He turns 83 next month, is a member of two Halls of Fame, and thousands of songs to his name; BUT Smokey Robinson isn’t ready to sit back in the rocking chair yet.
Elvis Presley may be the King of Rock and Roll but Smokey Robinson is the King of Motown and he is about to release a new solo album. On April 28, Smokey will release “Gasms”; nine years after the release of “Smokey & Friends” – an album that included Sir Elton John, Mary J Blige, John Legend, and Steven Tyler.
“Gasms” features nine new original tunes all written and produced by Smokey. The first single “If We Don’t Have Each Other” is currently available via streaming.
Smokey Robinson began recording in the 1950’s as a part of the group The Miracles. Over the years he has worked with or wirrte songs for numerous Motown artists including The Temptations, Mary Wells, Brenda Holloway, and Marvin Gaye.
Robinson, as vice-president at Motown, and the label’s creator Berry Gordie will be honoured next month as a part of Grammy week as the 2023 MusiCares Person(s) of the Year.
Along with penning over 4,000 songs, Smokey is a member of the Rock and Roll and Songwriters Hall of Fame, a Kennedy Center Honor, has a National Endowment of the Arts, and is a Grammy Award winner.
Feature photo credit: Smokey Robinson 2.jpg – Smokey Robinson in concert at the Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez, California, on August 17, 2006.