Multi-talented performer/writer/producer Smokey Robinson's career, and life, is inextricably tied up with Motown Records' founder Berry Gordy (his first two children are named Tamla, for the Gordy-owned label Smokey recorded for, and Berry, for Gordy himself). He and Gordy have had a professional and personal relationship since the late 1950s, when Robinson went to work for Gordy's budding musical empire not only as a performer with his group, The Miracles, but also as a songwriter/producer. Robinson and The Miracles began turning out an almost unbroken string of hits in the early 1960s on Gordy's Tamla label (although they had minor hits on a few labels before they signed with Gordy). Robinson's high, warm tenor was perfect for the romantic ballads that he wrote for the group (one of the music industry's most prolific songwriters, Robinson was also such an imaginative one that Bob Dylan once called him "America's greatest living poet"), although they could also do hard, driving dance records (i.e., "Mickey's Monkey"). In addition to his writing/performing/producing chores for The Miracles, Robinson also turned out hit after hit for other Motown acts: Mary Wells ("My Guy"), The Temptations ("My Girl"), and others for The Marvelettesand Marvin Gaye. He left The Miracles to go solo in 1972, and met with even more success, turning out hit record after hit record all through the 1970s and 1980s. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987.

Children, with his first wife Claudette Robinson: Tamla and Berry.Elected to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987.He and his singing group, The Miracles, were voted the 32nd Greatest Rock 'n' Roll Artists of all time by Rolling Stone.He was awarded the U.S. National Medal of Arts in 2002 from the National Endowment of the Arts.Received an honorary Doctor of Music degree from Howard University (May 13, 2006).Uncle of Eric West.Awarded Kennedy Center Honors in 2006, with Dolly Parton, Steven Spielberg, Zubin Mehta, and Andrew Lloyd Webber.One of the personalities mentioned in the song Genius of Love by Tom Tom Club. The others mentioned were James Brown, Bob Marley, 'Hamilton Bohannon', George Clinton, Bootsy Collins, Kurtis Blow and 'Lowell 'Sly' Dunbar' (as Sly and Robbie) and Robbie Shakespeare (as Sly and Robbie).Inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1990.He had his first recording as 'The Miracles" in 1958. It was a follow up to a No. 1 tune "Get A Job". It was titled "Got A Job", on the legendary "End" label. Unfortunately it did not have the same success as its predecessor.He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 1500 North Vine Street in Hollywood, California. UpdateYou may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.Add resumeWith our Resume service you can add photos and build a complete resume to help you achieve the best possible presentation on the IMDb.Click here to add your resume and/or your photos to IMDb. Browse biographies section by nameA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z