Smokey Robinson parents: Meet Flossie Robinson, William Robinson

William “Smokey” Robinson Jr., an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and former executive director of records, was born on February 19, 1940.

He founded and served as the lead singer for the Motown singing group the Miracles, for which he also served as the group’s primary songwriter and producer.

From the time the group was founded in 1955 as “the Five Chimes” until 1972 when he announced his departure from the band to concentrate on his duties as Motown’s vice president, he served as its leader. The following year, though, Robinson made a solo comeback in the music business. In 1990, Robinson left Motown Records after the business was sold two years earlier.

Smokey was honored with a star on The Hollywood Walk of Fame on February 22, 1983. Robinson was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame four years later, in 1987. Robinson’s single “Just to See Her” from the One Heartbeat album won the Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance in 1988. This was Robinson’s first Grammy nomination. In 1989, he was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Robinson was awarded the National Medal of Arts in 1993. He had previously won the Heritage Award at the Soul Train Music Awards two years prior. Robinson was inducted into the Michigan Rock and Roll Legends Hall of Fame in 2005. Howard University awarded Robinson the degree of Doctor of Music, honoris causa at its 138th Commencement Convocation in May 2006. Robinson was one of five Kennedy Center honorees in December 2006, along with Dolly Parton, Zubin Mehta, Steven Spielberg, and Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Smokey Robinson’s parents: Meet Flossie Robinson, William Robinson

Smokey Robinson was the son of Flossie Robinson and William Robinson.

William Robinson Jr. was born into a poor family in Detroit’s North End to an African-American father and a mother of African-American and French descent. Robinson has Nigerian, Scandinavian, Portuguese, and Cherokee ancestors. His uncle Claude gave him the nickname “Smokey Joe” as a child.

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