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.
Like Nobody Can
Smokey Robinson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Like nobody can, oh, baby
You can make me feel love's power
Like nobody can, oh, baby
Two people love and don't know why
Just because they are wherever they may be
Ooh, baby, ooh, baby
Oh, darlin', and because I'm me
Oh, lean on me 'cause it's only those we love
Who comfort leanin' like nobody can
Life is only life but for me
You give it meaning like nobody can
I mean these things, I mean every word
No sense wastin' breath just sayin' words that may sound good
If there's no substance there, ooh
So I express myself by sayin' what you make me feel
It's comes from deep inside somewhere, oh
It's heavy to discover that your lover can make you sad
Really sad like nobody can
We'll go back and lay down beside you and proceed to
Make you happy and you're happy that somebody can
Somebody can
You do it for me, baby
And you do it for me, baby, ah, yeah, yeah
(Like nobody can)
You take my heart and soul, mind and body
And make me feel good, oh, you make me feel good
(Like nobody can)
The song "Like Nobody Can" by Smokey Robinson is an expression of deep love and appreciation for one's partner who fills their life with amazing moments and brings meaning to their existence. The lyrics talk about how the person is the only one who can make the singer feel the power of love and give life a true meaning. The song suggests that the love between two people can be so strong that it does not require any justification or logical reasoning. The lyrics imply that they are simply in love because of who they are and have found comfort and support in each other. Smokey Robinson uses this song to express the sincerity, depth, and authenticity of his love without wasting any words.
The song opens with the first few lines talking about how the person is able to fill the singer's hour with joy and happiness like no one else can. It then talks about how two people in love may not know why they love each other, but it doesn't matter as long as they are together. The chorus reaffirms how the person makes the singer feel with their love and how they give life true meaning. The second verse talks about how the singer doesn't want to waste his time saying words that sound good but have no substance. Instead, they want to express themselves by saying what the person makes them feel. The song progresses with the singer explaining how even in times of sadness or despair, the person is the one who can bring happiness back into their life like nobody else can.
Line by Line Meaning
Moment to moment, you fill my hour
You bring joy and fulfillment to every moment of my life, like nobody else can.
Like nobody can, oh, baby
No one else can make me feel the love and happiness that you bring me.
You can make me feel love's power
Through your love, you make me experience the most intense and powerful emotions.
Two people love and don't know why
Sometimes, love doesn't have an explanation and two people just fall into it.
Just because they are wherever they may be
Love can happen unexpectedly and anywhere, without any particular reason.
And I love you because you're you
I love you for who you are as a person, with all your flaws and virtues.
Oh, darlin', and because I'm me
And I love you because I am who I am, and you accept me for that.
Oh, lean on me 'cause it's only those we love
When we love someone, we should be there to support and comfort them when they need it.
Who comfort leanin' like nobody can
Because the ones we love have a unique way of comforting us that no one else can replicate.
Life is only life but for me
Without you, life would just be an existence for me.
You give it meaning like nobody can
You bring purpose and significance to my life that no one else can.
I mean these things, I mean every word
I am sincere and truthful about what I say, and I truly mean every word.
No sense wastin' breath just sayin' words that may sound good
There's no point in just saying things that sound nice but don't have any real meaning.
If there's no substance there, ooh
Words that aren't backed up by real feelings and emotions have no real value.
So I express myself by sayin' what you make me feel
I try to express my love for you by telling you how you make me feel inside.
It's comes from deep inside somewhere, oh
These feelings and emotions come from a deep and genuine place within myself.
It's heavy to discover that your lover can make you sad
It's a difficult revelation to realize that the person you love can be the source of your sadness.
Really sad like nobody can
When someone you love hurts you, the pain is deeper and more profound than anything else.
We'll go back and lay down beside you and proceed to
I will be there for you to comfort you and make things right.
Make you happy and you're happy that somebody can
I will do whatever it takes to make you happy, and you're grateful that someone cares for you that much.
You do it for me, baby
You bring me the same happiness and joy that I try to bring you.
And you do it for me, baby, ah, yeah, yeah
Our love and happiness are mutual and shared between us.
(Like nobody can)
Our love and connection is unique and special, and no one can replicate it.
You take my heart and soul, mind and body
Your love encompasses every part of me, both physically and emotionally.
And make me feel good, oh, you make me feel good
Your love brings me immense happiness and makes me feel good about myself.
(Like nobody can)
No one else in the world can make me feel as happy and fulfilled as you do.
Contributed by Anna D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.