Tracks Of My Tears - Music
Tracks Of My Tears by Smokey Robinson
Smokey Robinson
Artist Biography For Smokey Robinson
William "Smokey" Robinson Jr. Born February 19 1940 Is An American R&B And Soul Singer And Songwriter. Robinson Is Noted For Being One Of The Primary Figures Associated With The Motown Record Label Second Only To The Company's Founder Berry Gordy. As Both A Member Of Motown Group The Miracles And A Solo Artist Robinson Recorded Seventy Top 40 Hits For Motown Between 1959 And 1990 And Also Served As The Company's Vice President From 1961 To 1988. Early Years And Formation Of The Miracles Robinson Was Born And Raised In Detroit Michigan And Was Nicknamed "Smokey" As A Child Because Of His Love Of Westerns. The Name Originally Came When An Uncle Who Would Take A Young Robinson To See Westerns Gave Him The Name "Smokey Joe" Robinson Began Being Called "Smokey" Whilst In His Teens. In 1955 Robinson Founded A Group He Called "The Five Chimes" With His Best Friend Ronnie White And Northern High School Classmates Pete Moore Clarence Dawson And James Grice. By 1957 The Group Was Called "The Matadors" And Included Cousins Bobby Rogers And Claudette Rogers In Place Of Dawson And Grice. With Robinson As Lead Singer The Matadors Began Touring The Local Detroit Venues. In 1958 Robinson Met Songwriter Berry Gordy Jr. Who Co-Wrote For Them The Single "Got A Job " An Answer Song To The Silhouettes' Hit Single "Get A Job." The Group Renamed Itself The Miracles And Issued Singles On Both End Records And Chess Records Before Robinson Suggested To Berry Gordy That He Start A Label Of His Own. In 1959 Gordy Founded Tamla Records Which He Soon Reincorporated As Motown. The Miracles Were Among The Label's First Signees. Gordy And Robinson Had A Synergistic Relationship With Robinson Providing A Foundation For Motown's Hit-Making Success And Gordy Acting As A Mentor For The Budding Singer And Songwriter. By 1961 Gordy Had Appointed Robinson Vice-President Of Motown Records A Title Robinson Held For As Long As Gordy Remained With The Company. Motown And The Miracles The 1960 Single "Shop Around" Was Motown's First #1 Hit On The R&B Singles Chart And The First Big Hit For The Miracles. They Scored Many More Hits Over The Years Including "You've Really Got A Hold On Me" 1962 "Mickey's Monkey" 1963 "Ooo Baby Baby 1965 "The Tracks Of My Tears" 1965 "Going To A Go-Go" 1965 "More Love" 1967 And "I Second That Emotion" 1967 . Besides Penning Hits For His Own Group Robinson Also Wrote And Produced Hits And Album Tracks For Other Motown Artists. Mary Wells Had A Big Hit With The Robinson-Penned "My Guy" 1964 And Robinson Served As The Temptations Primary Songwriter And Producer From 1963 To 1966 Penning Hits Such As "The Way You Do The Things You Do " "My Girl " "Since I Lost My Baby " And "Get Ready." Among Robinson's Numerous Other Motown Compositions Are "Still Water Love " By The Four Tops "Don't Mess With Bill" By The Marvelettes "When I'm Gone" By Brenda Holloway "Ain't That Peculiar" And "I'll Be Doggone" By Marvin Gaye "My Guy" By Mary Wells And "First I Look At The Purse" By The Contours. Fellow Singer/songwriter Bob Dylan Described Robinson As "America's Greatest Living Poet." Robinson's Hit Ballads Also Earned Him The Title "America's Poet Laureate Of Love." Over The Course Of His Almost 50-Year Career In Music Robinson Has Over 4 000 Songs To His Credit. After Marrying Claudette Rogers Robinson Started A Family And Named Both Of His Children After Motown His Son Was Named Berry After The Company's Founder And His Daughter Was Named Tamla After The Motown Imprint For Which Robinson And The Miracles Recorded. The Miracles Remained A Premier Motown Act Through Most Of The 1960s. Albums Were Released As "Smokey Robinson & The Miracles" After 1965. By 1969 The Group's Fortunes Began To Falter And Robinson Decided To Quit The