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 Like It Like That
Smokey Robinson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We're gonna have some fun tonight
We're gonna sing, shout, knock ourselves out
Everything's gonna be alright (alright)
Now let the bassman start playin'
He's gonna come in right on time
He's gonna add a beat to make you pat your feet
And we can say I like it like that (I like it like that)
I like it like that (I like it like that)
Oh, that's where it's at and I like it like that
Now after a man finds himself a woman
She doesn't have to be a beauty queen
And then she holds you tight, she makes you feel alright
Any man that I've ever seen
He's got to say, I like it like that (I like it like that)
Oh, I like it like that (oh, I like it like that)
Oh, that, I'm trying to tell you (oh, that's where it's at, that's where
It's at, oh, that's where it's at) and I like it like that
I like it like that (I like it like that)
I like it like that (I like it like that)
I like it like that (I like it like that)
Yeah, ooh, now I know why my mama, taught me to be true
She must have known one day that you would come my way
And I would fall in love with you
And we could say I like it like that (I like it like that)
Oh, I like it like that (oh, I like it like that)
(Oh, that's (I'm trying to tell you) where it's at, that's where it's at,
Everybody sing now(that's where it's at, that's where it's at)
(That's where it's at) one more time now (that's where it's at, that's where it's at)
The song I Like It Like That by Smokey Robinson & The Miracles is a classic upbeat rock and roll song that encourages listeners to let loose and have a good time. The first verse sets the tone for the song, as the singer urges everyone to clap their hands and get ready to have some fun. The bass line is highlighted as a key part of the song, with the bassman coming in right on time to add a beat that will make listeners want to tap their feet.
The second verse introduces the theme of finding love, suggesting that a woman doesn't need to be a beauty queen to make a man happy. The most important thing is that she makes him feel good, and the singer uses the refrain "I like it like that" to express his pleasure in the relationship. The song concludes with a tribute to the singer's mother, who he believes taught him to be true so that he could one day find love.
Line by Line Meaning
Clap your hands now everybody
Let's all get excited and show our enthusiasm by clapping our hands
We're gonna have some fun tonight
Tonight is going to be enjoyable and entertaining
We're gonna sing, shout, knock ourselves out
We'll be singing and shouting so much that we'll exhaust ourselves
Everything's gonna be alright (alright)
Everything will be okay and we'll have a good time
Now let the bassman start playin'
The bass player should begin playing their instrument now
He's gonna come in right on time
The bass player will play their part at the perfect moment
He's gonna add a beat to make you pat your feet
The bass player's rhythm will make us want to tap our feet
Everything's gonna work out fine
Things will go smoothly and according to plan
And we can say I like it like that (I like it like that)
We can express our appreciation for the music by saying we enjoy it
Oh, that's where it's at and I like it like that
This is where the great music is and we appreciate it
Now after a man finds himself a woman
After a man finds a partner
She doesn't have to be a beauty queen
She doesn't have to be the most beautiful woman in the world
And then she holds you tight, she makes you feel alright
When she hugs you, you feel really good
Any man that I've ever seen
Every man I've met
He's got to say, I like it like that (I like it like that)
He has to express his appreciation for the relationship he's in
Oh, I like it like that (oh, I like it like that)
He really enjoys being in this relationship
Oh, that, I'm trying to tell you (oh, that's where it's at, that's where It's at, oh, that's where it's at) and I like it like that
He can't explain exactly why he likes the relationship so much but he does
I like it like that (I like it like that)
He really enjoys being in this relationship
Yeah, ooh, now I know why my mama, taught me to be true
He realizes why his mother emphasized the importance of honesty and loyalty
She must have known one day that you would come my way
His mother probably knew that he would find the right partner one day
And I would fall in love with you
And he would end up falling in love with his partner
Everybody sing now(that's where it's at, that's where it's at)
Everyone should join in and sing this part of the song
(That's where it's at) one more time now (that's where it's at, that's where it's at)
Let's sing this part of the song one more time
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MARVIN TARPLIN, SMOKEY ROBINSON, WILLIAM ROBINSON JR.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind