william “smokey” robinson b. 1940 inducted in 1987 singer, songwriter, producer, and music...
DESCRIPTION
1959: Berry Gordy, Jr. founds Motown in Detroit with an $800 loan from his family 1959: Berry Gordy, Jr. founds Motown in Detroit with an $800 loan from his family 1961: Motown’s first #1 hit is “Please Mr. Postman” by the Marvelettes 1961: Motown’s first #1 hit is “Please Mr. Postman” by the Marvelettes 1988: Gordy sells Motown Records to MCA 1988: Gordy sells Motown Records to MCA 1960: Motown’s first #1 R&B single is the Miracles’ “Shop Around” 1960: Motown’s first #1 R&B single is the Miracles’ “Shop Around” 1972: Motown leaves the Hitsville U.S.A. studio in Detroit for Los Angeles 1972: Motown leaves the Hitsville U.S.A. studio in Detroit for Los Angeles 1964: Gordy hires Maxine Powell to run an in-house finishing school and Cholly Atkins as choreographer 1964: Gordy hires Maxine Powell to run an in-house finishing school and Cholly Atkins as choreographer Motown RecordsTRANSCRIPT
William “Smokey” Robinson
b. 1940Inducted in 1987
• Singer, songwriter, producer, and music executive• Raised in Detroit, Michigan• Lead singer of the Miracles• Joins Motown Records from its founding in 1959 and later becomes a vice president• Becomes a solo artist in the 1970s
The MiraclesInducted 2012
• Vocal group formed in the 1950s in Detroit• Smokey Robinson was the group’s lead singer until 1972; the group became known as “Smokey Robinson and the Miracles” in 1967• Inducted members: Warren “Pete” Moore, Bobby Rogers, Claudette Rogers, Ronnie White, and Marv Tarplin (guitar)• The first group signed to Motown Records
1959:Berry Gordy, Jr. founds Motown in Detroit with an $800 loan from his family
1961:Motown’s first #1 hit is “Please Mr. Postman”
by the Marvelettes
1988:Gordy sells Motown
Records to MCA
1960:Motown’s first #1 R&B single is the Miracles’
“Shop Around”
1972: Motown leaves the
Hitsville U.S.A. studio in Detroit for Los Angeles
1964: Gordy hires Maxine Powell to run an in-house finishing school and Cholly Atkins as choreographer
Motown Records