William 'Smokey' Robinson

Jet, Feb 23, 1998

William "Smokey" Robinson, singer, songwriter and producer was born in Detroit, MI, on this day. While he attended Northern High School in Detroit, Robinson formed a group called the Matadors, which evolved into the famed Miracles, with Ronnie White, Pete Moore and Bobby Rogers. In January of 1961 the Miracles' recording of Shop Around became the first Motown single to hit No.

1 on the R&B charts. Over the next decade Smokey Robinson and the Miracles placed more than three dozen singles on the national record charts. Among the group's biggest hits were Ooh Baby Baby, The Trucks of My Tears and I Second That Emotion. Robinson also wrote many songs for other Motown artists. In January 1972 Robinson left the group to become a solo performer.