William "Smokey" Robinson, Jr. (born February 19, 1940) is an American R&B … Read Full Bio ↴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.

06) You Are Forever
Smokey Robinson Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Even mountains will crumble
Rivers will dry, stars will fall
And kings will be humbled
The weakest of men will be standing tall

Time changes, rearranges
Mountains and kings, everything
But you are forever

Baby, you are my night and day
You are forever
Darling I cannot remember when
I didn't love you

Yesterday is a memory
Tomorrow will come and fade away
But my love is eternal
I promise you it will always stay
Time changes, rearranges
Things come and go
But one thing I know is
You are forever
Baby, you are my now and then
You are forever
And darling I cannot remember when
I didn't want you, need you, love you
Yeahess, love you, ah love you, love you, love you

Time changes, rearranges
Mountains and kings, everything
But you are forever
Baby, you are my now and then
You are my forever
I cannot remember when
I didn't love you

You're forever and ever
Baby, baby, ever ever, and ever
I, I cannot remember when
I didn't love you
Oh, love you, oh, love you love you
Can't remember when I didn't love you

Love you, love you, love you, hey yeah
Love you, oh, love you

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Smokey Robinson's song You Are Forever are about the eternity of love. He compares the impermanence of worldly things like mountains, rivers, stars, and kings to the changing nature of time. However, his love for his partner is eternal and forever. He promises that his love will never fade away, even if memories of yesterday vanish or tomorrow comes and goes. For him, his partner is forever and always will be.

The lyrics are a tribute to the power of love that transcends time and all obstacles. Robinson's voice is emotive and expressive as he sings about the deep connection he feels with his partner. The song has a dreamy quality to it and a catchy beat that complements the lyrics. Overall, the song reminds us that love is the one constant in a world of change.

Line by Line Meaning

Even mountains will crumble
There are times when things we thought were permanent will change or cease to exist, like the most solid natural wonders that are the mountains.

Rivers will dry, stars will fall
Things in motion, like the rivers and the celestial bodies, as well as things that we deemed perfect, will also stop existing, even temporarily.

And kings will be humbled
People in power or deemed untouchable, will someday fall or lose their luster.

The weakest of men will be standing tall
Contrary to the above statement, even those who are often deemed powerless or weak will come out victorious or stand their own ground.

Time changes, rearranges
The progression of time restructures things, people, and all we thought were permanent or temporary.

Mountains and kings, everything
No one and nothing can escape the inevitable change and evolution the element of time brings.

But you are forever
Despite these changes, the love and affection Smokey Robinson has for his loved one will always remain unchanged.

Baby, you are my night and day
His loved one is just as significant and essential to Smokey Robinson as the hours of the night and day are to each other.

Darling, I cannot remember when I didn't love you
It's as if the love he has for his significant other has always existed, and he cannot remember a time when it was absent.

Yesterday is a memory
The past, as much as we want to hold on to it, can only be remembered as memories.

Tomorrow will come and fade away
The future, despite the excitement or dread it brings, is only temporary and fleeting like everything else.

But my love is eternal
Unlike the past and the future, the love that exists between Smokey Robinson and his loved one is everlasting.

I promise you it will always stay
He assures and affirms to his loved one that the love and commitment between them will never change nor falter in the face of time.

Things come and go
Everything is impermanent; things come and go as naturally as the changes in the season.

But one thing I know is
Despite this ever-changing world, the one thing that is absolute and definitive for Smokey Robinson is his love and commitment to his loved one.

You're forever and ever
The love he has for his significant other is infinite and will go beyond the restrictions of time and space.

Baby, baby, ever ever, and ever
His usage of 'ever ever', or similar words, implies how long his love will last, beyond the limitation of human life.

I, I cannot remember when I didn't love you
His devotion and affection for his loved one is so strong that it seems like an eternal existence, and he cannot recall a time when he did not love them.

Oh, love you, oh, love you love you
His repetition of 'love you' emphasizes the depth and sincerity of his affection for his significant other.

Can't remember when I didn't love you
He further elaborates that the love he has is fundamental and fundamental to his concept of self - it has always been there.

Love you, love you, love you, hey yeah
The continued repetition of 'love you' confirms the passion, intensity, and devotion that Smokey Robinson has for his loved one.

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: SMOKEY ROBINSON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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