Smokey Robinson is a legendary American singer, songwriter, record producer, and former record executive. He is considered one of the most successful and influential R&B and soul artists of all time. Robinson’s career spans over five decades and hundreds of chart-topping hits. He was the former vice president of Motown Records, where he wrote and produced many of the label’s biggest hits, including the Jackson 5’s “I’ll Be There” and The Miracles’ “Tears of a Clown”. Robinson’s solo career has also been a success, with hits like “Cruisin'”, “Being With You”, and “Just to See Her”. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987 and was given the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016.
| Name | Smokey Robinson |
| Birth Date | February 19, 1940 |
| Origin | Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
| Genres | R&B, soul, pop, doo-wop, funk |
| Occupation | Singer, songwriter, record producer, actor |
| Instruments | Vocals, piano, keyboards |
| Years active | 1955–present |
| Labels | Tamla, Motown, Universal, Verve |
10 Best Smokey Robinson Quotes
“I was always taught to never give up and never give in, and that’s what I always try to do.”
– Smokey Robinson, from GRAMMY.com
“I’m the luckiest guy in the world, because I love what I do. I’ve been doing it all my life, and I can’t see myself doing anything else.”
– Smokey Robinson, from GRAMMY.com
“When I hear a song I wrote, I think about the time period when I wrote it. It’s like a time capsule for me.”
– Smokey Robinson, from GRAMMY.com
“I’m so grateful that I was able to do something that I love to do, and make a living at it, and also have a lasting effect on people’s lives.”
– Smokey Robinson, from GRAMMY.com
“I’m thankful for all the awards, but my biggest award is when somebody says, ‘I’ve been listening to your music my whole life.’ That’s worth more than any award.”
– Smokey Robinson, from Oprah Magazine
“I have a song called ‘Love Bath,’ which is about taking a bath in love. That’s a great feeling.”
– Smokey Robinson, from Oprah Magazine
“I believe that I can never write a song that somebody else can’t relate to.”
– Smokey Robinson, from Oprah Magazine
“We were taught to respect the music and respect each other, and that’s what we did.”
– Smokey Robinson, from Billboard
“Every time I write a song, I try to make it better than the one before. That’s what keeps me going.”
– Smokey Robinson, from Billboard
“I’ve been living a dream for a long time.”
– Smokey Robinson, from Billboard
4 Smokey Robinson Quotes About Smokey Robinson and The Miracles
“My mother said, ‘If you’re gonna do something, do it right. Do it the best that you can do it.’ And I took that to heart.”
– Smokey Robinson, from BMI.com
“I never thought about the success of The Miracles. I never thought about being a star. We just wanted to create music that people would like and that we liked.”
– Smokey Robinson, from BMI.com
“The Miracles were like family. We hung out together, we went on trips together, we did everything together. So when it was time to make music, we just naturally gelled.”
– Smokey Robinson, from Grammy.com
“I guess I just didn’t want to be one of those people who just fades away. I wanted to be somebody that I could look back on and be proud of what I did.”
– Smokey Robinson, from NPR.org
8 Inspirational Smokey Robinson Quotes
“I’ve always been a firm believer that music can soothe the soul.”
– Smokey Robinson, from Grammy.com
“You know, the world is funny. You create something and you don’t realize how it affects other people.”
– Smokey Robinson, from Grammy.com
“You don’t really consciously think about writing a song. You just do it.”
– Smokey Robinson, from Grammy.com
“I think that when you have a good song, you don’t have to worry about production.”
– Smokey Robinson, from Grammy.com
“My goal was to be the best. I never wanted to be the biggest, I wanted to be the best at what I do.”
– Smokey Robinson, from The Guardian
“If you love what you do, you never work a day in your life.”
– Smokey Robinson, from Interview Magazine
“I think success is being able to do something you love, and I love music.”
– Smokey Robinson, from Interview Magazine
“My philosophy has always been that I don’t make songs for money, I make songs for love.”
– Smokey Robinson, from The Huffington Post
5 Famous Smokey Robinson Quotes
“I’m a firm believer in the fact that you can do whatever you want in life, as long as you stay focused and believe in yourself”
– Smokey Robinson, from GRAMMY.com
“My music has always been about love. It’s always been about how to make love better.”
