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.
Easy To Love
Smokey Robinson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Where are you tonight
Our situation wasn't really wrong
But it was not quite right
It hurts so much to say goodbye
Still I'm so glad we met
Cause you're easy to love
Hard to forget
I really miss you
But then I knew I would
We had some ruff edges that needed smoothing
But the good times were really good
We didn't make it this time
And that's my one regret
Cause you're easy to love
Hard to forget
I say easy to love
Hard to forget
You won't release me
Release me, release me
I can't get over you
I'll always love you
You will be in my heart
No matter what you do
I keep saying it'll be better tomorrow
Tomorrow ain't come yet
You're easy to love
Hard to forget
I say easy to love
Hard to forget
The lyrics to Smokey Robinson's song "Easy to Love" narrate a love story that has ended but is difficult to forget. Robinson is singing about a lover he is missing, but acknowledges that their relationship was not entirely right. Despite this, he is still grateful for the experience and has a hard time saying goodbye, as it was easy to love his partner, and they will be hard to forget.
The second verse acknowledges the differences and rough patches in the relationship, but Robinson still insists that the good times were really good. The main regret is not being able to make it work, and Robinson wishes he could be released from his feelings of love. However, he admits that these feelings won't go away, and he will carry this love in his heart no matter what. The song concludes with Robinson acknowledging that he keeps telling himself it will be better, but that "tomorrow ain't come yet" and he still feels the pain of losing the one who was easy to love but hard to forget.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh my darling
Addressing the beloved with affection
Where are you tonight
Asking the beloved about their whereabouts
Our situation wasn't really wrong
Acknowledging that the relationship had a few drawbacks but was not entirely a mistake
But it was not quite right
Recognizing that there were some issues in the relationship which could not be ignored
It hurts so much to say goodbye
Expressing the pain caused by parting ways with the beloved
Still I'm so glad we met
Acknowledging the importance of the relationship despite its end
Cause you're easy to love
Attributing positive qualities to the beloved
Hard to forget
Accepting the lasting impression the beloved has had on the artist
I really miss you
Expressing the desire to be with the beloved again
But then I knew I would
Acknowledging the inevitability of the feeling given the depth of the relationship
We had some ruff edges that needed smoothing
Admitting to the imperfections in the relationship which could be improved
But the good times were really good
Recalling the happy moments in the relationship
We didn't make it this time
Acknowledging the failed attempt at the relationship
And that's my one regret
Expressing the remorse of not succeeding in the relationship
You won't release me
Implying that the memory of the beloved is still dominant
Release me, release me
Expressing the frustration of not being able to let go of the beloved
I can't get over you
Admitting the difficulty of moving on from the relationship
I'll always love you
Accepting the lasting feeling of love towards the beloved
You will be in my heart
Expressing the permanent presence the beloved will have in the singer's life
No matter what you do
Affirming the unchanging feelings the artist has towards the beloved
I keep saying it'll be better tomorrow
Holding onto hope for the future despite the pain of the present
Tomorrow ain't come yet
Acknowledging the uncertainty of the future
You're easy to love
Reinforcing the positive qualities in the beloved
Hard to forget
Affirming the lasting impression the beloved has had on the artist
I say easy to love
Reiterating the positive qualities attributed to the beloved
Hard to forget
Admitting the emotional attachment the singer has towards the beloved
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JAMES ANDERSON (ANDY) BYRD, JAMES EUGENE ROBINSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind