Smokey Robinson and the Miracles were an American rhythm and blues vocal group that was the first successful recording act for Berry Gordy’s Motown Records….and one of the most important and influential groups in pop, rock and roll, and R&B music history….as the group was formed in 1955 by Smokey Robinson, Warren “Pete” Moore, and Ronnie White….who started off as the Five Chimes….who then changed their name to the Matadors two years later. The group then settled on the Miracles after the inclusion of Claudette Robinson in 1958. The most notable Miracles line-up included the Robinsons (Smokey and Claudette), Moore, White, Bobby Rogers and Marv Tarplin.
After a failed audition with Brunswick Records….the group began working with songwriter Berry Gordy….who helped to produce their first records for the End and Chess labels before establishing Tamla Records in 1959…who signed Smokey Robinson and The Miracles as its first act. The group eventually scored the label’s first million-selling hit record with the 1960 Grammy Hall of Fame smash “Shop Around”….as seen performed in this video herewith….and further established themselves as one of Motown’s top acts with the hit singles “You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me”, “What’s So Good About Goodbye”, “Way Over There”, “I’ll Try Something New”, “Mickey’s Monkey”, “Going to a Go-Go”, “(Come ‘Round Here) I’m the One You Need”, “Just A Mirage”, “If You Can Want”, “More Love”, “I Don’t Blame You at All”, “Ooo Baby Baby”, the multi-award-winning “The Tracks of My Tears”, “Special Occasion”, “I Second That Emotion”, “Baby Baby Don’t Cry”, the number-one Pop smashes “The Tears of a Clown”…also seen herewith….and “Love Machine”, “Do It Baby”, and “My Girl Has Gone”, among numerous other hits.
Referred to as Motown’s “soul super group”, Smokey Robinson and The Miracles recorded 26 Top 40 Pop hits….sixteen of which reached the Billboard Top 20….seven top 10 singles….and their # 1 single The Tears of a Clown while the Robinsons and Tarplin were members.
