Smokey Robinson
Smokey Robinson
William "Smokey" Robinson, Jr.is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and former record executive. Robinson was the founder and front man of the Motown vocal group the Miracles, for which he also served as the group's chief songwriter and producer. Robinson led the group from its 1955 origins as the Five Chimes until 1972 when he announced a retirement from the group to focus on his role as Motown's vice president...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionRock Singer
Date of Birth19 February 1940
CityDetroit, MI
CountryUnited States of America
I left Motown because of the regime of people who were there.
There's so many wonderful gospel people out there, and I don't necessarily want to compete with those people.
You know what, I'm probably one of the most blessed people there's ever been, and I thank God for it.
And I can say this, most of the people who have recorded my songs are songwriters themselves.
People still look at Michael Jackson as being a Motown artist.
If some of those people who wanted to ban Beethoven's music could hear the music that's being played today, wow, what would they do, man?
I love hearing my music, I love hearing it by other people. I hope it will always be played.
So I wanted to sing inspirational music, and that's exactly how I approached it - only the words have been changed to declare my relationship with God.
I always try to write a song, I never just want to write a record.
That's because we did not set out to make black music. We set out to make quality music that everyone could enjoy and listen to.
In fact, I wouldn't really call this a Gospel album, I call it more an inspirational album.
Had I not come out with an inspirational CD, you perhaps would have never known that I feel like I feel, that all songs, all the music I've ever done is a gift from God.
You know what, life is full of temptations
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.