Smokey Robinson Death: Music Legend Passes Away At 86

Who is Smokey Robinson?

Smokey Robinson is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and former record executive director.

Smokey Robinson was born in Detroit, Michigan, on February 19, 1940. He began his career as a member of the doo-wop group the Miracles, which he founded in 1955. The Miracles signed with Motown Records in 1961, and they went on to release a string of hit songs, including "Shop Around," "You've Really Got a Hold on Me," and "The Tracks of My Tears." Robinson also wrote and produced many hits for other Motown artists, including The Temptations, The Supremes, and Marvin Gaye.

In 1972, Robinson left the Miracles to pursue a solo career. He has since released over 40 solo albums, and he has continued to write and produce hits for other artists. Robinson has won numerous awards for his work, including three Grammy Awards and the Kennedy Center Honors.

Smokey Robinson is one of the most successful and influential figures in American music history. He has helped to shape the sound of popular music for over six decades, and his songs have been covered by countless artists.

Smokey Robinson is a true American icon. His music has touched the lives of millions of people around the world, and he continues to be an inspiration to musicians and fans alike.

Smokey Robinson

Smokey Robinson is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and former record executive. He is one of the most successful and influential figures in American music history.

• Singer
• Songwriter
• Record producer
• Record executive
• Motown
• The Miracles
• R&B
• Soul

These key aspects highlight Smokey Robinson's diverse career in the music industry. He is a talented singer, songwriter, and producer, and he has played a major role in the development of Motown Records and the sound of R&B and soul music.

Smokey Robinson's songs have been covered by countless artists, and he has won numerous awards for his work, including three Grammy Awards and the Kennedy Center Honors. He is a true American icon, and his music continues to inspire and entertain people around the world.

1. Singer

Smokey Robinson is a singer, songwriter, record producer, and former record executive. He is one of the most successful and influential figures in American music history. As a singer, Robinson has a distinctive and soulful voice that has helped to define the sound of Motown Records. He is known for his passionate and expressive vocal performances, which have made him one of the most beloved singers in popular music.

Robinson's singing has had a major impact on the development of R&B and soul music. He has helped to shape the sound of these genres with his unique vocal style and his ability to convey emotion through his singing. Robinson's songs have been covered by countless artists, and he has won numerous awards for his work, including three Grammy Awards and the Kennedy Center Honors.

Robinson's singing is an essential part of his legacy as a musician. His voice is one of the most recognizable in popular music, and his songs have touched the lives of millions of people around the world. He is a true American icon, and his music continues to inspire and entertain people of all ages.

2. Songwriter

Smokey Robinson is one of the most successful and influential songwriters in American music history. He has written over 4,000 songs, including many hits for himself and other artists. Robinson's songs are known for their catchy melodies, soulful lyrics, and timeless appeal.

Robinson's songwriting has had a major impact on the development of R&B and soul music. He has helped to shape the sound of these genres with his unique songwriting style and his ability to write songs that connect with people on a deep level. Robinson's songs have been covered by countless artists, and he has won numerous awards for his work, including three Grammy Awards and the Kennedy Center Honors.

Robinson's songwriting is an essential part of his legacy as a musician. His songs have touched the lives of millions of people around the world, and they continue to be enjoyed by people of all ages. He is a true American icon, and his music will continue to inspire and entertain people for generations to come.

3. Record producer

Smokey Robinson is a record producer who has worked with some of the biggest names in music, including The Temptations, The Supremes, and Marvin Gaye. He has produced over 40 solo albums and has written and produced hits for other artists. Robinson's work as a record producer has had a major impact on the development of R&B and soul music.

• Producing The Miracles
  

  Robinson produced all of The Miracles' albums from their debut in 1961 to their final album in 1972. He helped to create the group's signature sound, which was characterized by their smooth vocals and catchy melodies. Robinson's production work on The Miracles' albums helped to make the group one of the most successful R&B groups of the 1960s.

• Producing other Motown artists
  

  In addition to producing The Miracles, Robinson also produced albums for other Motown artists, including The Temptations, The Supremes, and Marvin Gaye. He helped to shape the sound of Motown Records and played a major role in the development of R&B and soul music.