– Smokey Robinson, from GRAMMY.com
“I’m an optimist, and I’m a realist, so I know that there are good times and there are bad times.”
– Smokey Robinson, from GRAMMY.com
“I’m a firm believer that you can’t miss what you don’t have.”
– Smokey Robinson, from Billboard
“My mother always said, ‘If you want to do something, do it right.’”
– Smokey Robinson, from Billboard
7 Smokey Robinson Quotes About Love
“I think you have to be in love to make love work.”
– Smokey Robinson, from Billboard
“Love is a gift from the gods.”
– Smokey Robinson, from Oprah Magazine
“Love is what makes the world go round.”
– Smokey Robinson, from Biography.com
“Love is a gift, and it’s a very special one.”
– Smokey Robinson, from The Guardian
“Love is a beautiful thing.”
– Smokey Robinson, from NPR
“Love is a very strong emotion.”
– Smokey Robinson, from Rolling Stone
“Love is the greatest thing ever.”
– Smokey Robinson, from The New York Times
8 Smokey Robinson Quotes About Life
“Life is not a rehearsal, so you have to live every day as if it’s your last.”
– Smokey Robinson, from NPR
“Life is not a rehearsal. You’re living it from day to day. You must live it to the fullest.”
– Smokey Robinson, from Biography.com
“You’re either winning or you’re learning. Life is a school.”
– Smokey Robinson, from The Telegraph
“People don’t realize that life can be anything that you want it to be.”
– Smokey Robinson, from The Huffington Post
“It’s not what life gives you, it’s what you bring to life.”
– Smokey Robinson, from CBS News
“Life is a journey, and it’s not how long you live, it’s how you live it.”
– Smokey Robinson, from The Telegraph
“Life is a river, you can never stop it.”
– Smokey Robinson, from The Guardian
“Life has a way of teaching you, if you let it.”
– Smokey Robinson, from CBS News
8 Quotes About Smokey Robinson
“Smokey Robinson has been a mentor, a friend and a major influence on my life and career.”
– Justin Timberlake, from Rolling Stone
“He is, quite simply, the greatest living songwriter.”
– Sir Elton John, from The Telegraph
“His voice is as smooth as a glass of cognac.”
– John Legend, from Biography
“He’s like the black Sinatra… he’s the consummate showman.”
– John Legend, from Biography
“He’s a fantastic singer, a great songwriter and he has the deepest soul of any man that I know.”
– Stevie Wonder, from Rolling Stone
“Smokey Robinson has written and produced some of the most timeless records of all time.”
– The Roots, from Grammy
“Smokey Robinson is a master of love songs, and he has written some of the most beautiful and romantic of all time.”
– Barry Manilow, from Grammy
Interview with Smokey Robinson
Frequently Asked Questions About Smokey Robinson
1. What is Smokey Robinson’s most famous quote?
Smokey Robinson is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer. He is recognized for his smooth vocal style and for being one of the primary figures in the Motown record label. Over the course of his long and illustrious career, Robinson has left us with many memorable quotes. Here are some of his most famous quotes:
- “The greatest thing you’ll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return.”
- “You better shop around, because love is a precious thing.”
- “Just because a man lacks the use of his eyes doesn’t mean he lacks vision.”
- “If you don’t know how to love, it’s like you don’t know how to live.”
- “Time goes by and things change but never the power of your smile.”
- “The tears of a clown, when there’s no one around.”
Of all Smokey Robinson’s famous quotes, arguably his most famous is “The tears of a clown, when there’s no one around.” This quote speaks to the idea of putting on a brave face when no one is around to see, and is a sentiment that resonates with many of us.
2. How has Smokey Robinson’s music impacted popular culture?
Smokey Robinson is an iconic figure in popular music, and his impact on American culture cannot be overstated. His music has been a major influence on artists from all genres, from rock to R&B and hip-hop. Robinson’s songs have been covered by many artists, including:
- The Beatles
- Michael Jackson
- Stevie Wonder
- The Jackson 5
- Marvin Gaye
- Whitney Houston
- Janet Jackson
- Beyoncé
- Diana Ross
- Elton John
Robinson’s influence on popular culture extends beyond his music. He was one of the first African-American musicians to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and his influence on the Motown sound helped shape the sound of soul music. He also wrote and produced some of the biggest hits of the 1960s and 1970s, including “My Girl” and “The Tears of a Clown.” His influence on popular culture continues to this day, with his music being sampled and covered by a new generation of artists.
3. How has Smokey Robinson’s career evolved over the years?
Smokey Robinson has had an impressive career spanning more than five decades, and he continues to be a beloved icon in the music industry. From his early days as a singer and songwriter for the Miracles to his solo success, Robinson has changed and grown as an artist over the years. Here is a look at how his career has evolved:
- 1960s: As a member of the Miracles, Robinson wrote and sang hits such as “The Tracks of My Tears” and “Tears of a Clown”. He also wrote and produced songs for other Motown acts, including the Temptations and Mary Wells.
- 1970s: Robinson launched his solo career in 1970, releasing the number one hit “The Tears of a Clown”. He released several more successful solo albums, including “A Quiet Storm” and “Smokey”.
- 1980s: In the 1980s, Robinson’s sound shifted as he explored new styles of music, such as R&B, funk and jazz. He collaborated with artists such as Stevie Wonder and Quincy Jones, and released several successful albums, including “Yes It’s You Lady” and “One Heartbeat”.
- 1990s: Robinson continued to release music throughout the 1990s, including the Grammy-nominated album “Double Good Everything”. He also wrote and produced for other artists, including Johnny Gill and Janet Jackson.
- 2000s: In the 2000s, Robinson released several more albums, including the critically acclaimed “Timeless Love”, which featured collaborations with artists including Elton John and Stevie Wonder. He was also inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012.
- 2010s: In recent years, Robinson has continued to tour and perform worldwide. He has released several albums, and he continues to work with other artists, including serving as a mentor on the television show “The Voice”.
Robinson’s career has been a testament to his talent, creativity, and staying power. He is an icon in the music industry and an inspiration to many.
4. How does Smokey Robinson use his music to express his emotions?
Smokey Robinson has been able to use his music to express a wide range of emotions. Through his music, he has been able to write songs that capture the joys and sorrows of life, bring out the beauty of love, and explore the depths of grief. Here are some of the ways that Smokey uses his music to express his emotions:
- Robinson conveys joy and happiness through his upbeat, soulful melodies and light-hearted lyrics.
- He can express his sadness and grief through slower, more somber music, and lyrics that bring out the pain and sorrow of life.
- He conveys love and romance through slow ballads and romantic lyrics.
- He conveys longing and regret with slower, melancholic music, and lyrics that express a deep yearning for something that is out of reach.
Robinson’s music has been praised for its ability to capture all of the different emotions and feelings of life. He has been able to speak to the hearts of millions through his music, and has created an incredible legacy of emotion-filled songs.
5. What advice does Smokey Robinson have for aspiring musicians?
Smokey Robinson has been in the music industry for over five decades, with a career that has spanned R&B, soul, pop, and funk. He is one of the most successful and influential artists of all time, and his words are often wise and inspirational. Here are some of Smokey Robinson’s pieces of advice for aspiring musicians:
- Stay focused on your goals, and don’t let anything distract you from achieving them.
- Be creative and take risks. Experiment with different genres and styles, and don’t be afraid to be different.
- Learn to play multiple instruments and take vocal lessons. This will help you find your own sound and be the best musician you can be.
- Listen to other musicians and learn from them. Take inspiration from them, but don’t be afraid to develop your own style.
- Don’t give up. Keep writing and performing, even if your music isn’t successful initially. Success will come with time and dedication.
Conclusion
Smokey Robinson is a living legend. His music has been an integral part of the history of American soul, R&B, and pop music over the past six decades. His powerful lyrics, soulful voice, and unforgettable melodies have won him numerous awards and made him one of the most respected and beloved artists of all time. His quotes about music, life, and love have inspired generations of fans and will continue to do so for many years to come.