Miracles So That He Could Remain At Home With His Family And Concentrate On His Duties As Vice President. The Group Stopped Recording And Robinson Prepared To Leave The Group. Unexpectedly However Their 1966 Recording Of "The Tears Of A Clown" Was Released As A Single In 1970 And Became A #1 Hit In Both The United States And The United Kingdom. Due To The Surprise Success Of "Tears Of A Clown " Robinson Was Convinced To Remain With The Miracles For A Few More Years. In 1972 He Followed Through On His Original Plans To Leave The Group And The Miracles Began A Six-Month Farewell Tour. On July 16 1972 Smokey And Claudette Robinson Gave Their Final Performances As Miracles At The Carter Barron Amphitheater In Washington DC And Robinson Introduced The Group's New Lead Singer Billy Griffin. The Miracles Went On For A While Even Having Another #1 Hit "Love Machine " In 1976. Successful Solo Career Smokey Robinson Began A Low-Key Solo Career While Concentrating On His Duties As Vice-President Of Motown Releasing His First Solo LP Smokey In 1973. His First Hit Single "Sweet Harmony" 1973 Was Dedicated To The Miracles. In 1975 Robinson's Solo Career Went Into Full-Drive After The Success Of The #1 R&B Hit "Baby That's Backatcha." Robinson's 1976 Single "Quiet Storm" And Its Accompanying Album Typified A Smooth Slow Style Of R&B That Is Today Called "quiet Storm." Other Robinson Solo Hits Include "Cruisin'" 1979 "Being With You" A UK #1 Hit 1981 "Tell Me Tomorrow" 1982 And "Ebony Eyes " A Duet With Labelmate Rick James 1983 . He Also Recorded The Soundtrack To The Film Big Time 1977 . Spokesmanship Smokey Robinson Is The Spokesman Of The Great American Smokeout Which Takes Place Annually One Week Before Thanksgiving. It's A Day When Smokers Quit Smoking For At Least A Day. In 2006 It Takes Place On November 16th. Later Years During The Mid-1980s Robinson Fell Victim To Cocaine Addiction. His Recording Slowed And His Marriage To Claudette Faltered The Two Were Divorced In 1986. Robinson Eventually Overcame The Addiction And Revitalized His Career Scoring Hits In 1987 With "Just To See Her" And "One Heartbeat." Also In 1987 British Band ABC Scored A US And UK Hit With Their Tribute To Robinson Entitled "When Smokey Sings". In 1988 Robinson Published His Autobiography Smokey And Was Inducted Into The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. Upon Motown's Sale To MCA In 1988 Robinson Resigned From His Position As Vice-President. After One Last Album For Motown Love Smokey 1990 Robinson Departed The Company. He Released One Record For SBK Records Double Good Everything 1991 The Same Year He Won A Soul Train Music Award For Career Achievement. Eight Years Later He Returned To Motown Which By Then Was A Subsidiary Of Universal Music Group And Released Intimate 1999 . Since Then Robinson Has Continued To Periodically Perform And Tour. In 2003 Robinson Served As A Guest Judge For American Idol During "Billy Joel Week." He Issued A Gospel LP Food For The Spirit In 2004. A New Album Of Pop Standards From The Early 20th Century Timeless Love Was Released In June 2006. It Was Originally Recorded With A Jazz Combo But Strings Were Added After The Fact Giving The Album More Of A Lush Sound But Removing Much Of The Jazz Feeling Of The Disc. In 2004 Robinson's Company SFGL Foods Launched A Special Brand Of Gumbo Called "Smokey Robinson's 'The Soul Is In The Bowl' Gumbo." 1 . In May 2006 At Its 138th Commencement Convocation Howard University Conferred On Robinson The Degree Of Doctor Of Music Honoris Causa. Smokey Robinson Is Scheduled To Appear On Duets On Fox Along With Randy Travis Patti Labelle Chaka Khan Dionne Warwick Aaron Neville Clint Black Michael Bolton Kenny Loggins Brian McKnight Macy Gray Richard Marx And Cyndi Lauper. David Foster Will Be A Judge. On 27th October 2006 Smokey Appeared On Friday Night With Jonathan Ross.
50 Similar Tracks:
Percy Sledge - When A Man Loves A Woman Brenton Wood - Lovey Dovey Kind Of Love Brenton Wood - Can You Dig It Sam Cooke - You Send Me Smokey Robinson - Let Me Be The Clock The Drifters - Dance With Me The Impressions - People Get Ready Smokey Robinson And The Miracles - The Tracks Of My Tears Smokey Robinson - There Will Come A Day I'm Gonna Happen To You Sam Cooke - Another Saturday Night Alternate Take Otis Redding - These Arms Of Mine Aretha Franklin - I Say A Little Prayer Otis Redding - You Send Me Aretha Franklin - Respect James & Bobby Purify - I'm Your Puppet The Impressions - Seven Years Ben E. King - This Magic Moment Smokey Robinson And The Miracles - Mickey's Monkey The Platters - Twilight Time - Single Version Bobby Womack - Baby! You Oughta Think It Over The Drifters - This Magic Moment - Single Version Remastered Blue Magic - Just Don't Want To Be Lonely The Dells - Oh, What A Night The Isley Brothers - Footsteps In The Dark, Pts. 1 & 2 Jerry Butler - For Your Precious Love The Chi-Lites - Have You Seen Her Solomon Burke - Cry To Me Jerry Butler - It's All Right Al Green - Brand New Let's Stay Together Sam & Dave - Hold On, I'm Comin' Al Green - God Is Standing By James & Bobby Purify - Hello There The Five Stairsteps - Baby Make Me Feel So Good Donnie Elbert - What Can I Do Gene Chandler - I Fooled You This Time Marvin Gaye - Ain't That Peculiar - Single Version The Five Stairsteps - O-O-H Child Remastered The Main Ingredient - Looks Like Rain Sly & The Family Stone - Stand The Originals - Baby, I'm For Real Sam & Dave - Soul Sister, Brown Sugar Aaron Neville - Tell It Like It Is The Delfonics - Break Your Promise - Remastered Syl Johnson - Could I Be Falling In Love The Four Tops - Loco In Acapulco James Brown - How Do You Stop Willie Hutch - I Choose You Gladys Knight & The Pips - Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me Commodores - Say Yeah Ben E. King - Spanish Harlem
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Biography - Smokey Robinson
William "Smokey" Robinson Jr. Born February 19 1940 Is An American R&B And Soul Singer And Songwriter. Robinson Is Noted For Being One Of The Primary Figures Associated With The Motown Record Label Second Only To The Company's Founder Berry Gordy. As Both A Member Of Motown Group The Miracles And A Solo Artist Robinson Recorded Seventy Top 40 Hits For Motown Between 1959 And 1990 And Also Served As The Company's Vice President From 1961 To 1988. Early Years And Formation Of The Miracles Robinson Was Born And Raised In Detroit Michigan And Was Nicknamed "Smokey" As A Child Because Of His Love Of Westerns. The Name Originally Came When An Uncle Who Would Take A Young Robinson To See Westerns Gave Him The Name "Smokey Joe" Robinson Began Being Called "Smokey" Whilst In His Teens. In 1955 Robinson Founded A Group He Called "The Five Chimes" With His Best Friend Ronnie White And Northern High School Classmates Pete Moore Clarence Dawson And James Grice. By 1957 The Group Was Called "The Matadors" And Included Cousins Bobby Rogers And Claudette Rogers In Place Of Dawson And Grice. With Robinson As Lead Singer The Matadors Began Touring The Local Detroit Venues. In 1958 Robinson Met Songwriter Berry Gordy Jr. Who Co-Wrote For Them The Single "Got A Job " An Answer Song To The Silhouettes' Hit Single "Get A Job." The Group Renamed Itself The Miracles And Issued Singles On Both End Records And Chess Records Before Robinson Suggested To Berry Gordy That He Start A Label Of His Own. In 1959 Gordy Founded Tamla Records Which He Soon Reincorporated As Motown. The Miracles Were Among The Label's First Signees. Gordy And Robinson Had A Synergistic Relationship With Robinson Providing A Foundation For Motown's Hit-Making Success And Gordy Acting As A Mentor For The Budding Singer And Songwriter. By 1961 Gordy Had Appointed Robinson Vice-President Of Motown Records A Title Robinson Held For As Long As Gordy Remained With The Company. Motown And The Miracles The 1960 Single "Shop Around" Was Motown's First #1 Hit On The R&B Singles Chart And The First Big Hit For The Miracles. They Scored Many More Hits Over The Years Including "You've Really Got A Hold On Me" 1962 "Mickey's Monkey" 1963 "Ooo Baby Baby 1965 "The Tracks Of My Tears" 1965 "Going To A Go-Go" 1965 "More Love" 1967 And "I Second That Emotion" 1967 . Besides Penning Hits For His Own Group Robinson Also Wrote And Produced Hits And Album Tracks For Other Motown Artists. Mary Wells Had A Big Hit With The Robinson-Penned "My Guy" 1964 And Robinson Served As The Temptations Primary Songwriter And Producer From 1963 To 1966 Penning Hits Such As "The Way You Do The Things You Do " "My Girl " "Since I Lost My Baby " And "Get Ready." Among Robinson's Numerous Other Motown Compositions Are "Still Water Love " By The Four Tops "Don't Mess With Bill" By The Marvelettes "When I'm Gone" By Brenda Holloway "Ain't That Peculiar" And "I'll Be Doggone" By Marvin Gaye "My Guy" By Mary Wells And "First I Look At The