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.
Open
Smokey Robinson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My love for you is open
My love for you is open to
Whatever you wanna do
My hearts door is open
No more positive feeling
All the signs of passion
Their welcome hand is out for you
To come on inside
Open
You don't have to knock to come in
[Incomprehensible] the key
My golden arms are open
To embrace your body
With all the holdin' two arms can give
Pull all this with me
Want you to know that
Just tellin' you
That is the key
Too much been locked up inside of me
Open
Open
My mind is always open
Suggestions that you're ready to make
I'm ready to take
Open
My love for you is open
And all the stops, when I become yours
If you make it so
There ain't no stoppin' you
Love is the key
Return as my lover
It's all I ever will be
You gotta be open
Well, everything is open
Everything that I wanna do
Is to [Incomprehensible] on you
Open
Open
Open
Open
Open
In "Open," Smokey Robinson sings about how his love for his partner is unconditional and open to anything they want to do. He suggests that his mind, heart, and body are ready and available for their partner's love to come in without knocking. Robinson describes his love as a welcome hand that invites his partner to just "come on inside." His heart and mind are open and ready to hear any suggestions for their love life. Robinson then encourages his partner to reciprocate his love and to return as his lover. He emphasizes that love is the key to their relationship, and that he's willing to do whatever it takes to maintain it.
Overall, the song "Open" is about a love that's open, honest, and willing to make sacrifices for the other person. It's about having no reservations when it comes to love, allowing oneself to be vulnerable, and giving all of oneself to the other person. Robinson's smooth voice and the song's soulful beat make listeners feel the intensity of his love and the openness he has for his partner.
Line by Line Meaning
Open
The singer is expressing openness and readiness in various aspects of their life.
My love for you is open
The singer says they love the addressee deeply and openly.
My love for you is open to
The singer is stating that the love they feel is uninhibited and completely available to the addressee.
Whatever you wanna do
The artist is giving the addressee complete freedom to act as they please.
My hearts door is open
The artist's heart is ready and waiting to receive the addressee.
No more positive feeling
The singer is not just experiencing positive feelings, but displays a deep willingness to communicate and act on the love they feel.
All the signs of passion
The singer expresses that they possess all the typical signs of passionate love-their feelings are genuine and strong.
And warm desire
Their passion and affection are strong and ever-present.
Their welcome hand is out for you
The artist is actively inviting the addressee to join them.
To come on inside
The artist is conveying an enthusiastic invite to the addressee to fully immerse themselves into their love.
You don't have to knock to come in
The singer conveys a welcoming message, stating that the door is always open and there are no barriers to their love.
The key
The artist hints at the solution to their problems or indicates that love is the natural solution to their issues.
My golden arms are open
The singer is willing to embrace the addressee with all their strength and power.
To embrace your body
The singer is expressing their strong desire to be physically intimate with the addressee.
With all the holdin' two arms can give
The singer is sending a message that they are willing to embrace everything the addressee has to offer with loving arms.
Pull all this with me
The artist is calling on the addressee to take an active role in this loving relationship.
Want you to know that
The artist is sharing their thoughts and emotions openly with the addressee.
Just tellin' you
The singer reiterates that they are being honest and straightforward with the addressee.
Too much been locked up inside of me
The singer conveys the idea that they have been holding back or concealing their emotions and they now want to let it all out.
My mind is always open
The artist expresses that they are willing to explore uncharted territories in their relationship.
Suggestions that you're ready to make
The artist is open to hearing the addressee's suggestions on how to build and strengthen the relationship.
I'm ready to take
The artist is saying that they are prepared to take any suggestions seriously and to work on them in the interest of strengthening their relationship.
And all the stops, when I become yours
The singer is ready to make sacrifices and do whatever it takes to ensure the success of their relationship with the addressee.
If you make it so
The artist is placing the responsibility of accepting and being open to love on the addressee, thereby shifting some of the responsibility.
There ain't no stoppin' you
The singer is confident in the addressee's willingness to explore and embrace the depths of their love.
Love is the key
The singer is asserting that love is essential and at the heart of every healthy relationship.
Return as my lover
The singer is seeking to rekindle their romance with the addressee.
It's all I ever will be
The artist is ready and willing to devote themselves entirely to the addressee and their relationship.
You gotta be open
The artist is urging the addressee to follow their lead and remain open in their relationship.
Well, everything is open
The singer is declaring that nothing is off-limits and everything is open for discussion in their relationship.
Everything that I wanna do
The singer is sharing their personal desires and goals with the addressee, indicating that they are willing to compromise and work together to reach their goals.
Is to [Incomprehensible] on you
The artist is putting their relationship first, indicating that their love for the addressee is the primary focus of their life.
Open
The artist repeats their opening message, reiterating their readiness and willingness to embrace love and all its possibilities.
Open
The artist repeats their opening message once more to drive home the message of openness and complete availability.
Open
The singer repeats their opening words one final time, offering themselves completely to the addressee and their love.
Contributed by Eliana A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.