Motown’s Right-Hand Man: The Rise and Fade of Smokey Robinson
Smokey Robinson is a singer, songwriter, and producer who began working with Berry Gordy even before Motown was officially founded.
His band, The Miracles, became one of the label’s very first signings.
Throughout the ’60s, Smokey Robinson and The Miracles released a string of hits, including Shop Around, You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me, and The Tears of a Clown.
In addition to his work as a performer, Smokey was a prolific songwriter and producer at Motown. He was responsible for hits such as My Guy, My Girl, and Get Ready. He also wrote songs for Marvin Gaye and played a key role in nurturing the early career of Little Stevie Wonder.
As if that wasn’t enough, Smokey was named Vice President of Motown in 1965.
However, balancing executive duties with a performing career proved difficult, and in 1972, Smokey announced he would retire from singing to focus on being Vice President—and a devoted father.
Just a year later, he returned with a new album. But by then, his protégés Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder had risen to such heights that anything Smokey released was inevitably overshadowed.
The sweet, somewhat innocent sound of the ’60s that Smokey had mastered was no longer in fashion. Popular music had grown more political, more urgent.
What began as “black music for white radio” had matured—and started to rebel.
And the new kings of this evolved sound? Smokey’s own students: Marvin and Stevie.
Smokey Robinson Tunes | Related Pages
Get Ready | Chords + TAB
You can learn how to play Get Ready by The Temptations using chords, lyrics, a chord chart, a backing track, and Spytunes video guitar lessons.
| F5 | Bb | G5 | C |
And I’m bringing you a love that’s true so get ready, so get ready…
Start learning with the full lesson series: Get Ready – Guitar Lessons with TAB.
My Girl | Chords + TAB
You can learn how to play My Girl by The Temptations using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, and the original recording.
| C | F | C | F |
I’ve got sunshine on a cloudy day…
Check out the full TAB lesson here: My Girl (The Temptations) Guitar Lesson with TAB.
My Guy | Chords + TAB
You can learn how to play My Guy by Mary Wells using chords, lyrics, a chord chart, a backing track, and Spytunes video guitar lessons.
| Bb Bb6 | Bb Bb6 | Bb Bb6 | Bb Bb6 |
Nothing you could say could tear me away from my guy…
Start learning with the full lesson series: My Guy – Guitar Lessons with TAB.
Smokey Robinson on the web
