Smokey Robinson Age: Know His Height, Wife, and Net Worth
When it comes to R&B music, Smokey Robinson is up there with the best of them. Among the all-time great R&B songwriters, he ranks high. He has maintained his relevance in the music industry for nearly half a century, thanks to his talent and determination. American R&B music considers him a legend.
Both as a member of a band and as a solo performer, he has already received inductions into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. He had been a part of the vocal maestros that the world knew as a miracle for quite some time, and he was widely believed to have been their rock. After quitting a world-renowned ensemble, he became one of those music superstars who found success as a solo songwriter. The legendary Smokey Robinson is the one we’re referring to here.
What is Smokey Robinson’s Age?
The 19th of February 1940 was the birthdate of William “Smokey” Robinson Jr. in Detroit, Michigan. Williams was given the moniker “Smokey” by his uncle Claude while growing up in a low-income family in Detroit’s North End. At one point, Claude brought William to a cowboy movie and gave him a “cowboy name,” “Smokey Joe.” After that, young William began going by the nickname “Smokey Joe” whenever he met new people. He eventually stopped using “Joe” and started going by “Smokey.”
Career
The Matadors rebranded as the Miracles after a busy touring career in the late 1950s. With the help of songwriter Berry Gordy, whom Robinson met in 1957, the Miracles were able to record their debut single, “Got a Job.” After the popularity of this first single, Robinson decided to drop out of college, where he was studying electrical engineering.
The following year, Gordy established Motown Records, whose parent company was Tamla Records. The Miracles’ 1960 single “Shop Around” became a smash hit, selling over a million copies, after signing a record deal with this label. Countless singles were released in the ensuing decade. Among them were “You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me,” “Mickey’s Monkey,” “I Second That Emotion,” “Baby Baby Don’t Cry,” together with “The Tears of a Clown.” At this time, Robinson served as the group’s primary vocalist, composer, and producer. Since this was the case, in 1965 the Miracles rebranded themselves as Smokey Robinson & the Miracles.
In addition to his work with the Miracles, Smokey was a prolific songwriter for other Motown Records artists. In addition, he was the producer of several songs. The Temptations, Marvin Gaye, and the Marvelettes were among the artists who collaborated with Robinson. At the same time that more performers began penning their own original songs, a new group of songwriters joined Motown, and this practice ceased.
In 1969, Smokey made it clear that he wanted to call it quits. Robinson wished he could spend more time with his loved ones after the strain of constant touring. The following year, they had a smash with “Tears of a Clown.” Ultimately, Robinson decided to sever company with the Miracles in 1972, but this persuaded him to remain with the group for a couple more years.
Robinson only took a year off before embarking on a solo career in 1973, despite rumors that he was about to quit entirely from music. In the same year, he dropped his first solo effort, “Smokey.” “Pure Smokey” was released in 1974 as a follow-up. Robinson was not very successful despite the high quality of his albums’ music. The fact that he was up against well-known solo performers like Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye was a major factor in this.
Finally, in 1975, Smokey Robinson achieved solo success. Hits like “Baby That’s Backatcha” and “Quiet Storm” were included in his album “A Quiet Storm.” His responsibilities as vice president of Motown took center stage after this. As a result, Smokey wasn’t able to devote himself entirely to his subsequent solo recordings, and they were under-marketed.
“Cruisin,” Smokey’s 1979 comeback single, peaked at number ten on the charts. Among Robinson’s many successful singles is 1981’s “Being with You.” His 1987 album “One Heartbeat” had more top-ten singles including “Just to See Her” and “One Heartbeat,” which helped him gain even greater popularity. Smokey resigned as VP and began devoting himself fully to his solo career after RCA acquired Motown in 1988. He released a slew of songs and albums during the following decades, and he kept working with other musicians.
Smokey Robinson’s Personal Life
One of the Miracles, Claudette Rogers, was Robinson’s first wife. A third child was born to Robinson by a different lady after she had two children with Rogers. The marriage ended in 1986 as a consequence of this. Frances Gladney was Smokey’s spouse in 2002.
Smokey Robinson Height and Weight
He weighs 82 kg and stands at a height of 5 feet, 10.5 inches.
Smokey Robinson’s Net Worth
An estimated $160 million will be Smokey Robinson’s net worth in the year 2024. That kind of wealth is a result of Smokey Robinson’s success in the music business.