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Roaring from Detroit, Michigan on February 19, 1940 as William Robinson, Jr., the artist known as Smokey Robinson was nicknamed "Smokey Joe" as a kick because of his avid love of cowboy movies. At a young age, Smokey Robinson got into a good relationship with music, and in 1955 he got four friends to make up the band the Five Chimes: Ronald White, Pete Moore, Clarence Dawson and James Grice. They then changed their names to the Matadors, and some more guys were added to the much up, Emerson and Bobby Rogers, who took the place of Dawson and Grice. Emerson got replaced by his sister, Claudette Rogers. Guitarist Marv Tarplin then joined the group in 1959. They didn't know it at the time, but Claudette and Smokey would end up falling in love and marrying each other later on.
The kids that made up the Matadors were playing at different local Detroit venues, and people were taking notice of Smokey's vocal abilities. Smokey Robinson met songwriter Berry Gordy in 1958, and he co-wrote the bands single "Got A Job", which was an answer song to the hit single "Get A Job" by the Silhouettes'. Once again the group reamed themselves The Miracles and they were being thrown contracts left and right from top recording companies. It was at this time that Smokey thought it would be best for the group if Berry Gordy started a label of his own, and so he formed Tamla Records in 1959. Tamla Records soon enough turned into Motown, and one of the first signings was with The Miracles. There was a strong bond between Gordy and Smokey Robinson, and it turned into a beautiful friendship and collaboration.
Since he has been around in the early fifties, Smokey Robinson has come out with a never-ending list of album releases, all reaching chart topping numbers and copies sold. With much of his albums with the work of The Miracles, Smokey Robinson has a total of 22 album releases, 15 of which coming from the works of The Miracles and Motown.
As well as being a success as a member of the hit group The Miracles, Smokey Robinson did what few and far between can, and that is flourish like no other after starting to go a different path into a solo music career. With his first solo album, Smokey , release in 1973, he took the opportunity to dedicate his first hit single, "Sweet Harmony", to The Miracles.
When Smokey Robinson gets in front of a packed house, there is no doubt that he will be bringing that audience down with the best of them, and the experience is one you will be telling generations to come. Stay in the know with all ticket information as it becomes available for your seats to see the legend that is Smokey Robinson live and in concert.
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