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.
I Cried For You
Smokey Robinson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I had an instant suspicion
To be with you would become
My life's ambition.
I knew right away, from the very first day
That somewhere down the line
I'd wake up to see you lying right next to me,
You're the one for me, baby
Yeah, you're the one baby
You're the one for me
Anyone can see baby, yeah
You're the one baby, you're the one for me.
Opportunity comes knockin'
In the form of somebody new, but I don't answer
'Cause the door to my heart is only open to you.
Temptation comes round, staring me down, right in my face
But, nobody could ever take you're place
No one could fill your space.
You're the one for me, baby
Yeah, you're the one baby
You're the one for me,
Anyone can see baby yeah
You're the one baby, you're the one for me.
Nobody could ever make me feel good
Like you do, ooh ooh
Nobody, but nobody, could ever thrill me so oh
I've got my mind made up about you
And I know, I know, it's true, it's you.
Yeah you're the one for me, baby
Yeah, you're the one baby
You're the one for me,
Anyone can see baby yeah (anyone anywhere anytime anyplace yeah)
You're the one baby, you're the one for me.
Baby, baby, baby, baby, baby, baby
Yeah, you're the one now (your the one for me)
Anyone can see baby, yeah
You're the one baby, you're the one for me.
Oh baby you're the one for me
Baby yeah
You're the one baby
You're the one for me
Ooh baby ooh baby
The lyrics to Smokey Robinson's song "I Cried For You" depict a deep and immediate connection between the singer and someone they have just met. Upon laying eyes on this person, the singer feels a strong intuition and sense of purpose that being with them would become their life's ambition. This connection is so profound that the singer envisions a future where they wake up next to this person, knowing that they will belong to each other.
The song conveys the singer's unwavering commitment to this newfound love. Despite temptations and opportunities that come their way, the singer declares that their heart is only open to this one person. They acknowledge that there may be others who try to take their place, but nobody could ever fill the space that this person has in their heart. The lyrics express a sense of devotion and loyalty, emphasizing that this person is truly the one for them.
Throughout the song, Robinson's smooth and soulful vocals capture the intensity of the singer's emotions. The repetition of phrases like "you're the one for me, baby" further emphasizes the singer's certainty and conviction about their love for this person. The song is filled with a sense of longing and desire, portraying a deep connection that surpasses any other potential suitors.
Line by Line Meaning
The first time I laid eyes on you
From the very first moment I saw you
I had an instant suspicion
I immediately felt a strong intuition
To be with you would become
Being with you would become
My life's ambition
My ultimate goal in life
I knew right away, from the very first day
I was certain from the start, since the beginning
That somewhere down the line
At some point in the future
I'd wake up to see you lying right next to me
I would wake up and find you beside me
You'd be mine, all mine, all mine
You would be exclusively mine
Opportunity comes knockin'
Opportunities arise
In the form of somebody new, but I don't answer
Presented by someone new, but I refuse
'Cause the door to my heart is only open to you
Because I only open my heart to you
Temptation comes round, staring me down, right in my face
Temptation presents itself directly to me
But, nobody could ever take you're place
No one could replace you
No one could fill your space
No one could fill the void you leave behind
Nobody could ever make me feel good
No one else could bring me happiness
Like you do, ooh ooh
In the way that you do
Nobody, but nobody, could ever thrill me so oh
No one else could excite me as much
I've got my mind made up about you
I have made a firm decision about you
And I know, I know, it's true, it's you
And I am certain, it is definitely you
Yeah you're the one for me, baby
Yes, you are the perfect one for me
Yeah, you're the one baby
Yes, you are the one
You're the one for me
You are meant for me
Anyone can see baby, yeah
It is obvious to anyone, yes
You're the one baby, you're the one for me
You are undoubtedly the right one for me
Baby, baby, baby, baby, baby, baby
Darling, darling, darling, darling, darling, darling
Yeah, you're the one now (your the one for me)
Yes, now you are the one (you are the one for me)
Anyone can see baby, yeah
Anyone can see, yes
You're the one baby, you're the one for me
You are undoubtedly the right one for me
Oh baby you're the one for me
Oh darling, you are the perfect match for me
Baby yeah
Darling, yes
You're the one baby
You are the one, darling
You're the one for me
You are meant for me
Ooh baby ooh baby
Oh darling, oh darling
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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