Get ready for an unforgettable evening with legendary singer and songwriter Smokey Robinson.
Robinson, known affectionately as “The King of Motown,” will offer a special performance at the Madame Walker Theatre Centre on Saturday, Nov. 8.
Robinson’s performance will begin at 7:30 p.m. following a silent auction at 5 p.m. The Madam Walker Hall of Fame Induction Gala, which starts at 6 p.m., will celebrate the lifetime service of five prominent Indianapolis women.
The honorees include Beverly Benjamin, first lady of Light of the World Christian Church; pioneering journalist Barbara Boyd; Alecia Decoudreaux, vice president and general counsel at Eli Lilly and Co.; Catherine Ross, retired, chief operating officer of Edward Ross, M.D. Inc; and A’Lelia Bundles, former ABC News executive and great-granddaughter of legendary entrepreneur Madame C.J. Walker.
The hall of fame ceremony will take place at 6 p.m. after an hour-long silent auction. Robinson’s concert will be used as a spectacular ending to an evening of celebrations.
“This concert’s been a long time coming,” said an excited Cynthia Bates president of the Madame Walker Theatre Centre, “The music industry has a host of artists, but there are not many of Smokey Robinson’s caliber. We’re honoring five legendary women, so we wanted to have a living legend joins us for the evening.”
Robinson has enjoyed a recording career that has taken him to some of the greatest heights in the music industry, from the Grammy Awards to the Kennedy Center Honors.
That journey began in Detroit in 1957 when Robinson and a few high school friends formed a group called the Miracles, met a local songwriter named Berry Gordy. Robinson, the lead singer of the Miracles, encouraged Gordy to establish his own record label, and the legendary Motown Records was born. The Miracles was one of the first artists signed to Motown, and their 1960 song “Shop Around” became the label’s first No. 1 hit.
With their flawless harmony and smooth choreography, the Miracles became one of the most popular groups in the world, thanks to a succession of classics such as “You’ve Really Got a Hold On Me” (1962), “Ooo Baby Baby” (1965), “The Tracks of My Tears” (1965), “I Second That Emotion” (1967) and “Tears of a Clown” (1970).
Robinson left the Miracles in 1972 to spend more time with his family and concentrate on his role as vice president of Motown Records, a position he held until the company was sold in 1988.
At the same time, however, he built a highly successful following as a solo artist, thanks to trend setting romantic favorites like “Quiet Storm” (1976), “Cruisin’” (1979), “Being With You” (1981), “Ebony Eyes” (with Rick James), 1987’s “One Heartbeat” and “Just to See Her.”
In a recent interview Robinson contributed the longevity of his career to the fact that he enjoys his craft and has taken good care of his voice.
“I love what I do. I’m very blessed,” Robinson said. “Young singers often ask me what I do when my voice gets hoarse and stuff like that, which seldom happens. Some people say you should drink tea or take lemon for your voice and all that. But that stuff doesn’t do anything. You have to be conscious of the fact that you got a job where it’s grueling, and really take care of yourself in a holistic sense.”
Robinson added that he is humbled and honored by the success he has experienced.
“God gives everybody a gift, and fortunately this is my gift,” he stated. “And it’s easy for me. It’s not a laborious kind of thing. Even when it is, it is a labor of love.”
With more than 4,000 published songs to his credit, Robinson is also one of America’s most popular songwriters. He has been the writer of timeless Motown hits such as “Don’t Mess With Bill” by the Marvelettes, “My Guy” by Mary Wells, Marvin Gaye’s “Ain’t That Peculiar,” and the Temptations’ “My Girl” and “Since I Lost My Baby.”
More recently, Robinson has released the albums “Food for the Spirit” (2004) and “Timeless Love” (2006), neither of which had hit singles but received positive reviews from music critics.
Since last year Robinson has performed at the Grammy Awards with Lionel Richie and Chris Brown, appeared on the FOX reality show “American Idol,” toured Australia and appeared at the Apollo for a television special with British songwriter Elvis Costello.
Robinson has been able to appeal to young and old fans alike, thanks to his devotion to quality music, his relatively youthful appearance and the fact that he keeps up with the latest sounds.
“I listen to everybody, man. I have everybody on my iPod,” he said. “Nelly, Alicia Keys, Maxwell, Beyonce, everybody. I’m not going to try to be like them, but I want to know the quality of music they’re making so I can keep my quality up.”