Accessibility links
Smokey Robinson Smokey Robinson artist page: interviews, features and/or performances archived at NPR Music

Smokey Robinson

Smokey Robinson

Smokey Robinson at the Max Fun offices. Jesus Ambrosio/Maximum Fun hide caption

toggle caption
Jesus Ambrosio/Maximum Fun

Bullseye with Jesse Thorn

Smokey Robinson

There's no other way to put it, Smokey Robinson is a legend. The Motown great and former frontman of The Miracles is responsible for some of the greatest pop hits of the 20th century – "You've really got ahold of me," "Tears of a clown," "I Second That Emotion," "Crusin'" and many others. In 1960, The Miracles released "Shop Around." The song became a huge success. It became Motown's first million-selling hit record. Robinson eventually became Motown Records vice president and helped turn the label into a household name. Smokey Robinson is now 83. He's still recording. He is still writing. Earlier this year, he released Gasms. We'll talk with the Motown legend about his time with The Miracles, his solo career, his songwriting process and his brand new erotic concept album.

Smokey Robinson

Listen · 1:00:49
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1191184423/1200387465" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
New Music Friday: The best releases out on April 28

Labrinth's new album, Ends & Begins, is on our shortlist of the best releases out on April 28. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

toggle caption
Courtesy of the artist

All Songs Considered

New Music Friday: The best releases out on April 28

The singer and rapper Labrinth, beloved for his score to the HBO show Euphoria, drops his latest album this week, along with new ones from Jessie Ware, Smokey Robinson, Joy Oladokun and more.

New Music Friday: The best releases out on April 28

Listen · 32:52
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1172559476/1203301929" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Heavy Rotation: 10 Songs Public Radio Can't Stop Playing

Anderson .Paak & The Free Nationals perform at 2019 Coachella Valley Music And Arts Festival on April 19, 2019. .Paak's single "Make Me Better" featuring Smokey Robinson is featured on this month's Heavy Rotation. Kevin Winter/Getty Images for Coachella hide caption

toggle caption
Kevin Winter/Getty Images for Coachella

World Cafe

Heavy Rotation: 10 Songs Public Radio Can't Stop Playing

On this month's Heavy Rotation, hear the latest songs from Ari Lennox, Anderson .Paak, Ben Kweller, Y La Bamba and more.

Smokey Robinson Sings The Hits, With A Few Good Friends

Smokey Robinson's new album of duets, Smokey & Friends, is out Aug. 19. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

toggle caption
Courtesy of the artist

Music Interviews

Smokey Robinson Sings The Hits, With A Few Good Friends

The singer's career has spanned decades, but his style has remained sweet and loving. Hear Robinson discuss his latest album, a collection of star-studded duets, with NPR's Linda Wertheimer.

Smokey Robinson Sings The Hits, With A Few Good Friends

Listen · 9:55
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/340397170/341083664" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Smokey Robinson: 'Every Night Those Songs Are New'

Smokey Robinson Courtesy of the artist hide caption

toggle caption
Courtesy of the artist

All Songs Considered

Smokey Robinson: 'Every Night Those Songs Are New'

On this edition of All Songs Considered, the R&B singer shares some of the songs and events that shaped his career, along with cuts from his new album of duets, Smokey & Friends.

Smokey Robinson: 'Every Night Those Songs Are New'

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/339592570/339630057" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
A White House Concert With Bob Dylan, Jennifer Hudson And More

Concerts

A White House Concert With Bob Dylan, Jennifer Hudson And More

President Obama and the First Lady hosted a concert for Black History Month, featuring performances by Bob Dylan, Natalie Cole, Jennifer Hudson, Joan Baez, Smokey Robinson and more.

A White House Concert With Bob Dylan, Jennifer Hudson And More

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/123512342/123666797" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Recent Highlights From 'Song Of The Day'
Nick Spanos

Review

New Music

Recent Highlights From 'Song Of The Day'

NPR Music's Song of the Day features a new track every weekday, with analysis of the music, links to each artist's Web site and, of course, a chance to hear the song itself. Here, Song of the Day editor Stephen Thompson talks about recent selections by Laurent Korcia, Tim Buckley and Smokey Robinson.

Recent Highlights From 'Song Of The Day'

Listen · 5:07
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/113890839/113904915" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Smokey Robinson Takes Us Back
Nick Spanos

Review

Song Of The Day

Smokey Robinson Takes Us Back

The 12th and final cut on Smokey Robinson's new album, Time Flies When You're Having Fun, isn't even mentioned on the CD jacket. Why the secrecy? The song is Robinson's take on The Jackson 5's first hit, "I Want You Back"; he recorded it a year ago but decided not to list its title, so he wouldn't seem to be capitalizing on the death of the man he calls his "little brother."

Smokey Robinson

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/113539571/113540286" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Music News

Music Archived for Eternity

The Library of Congress is known for its collection of the written word, but it also has a mandate to preserve the country's most culturally significant audio recordings. Sociology professor and cultural critic Oliver Wang reviews some of the library's key musical acquisitions from the past year.

Music Archived for Eternity

Listen
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/90782157/90782147" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Music Interviews

Smokey Robinson's 'Timeless Love'

Fresh Air

On his new album, Timeless Love, rhythm and blues legend Smokey Robinson sings hits from the American songbook, including "I Can't Give You Anything But Love (Baby)," "Night and Day" and "More Than You Know." Robinson William "Smokey" Robinson recorded dozens of top 40 hits for the Motown label as a solo artist and with The Miracles.

Smokey Robinson's 'Timeless Love'

Due to copyright restrictions, the audio for this segment is not being made available online.
'My Girl'

Paul Williams, Eddie Kendricks, and David Ruffin of the Temptations, in 1965. Hulton Archive/Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Music

'My Girl'

Smokey Robinson wrote "My Girl," recorded in 1964 by The Temptations, for Temptation David Ruffin to sing, knowing he'd be launching a new star.

'My Girl'

Listen · 10:25
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1074993/18997408" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Browse archive or search npr.org