 2025}}</ref> The following day, the legal team for his accusers responded to Robinson's counter-complaint saying that "[The countersuit] is nothing more than an attempt to silence and intimidate the survivors of Mr. Robinson’s sexual battery and assault. It is a baseless and vindictive legal maneuver designed to re-victimize, shift blame and discourage others from coming forward."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2025-05-29/smokey-robinson-500-million-countersuit-sexual-assault-accusers|title=Smokey Robinson's accusers blast his $500-million countersuit as 'attempt to silence and intimidate'|website=[[Los Angeles Times]]|first=Alexandra |last=Del Rosario|date=May 29, 2025|access-date=May 29, 2025}}</ref> On May 30, 2025, it was revealed that Robinson had been the subject of a criminal investigation due to an allegation of the singer sexually abusing an unrelated fifth woman in 2015, but the case was dismissed for "insufficient evidence".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/30/arts/music/smokey-robinson-sexual-assault-allegation.html|title=Smokey Robinson Faced a Sexual Assault Allegation in 2015|website=[[New York Times]]|date=May 30, 2025|author1=Matt Stevens|author2=Orlando Mayorquin|accessdate=June 3, 2025}}</ref>

==Awards and accolades==
[[Image:Zubin Mehta laughs with singers Dolly Parton and William Smokey Robinson during a reception for the Kennedy Center honorees.jpg|thumb|300px|Conductor [[Zubin Mehta]] with singers [[Dolly Parton]] and Robinson during a reception for the [[Kennedy Center Honors|Kennedy Center honorees]] in the [[East Room]] of the [[White House]], December 3, 2006]]

On February 22, 1983, Robinson was awarded an individual star on The Hollywood Walk of Fame.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.walkoffame.com/smokey-robinson| title=Smokey Robinson| website=Hollywood Walk of Fame| date=October 25, 2019| access-date=April 20, 2020}}</ref>
Four years later, in 1987, Robinson was inducted to the [[Rock & Roll Hall of Fame]]. Robinson's single "[[Just to See Her]]" from the ''[[One Heartbeat (album)|One Heartbeat]]'' album was awarded the 1988 [[Grammy Award]] for [[Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance]]. This was Robinson's first Grammy Award.<ref name=":0" /> 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]]. Two years before, he won the Heritage Award at the [[Soul Train Music Awards]]. In 2005, Robinson was voted into the Michigan Rock and Roll Legends Hall of Fame.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.michiganrockandrolllegends.com/mrrl-hall-of-fame/79-smokey-robinson| website=Michigan Rock and Roll Legends| title=Smokey Robinson| access-date=October 2, 2019}}</ref> At its 138th [[Graduation|Commencement]] Convocation in May 2006, [[Howard University]] conferred on Robinson the degree of [[Doctorate|Doctor]] of Music, ''[[Honorary degree|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 as a ''group'' with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Robinson was present with original Miracles members [[Bobby Rogers]], [[Warren "Pete" Moore|Pete Moore]], (Bobby's cousin) [[Claudette Rogers]], and Gloria White, accepting for her husband, the late [[Ronnie White]], whose daughter Pamela and granddaughter Maya were there representing him as well. Robinson's replacement, 1970s Miracles lead singer [[Billy Griffin]], was also honored.<ref name="Ella Award Special Events">{{cite web| url=http://www.singers.org/special-events/| title=Ella Award Special Events| date=February 12, 2011| access-date=May 10, 2015| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150514064028/http://www.singers.org/special-events/| archive-date=May 14, 2015}}</ref>

Controversially, original Miracle [[Marv Tarplin]] was not honored, against the wishes of his fellow Miracles and the group'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 rest 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 also awarded [[Society of Singers|Society of Singers Lifetime Achievement Award]] in 2011.<ref name="Ella Award Special Events"/>

In 2009, Robinson received an honorary doctorate degree—along with [[Linda Ronstadt]]—and gave a commencement speech at [[Berklee College of Music]]'s commencement ceremony. In 2015, he was given a BET Lifetime Achievement Award.

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

In 2019, he received the Golden Plate Award of the [[Academy of Achievement|American Academy of Achievement]] presented by Awards Council members [[Jimmy Page]] and [[Peter Gabriel]].<ref>{{cite web| title=Golden Plate Awardees of the American Academy of Achievement| website=[[American Academy of Achievement]]| url=https://achievement.org/our-history/golden-plate-awards/}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| title=2019 Summit Highlights Photo: Roger Daltrey, the lead singer of The Who, greets a friend and fellow honoree, Motown legend Smokey Robinson| website=Academy of Achievement| url=https://achievement.org/summit/2019/}}</ref>

In 2023, ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' ranked Robinson at No. 23 on their list of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time.<ref>{{Cite magazine|date=January 1, 2023|title=The 200 Greatest Singers of All Time|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-singers-all-time-1234642307/smokey-robinson-5-1234643174/|access-date=October 4, 2023|magazine=Rolling Stone|language=en-US}}</ref>

==Discography==
{{Main|The Miracles discography|Smokey Robinson discography|l2=Smokey Robinson discography (solo career)}}

