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.
It
Smokey Robinson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ooh how you please me
You've got a love that's really real
Sweet and spicy come on entice me
You know the way I like to feel
Can't nobody groove me
Can't nobody move me like you do
Girl you build me up now when I'm
Gettin' down down with you
Do do it, do it, do it, do it yeah
Do it baby do it, do it baby
Come on and do it to me
Do it baby um-hm, do it, do it, yeah
Tantalizing' so appetizing
You've got me hungry for your love
Got me hungry for your love
Sweet as honey, yeah, oo how you love me baby
You keep me coming back for more
Back for more ooh
Can't nobody groove me
Can't nobody move me like you do
Like you do ooh
Girl you build me up now when I'm gettin' down
Down down with you ooh
Do it-do-it-do-it-do-it
Do it baby do it do it baby do it baby
Ooh, how you get me, yeah
Don't you know
Can't nobody groove me
Can't nobody move me like you do
Like you do yeah you do
Girl you build me up now when I'm gettin' down
Down with you
Do it-do-it-do-it-do-it baby
Do it baby, do it, do it baby, do it to me baby
Do it baby, do it to me baby
Come on b-baby
Do it baby do-it-do-it baby
Hold me tight
Do it baby do-it-do-it to me, yeah
Do it baby, do it, do it baby, pretty lady
Do it baby do it to me baby
Drive me crazy
Do it baby do-it-do-it baby
The song "It" by Smokey Robinson is a sensual and seductive love song that portrays the physical attraction and desire between two people. The singer expresses how his lover pleases him with her real love, and how her sweet and spicy essence entices him. The lyrics also suggest that the singer's lover has a significant impact on him, like no one else could, with her ability to groove and move him. He can't resist her tantalizing and appetizing nature that keeps him coming back for more. The chorus emphasizes that there's no one else who can groove and move him like she does, and every time he gets down, she builds him up. Throughout the song, the singer urges his lover to do it, do it, to drive him crazy, to hold him tight, and to keep doing what she does for him.
Line by Line Meaning
Nice and easy
You make me feel comfortable and at ease
Ooh how you please me
Your actions bring me immense pleasure
You've got a love that's really real
Your love for me is authentic and true
Sweet and spicy come on entice me
Your personality has a perfect balance of sweetness and excitement which draws me toward you
You know the way I like to feel
You understand and cater to my needs and desires
Can't nobody groove me
No one else makes me feel as good as you do
Can't nobody move me like you do
You have the power to stir my emotions and keep me captivated
Girl you build me up now when I'm
Gettin' down down with you
You lift me up when I'm feeling low, especially when I'm with you
Do do it, do it, do it, do it yeah
Do it baby do it, do it baby
Come on and do it to me
Encouragement and desire for the other person to perform a particular sexual or sensual act
Tantalizing' so appetizing
You've got me hungry for your love
Got me hungry for your love
Your charisma and allure makes me crave your love and attention even more
Sweet as honey, yeah, oo how you love me baby
You keep me coming back for more
Your love and affection is irresistible and keeps me coming back to you for more
Back for more ooh
Can't nobody groove me
Can't nobody move me like you do
Like you do ooh
No one can make me feel the way you do or keep me coming back for more
Do it-do-it-do-it-do-it
Do it baby do it do it baby do it baby
Ooh, how you get me, yeah
Don't you know
Passionate urging to the partner to perform the requested act because of how much it excites and pleases me
Do it baby um-hm, do it, do it, yeah
Further urging for partner to perform said requested act
Girl you build me up now when I'm gettin' down
Down down with you ooh
Reiterating how the partner's presence and love lifts me up when I feel down
Do it-do-it-do-it-do-it baby
Do it baby, do it, do it baby, do it to me baby
Do it baby, do it to me baby
Repeated requests for the partner to perform desired act
Come on b-baby
Do it baby do-it-do-it baby
Hold me tight
Do it baby do-it-do-it to me, yeah
Requests for intimacy and closeness while engaging in act
Do it baby, do it baby
Drive me crazy
Do it baby do-it-do-it baby
Suggesting that the requested act would drive me to a state of passion and frenzy if performed by the partner
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CHRISTINE PERREN, CHRISTINE YARIAN, FREDDIE PERREN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@LotusDViolet
The day my husband, then bf, got his first car, we blasted this song as we drove off for a weekend of fun. We're still cruisin' 24yrs later.
@quincyaudreyholloway9868
God bless you guys to cruise many more❤
@dianemcquay8460
That’s beautiful! my husband of 40 years, who was my boyfriend, and I walked into Woolworth and purchased the Quiet Storm album in 1977. Just went to Smokey concert in Atlantic City tonight 2019. Best concert in the world!! My daughter, who is 41, could have been named Quiet Storm🤣🤣🤣
@donnarose-caesar1946
Awesomeness! Gonna imitate you guys and do that on my 23rd anniversary coming up in December :)!
@phyllisthornton8974
Amen @!
@jeffreybell9697
Thats so awesome congrats to you and your husband
@steph9561
My mom and dad played this at their wedding in 1983. She just passed away. This song always reminds me of her. Hope she’s cruisin’ now!
@ellenschwartz-tn5wi
I hope so too!!!
@karen-ur8nn
Waltzing acrossing Heaven
@dalelerette206
May your mom's memory be blessed in Heaven.❤