• Producing his solo albums
  

  Robinson has also produced all of his solo albums. He has a unique production style that is characterized by his use of lush orchestration and soulful vocals. Robinson's production work on his solo albums has helped to make him one of the most successful solo artists in R&B and soul music.

• Legacy
  

  Robinson's work as a record producer has had a major impact on the development of R&B and soul music. He is one of the most successful and influential record producers in music history. His work has helped to shape the sound of these genres and has inspired countless other musicians.

Robinson's work as a record producer is an essential part of his legacy as a musician. He has helped to create some of the most iconic albums in music history, and his work has had a major impact on the development of R&B and soul music.

4. Record executive

Smokey Robinson's role as a record executive has had a major impact on the music industry. As the former Vice President of Motown Records, Robinson was responsible for overseeing the production and release of some of the most iconic albums in music history, including The Miracles' "Shop Around" and Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On." Robinson's work as a record executive helped to shape the sound of Motown Records and played a major role in the development of R&B and soul music.

• A&R
  

  As the head of A&R at Motown Records, Robinson was responsible for discovering and developing new talent. He was instrumental in the signing of some of the biggest names in music, including The Temptations, The Supremes, and Stevie Wonder. Robinson's ability to spot talent and develop artists helped to make Motown Records one of the most successful record labels in history.

• Production
  

  In addition to his work in A&R, Robinson also oversaw the production of many of Motown's biggest hits. He worked with some of the most talented producers in the music industry, including Norman Whitfield and Brian Holland. Robinson's production work helped to create the signature sound of Motown Records and played a major role in the development of R&B and soul music.

• Marketing
  

  Robinson also played a major role in the marketing of Motown Records. He was responsible for developing and implementing marketing campaigns for some of the biggest albums in music history. Robinson's marketing savvy helped to make Motown Records one of the most successful record labels in the world.

• Legacy
  

  Robinson's work as a record executive has had a major impact on the music industry. He helped to shape the sound of Motown Records and played a major role in the development of R&B and soul music. Robinson's legacy as a record executive will continue to inspire and influence musicians and music fans for generations to come.

Robinson's work as a record executive is an essential part of his legacy as a musician. He helped to create some of the most iconic albums in music history, and his work had a major impact on the development of R&B and soul music.

5. Motown

Smokey Robinson's connection to Motown Records is a significant part of his story. He was one of the founding members of the label, and he played a major role in its success. Robinson wrote and produced some of Motown's biggest hits, including "Shop Around," "You've Really Got a Hold on Me," and "The Tracks of My Tears." He also helped to develop the careers of other Motown artists, such as The Temptations, The Supremes, and Marvin Gaye.

Motown Records was founded in Detroit in 1959 by Berry Gordy. The label quickly became a major force in the music industry, and it helped to define the sound of R&B and soul music. Motown's artists were known for their polished sound, their catchy melodies, and their soulful lyrics. Robinson's songs were a perfect fit for Motown's sound, and they helped to make the label one of the most successful in history.

Robinson's connection to Motown Records is a major part of his legacy. He helped to shape the sound of the label, and he played a major role in its success. Motown Records would not have been the same without Smokey Robinson, and Robinson would not have been the same without Motown.

6. The Miracles

The Miracles were an American vocal group that was founded in Detroit, Michigan, in 1955. The group was originally called The Five Chimes, but they changed their name to The Miracles in 1958. The Miracles were one of the most successful vocal groups of the 1960s and 1970s, and they helped to define the sound of Motown Records. Smokey Robinson was the lead singer of The Miracles, and he was also the group's primary songwriter and producer. Robinson wrote and produced some of The Miracles' biggest hits, including "Shop Around," "You've Really Got a Hold on Me," and "The Tracks of My Tears."

The Miracles were a major part of Smokey Robinson's career. The group helped him to develop his songwriting and production skills, and they also gave him a platform to showcase his vocal talents. Robinson's connection to The Miracles is a major part of his legacy, and it helped to make him one of the most successful and influential figures in American music history.

The Miracles disbanded in 1972, but Robinson continued to have a successful solo career. He has released over 40 solo albums, and he has written and produced hits for other artists, such as The Temptations, The Supremes, and Marvin Gaye. Robinson is a Grammy Award winner and a Kennedy Center honoree, and he is considered to be one of the greatest singers and songwriters of all time.

7. R&B

R&B, short for rhythm and blues, is a genre of popular music that originated in the United States in the 1940s. It is characterized by a strong beat, soulful vocals, and often incorporates elements of jazz, blues, and gospel music. R&B has been a major influence on the development of other genres of popular music, including soul, funk, and hip hop.

Smokey Robinson is one of the most successful and influential R&B artists of all time. He is a singer, songwriter, record producer, and former record executive. Robinson was the lead singer of The Miracles, one of the most successful vocal groups of the 1960s and 1970s. He wrote and produced some of The Miracles' biggest hits, including "Shop Around," "You've Really Got a Hold on Me," and "The Tracks of My Tears."

Robinson's music is known for its soulful vocals, catchy melodies, and timeless appeal. He has written and produced hits for other artists, such as The Temptations, The Supremes, and Marvin Gaye. Robinson is a Grammy Award winner and a Kennedy Center honoree, and he is considered to be one of the greatest singers and songwriters of all time.

R&B is an essential part of Smokey Robinson's music. His songs are full of the soulful vocals, catchy melodies, and timeless appeal that are characteristic of the genre. Robinson's music has had a major impact on the development of R&B, and he is considered to be one of the most influential artists in the genre's history.

8. Soul

Smokey Robinson is considered one of the pioneers and most influential figures in soul music. Soul music is a genre of popular music that originated in the African-American community in the United States in the 1950s and 1960s. It is characterized by its strong vocals, often with a focus on expressing personal emotions, and its use of gospel and rhythm and blues influences. Smokey Robinson's music is full of the soulful vocals, catchy melodies, and timeless appeal that are characteristic of the genre.

Robinson's music has had a major impact on the development of soul music. He is considered to be one of the most influential artists in the genre's history. His songs have been covered by countless artists, and he has won numerous awards for his work, including three Grammy Awards and the Kennedy Center Honors. Robinson's music continues to inspire and entertain people around the world.

The connection between "Soul" and "smokey robinson die" is significant because it highlights the importance of soul music in Robinson's work and its impact on the development of the genre. Robinson's music is a powerful expression of the human experience, and it continues to resonate with people of all ages and backgrounds.

FAQs about Smokey Robinson

Smokey Robinson is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and former record executive. He is one of the most successful and influential figures in American music history. Here are some frequently asked questions about Smokey Robinson:

Question 1: Is Smokey Robinson still alive?

Answer: Yes, Smokey Robinson is still alive. He is 83 years old.

Question 2: What is Smokey Robinson's most famous song?

Answer: Smokey Robinson's most famous song is "My Girl." He wrote and produced the song for The Temptations in 1964.

Question 3: How many Grammy Awards has Smokey Robinson won?

Answer: Smokey Robinson has won three Grammy Awards.

Question 4: What is Smokey Robinson's net worth?

Answer: Smokey Robinson's net worth is estimated to be $150 million.

Question 5: Is Smokey Robinson in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?

Answer: Yes, Smokey Robinson was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987.

Smokey Robinson is a true American icon. His music has touched the lives of millions of people around the world. He is a talented singer, songwriter, and producer, and he has played a major role in the development of R&B and soul music.

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Conclusion

Smokey Robinson is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and former record executive. He is one of the most successful and influential figures in American music history. Robinson's music has touched the lives of millions of people around the world, and he continues to be an inspiration to musicians and fans alike.

Robinson's legacy is vast and enduring. He is a Grammy Award winner, a Kennedy Center honoree, and a Rock and Roll Hall of Famer. His songs have been covered by countless artists, and his music has been used in films and television shows. Robinson's music is a powerful expression of the human experience, and it continues to resonate with people of all ages and backgrounds.