{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
'''The Miracles'''
*''[[Hi... We're the Miracles]]'' (1961)
*''[[Cookin' with the Miracles]]'' (1961)
*''[[I'll Try Something New]]'' (1962)
*''[[The Fabulous Miracles]]'' (1963)
*''[[The Miracles Doin' Mickey's Monkey]]'' (1963)
*''[[I Like It Like That (The Miracles album)|I Like It Like That]]'' (1964)

'''Smokey Robinson & the Miracles'''
*''[[Going to a Go-Go]]'' (1965)
*''[[Away We a Go-Go]]'' (1966)
*''[[Make It Happen (Smokey Robinson and the Miracles album)|Make It Happen]]'' (1967) 
*''[[Special Occasion (The Miracles album)|Special Occasion]]'' (1968)
*''[[Time Out for Smokey Robinson & The Miracles]]'' (1969)
*''[[Four in Blue]]'' (1969)
*''[[What Love Has...Joined Together (album)|What Love Has...Joined Together]]'' (1970)
*''[[A Pocket Full of Miracles]]'' (1970)
*''[[The Season for Miracles]]'' (1970)
*''[[One Dozen Roses]]'' (1971)
*''[[Flying High Together]]'' (1972)
{{col-2}}

'''Studio albums'''
* ''[[Smokey (album)|Smokey]]'' (1973)
* ''[[Pure Smokey]]'' (1974)
* ''[[A Quiet Storm]]'' (1975)
* ''[[Smokey's Family Robinson]]'' (1976)
* ''[[Deep in My Soul]]'' (1977)
* ''[[Love Breeze]]'' (1978)
* ''[[Where There's Smoke...]]'' (1979)
* ''[[Warm Thoughts]]'' (1980)
* ''[[Being with You (album)|Being with You]]'' (1981)
* ''[[Yes It's You Lady]]'' (1982)
* ''[[Touch the Sky (Smokey Robinson album)|Touch the Sky]]'' (1983)
* ''[[Essar (Smokey Robinson album)|Essar]]'' (1984)
* ''[[Smoke Signals (Smokey Robinson album)|Smoke Signals]]'' (1986)
* ''[[One Heartbeat (album)|One Heartbeat]]'' (1987)
* ''[[Love, Smokey]]'' (1990)
* ''[[Double Good Everything]]'' (1991)
* ''[[Intimate (Smokey Robinson album)|Intimate]]'' (1999)
* ''[[Food for the Spirit (album)|Food for the Spirit]]'' (2004)
* ''[[Timeless Love]]'' (2006)
* ''[[Time Flies When You're Having Fun]]'' (2009)
* ''[[Now and Then (Smokey Robinson album)|Now and Then]]'' (2010)
* ''[[Smokey & Friends]]'' (2014)
* ''[[Gasms]]'' (2023)
* ''What the World Needs Now'' (2025)
{{col-end}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite news| newspaper=[[Newsday]]| date=June 1972| last=Christgau| first=Robert| author-link=Robert Christgau| url=http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/bk-aow/smokey.php| title=Smokey Robinson}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
{{wikiquote}}
* [http://www.bluesandsoul.com/feature/379/when_smokey_sings/ Smokey Robinson interview by Pete Lewis, 'Blues & Soul' December 1992]
* [https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5683575 Interview] on  ''[[Fresh Air]]''
* {{Rockhall}}
* [http://www.soulwalking.co.uk/Smokey%20Robinson.html Smokey Robinson's page at soulwalking.co.uk]
* [http://www.soultracks.com/Smokey_Robinson.htm Smokey Robinson Biography and Update at SoulTracks]
* [http://www.cosmopolis.ch/english/music/e0017000/smokey_robinson_e01700000.htm Smokey Robinson at cosmopolis.ch]
* {{iMDb name|0005373}}
* {{Pop Chronicles|25}}
* [http://www.smokeyrobinsonwines.com Smokey Robinson Wines]

{{Smokey Robinson|state=expanded}}
{{Navboxes
|title = Awards for Smokey Robinson
|list = 
{{Gershwin Prize}}
{{Grammy Legend Award}}
{{Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award}}
{{Kennedy Center Honorees 2000s}}
{{MusiCares Person of the Year}}
{{National Medal of Arts recipients 2000s}}
{{1987 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame}}
}}
{{The Miracles}}
{{The Miracles singles}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Robinson, Smokey}}
[[Category:1940 births]]
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[[Category:American people of French descent]]
[[Category:American rhythm and blues singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:American soul singers]]
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[[Category:American child pop musicians]]
[[Category:Gershwin Prize recipients]]
[[Category:Grammy Legend Award winners]]
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[[Category:Motown artists]]
[[Category:Northern High School (Detroit, Michigan) alumni]]
[[Category:Record producers from Michigan]]
[[Category:SBK Records artists]]
[[Category:Singers from Detroit]]
[[Category:Singer-songwriters from Michigan]]
[[Category:The Miracles members]]
[[Category:United States National Medal of Arts recipients]]
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