Purse" By The Contours. Fellow Singer/songwriter Bob Dylan Described Robinson As "America's Greatest Living Poet." Robinson's Hit Ballads Also Earned Him The Title "America's Poet Laureate Of Love." Over The Course Of His Almost 50-Year Career In Music Robinson Has Over 4 000 Songs To His Credit. After Marrying Claudette Rogers Robinson Started A Family And Named Both Of His Children After Motown His Son Was Named Berry After The Company's Founder And His Daughter Was Named Tamla After The Motown Imprint For Which Robinson And The Miracles Recorded. The Miracles Remained A Premier Motown Act Through Most Of The 1960s. Albums Were Released As "Smokey Robinson & The Miracles" After 1965. By 1969 The Group's Fortunes Began To Falter And Robinson Decided To Quit The Miracles So That He Could Remain At Home With His Family And Concentrate On His Duties As Vice President. The Group Stopped Recording And Robinson Prepared To Leave The Group. Unexpectedly However Their 1966 Recording Of "The Tears Of A Clown" Was Released As A Single In 1970 And Became A #1 Hit In Both The United States And The United Kingdom. Due To The Surprise Success Of "Tears Of A Clown " Robinson Was Convinced To Remain With The Miracles For A Few More Years. In 1972 He Followed Through On His Original Plans To Leave The Group And The Miracles Began A Six-Month Farewell Tour. On July 16 1972 Smokey And Claudette Robinson Gave Their Final Performances As Miracles At The Carter Barron Amphitheater In Washington DC And Robinson Introduced The Group's New Lead Singer Billy Griffin. The Miracles Went On For A While Even Having Another #1 Hit "Love Machine " In 1976. Successful Solo Career Smokey Robinson Began A Low-Key Solo Career While Concentrating On His Duties As Vice-President Of Motown Releasing His First Solo LP Smokey In 1973. His First Hit Single "Sweet Harmony" 1973 Was Dedicated To The Miracles. In 1975 Robinson's Solo Career Went Into Full-Drive After The Success Of The #1 R&B Hit "Baby That's Backatcha." Robinson's 1976 Single "Quiet Storm" And Its Accompanying Album Typified A Smooth Slow Style Of R&B That Is Today Called "quiet Storm." Other Robinson Solo Hits Include "Cruisin'" 1979 "Being With You" A UK #1 Hit 1981 "Tell Me Tomorrow" 1982 And "Ebony Eyes " A Duet With Labelmate Rick James 1983 . He Also Recorded The Soundtrack To The Film Big Time 1977 . Spokesmanship Smokey Robinson Is The Spokesman Of The Great American Smokeout Which Takes Place Annually One Week Before Thanksgiving. It's A Day When Smokers Quit Smoking For At Least A Day. In 2006 It Takes Place On November 16th. Later Years During The Mid-1980s Robinson Fell Victim To Cocaine Addiction. His Recording Slowed And His Marriage To Claudette Faltered The Two Were Divorced In 1986. Robinson Eventually Overcame The Addiction And Revitalized His Career Scoring Hits In 1987 With "Just To See Her" And "One Heartbeat." Also In 1987 British Band ABC Scored A US And UK Hit With Their Tribute To Robinson Entitled "When Smokey Sings". In 1988 Robinson Published His Autobiography Smokey And Was Inducted Into The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. Upon Motown's Sale To MCA In 1988 Robinson Resigned From His Position As Vice-President. After One Last Album For Motown Love Smokey 1990 Robinson Departed The Company. He Released One Record For SBK Records Double Good Everything 1991 The Same Year He Won A Soul Train Music Award For Career Achievement. Eight Years Later He Returned To Motown Which By Then Was A Subsidiary Of Universal Music Group And Released Intimate 1999 . Since Then Robinson Has Continued To Periodically Perform And Tour. In 2003 Robinson Served As A Guest Judge For American Idol During "Billy Joel Week." He Issued A Gospel LP Food For The Spirit In 2004. A New Album Of Pop Standards From The Early 20th Century Timeless Love Was Released In June 2006. It Was Originally Recorded With A Jazz Combo But Strings Were Added After The Fact Giving The Album More Of A Lush Sound But Removing Much Of The Jazz Feeling Of The Disc. In 2004 Robinson's Company SFGL Foods Launched A Special Brand Of Gumbo Called "Smokey Robinson's 'The Soul Is In The Bowl' Gumbo." 1 . In May 2006 At Its 138th Commencement Convocation Howard University Conferred On Robinson The Degree Of Doctor Of Music Honoris Causa. Smokey Robinson Is Scheduled To Appear On Duets On Fox Along With Randy Travis Patti Labelle Chaka Khan Dionne Warwick Aaron Neville Clint Black Michael Bolton Kenny Loggins Brian McKnight Macy Gray Richard Marx And Cyndi Lauper. David Foster Will Be A Judge. On 27th October 2006 Smokey Appeared On Friday Night With Jonathan Ross.
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16 Similar Artists To Smokey Robinson - Frogtoon Music
Smokey Robinson And The Miracles The Miracles Mary Wells The O'Jays The Four Tops Gladys Knight & The Pips The Temptations The Spinners The Delfonics Billy Stewart Commodores The Isley Brothers The Stylistics Brenton Wood The Temprees Jr. Walker & The All Stars.