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===Success at Motown: 1960 - 1967===
===Success at Motown: 1960 - 1967===
After three unsuccessful singles, The Miracles' fourth Tamla single, "[[Shop Around]]" backed with "[[Who's Lovin' You]]" (1960), became their first Motown hit. "Shop Around" was the first Motown song to reach #1 on the national R&B charts, and the first to sell over a million copies. Both sides of this record became standards for R&B and rock musicians for several decades afterwards. In the wake of this success, the Miracles became the first Motown act to perform on [[Dick Clark]]'s ''[[American Bandstand]]'' in February 1961. "Shop Around" was followed by many more hits, including "[[You Really Got a Hold on Me]]" (Top 10) (1962),"[[What's So Good About Goodbye]]" (1962),"[[I'll Try Something New (song)|I'll Try Something New]](1962)" "[[Mickey's Monkey]]" (Top 10) (1963), "[[Going to a Go-Go (song)|Going to a Go-Go]]" (1965), "[[My Girl Has Gone]]" (1965), "[[The Tracks Of My Tears]]" (1965), and their signature song, "[[Ooo Baby Baby]]" (all Top 20-1965).
After three unsuccessful singles, The Miracles' fourth Tamla single, "[[Shop Around]]" backed with "[[Who's Lovin' You]]" (1960), became their first Motown hit. "Shop Around" was the first Motown song to reach #1 on the national R&B charts, and the first to sell over a million copies. Both sides of this record became standards for R&B and rock musicians for several decades afterwards. In the wake of this success, the Miracles became the first Motown act to perform on [[Dick Clark]]'s ''[[American Bandstand]]'' in February 1961. "Shop Around" was followed by many more hits, including "[[You Really Got a Hold on Me]]" (Top 10) (1962),"[[What's So Good About Goodbye]]" (1962),"[[I'll Try Something New (song)|I'll Try Something New]] (1962)" "[[Mickey's Monkey]]" (Top 10) (1963), "[[Going to a Go-Go (song)|Going to a Go-Go]]" (1965), "[[My Girl Has Gone]]" (1965), "[[The Tracks Of My Tears]]" (1965), and their signature song, "[[Ooo Baby Baby]]" (all Top 20-1965).


During this period, The Miracles were the most popular group on the label. The Miracles' success paved the way for all future Motown stars, and the group was the headlining act of the [[Motor Town Revue]], a nationwide package concert touring show which showcased Motown artists. The group also influenced a significant number of outside performers as well, particularly [[The Beatles]], who covered The Miracles' "[[You Really Got a Hold on Me]]" on their second album, ''[[With the Beatles]]''. [[John Lennon]] of the Beatles acknowledged Smokey Robinson as one of his favorite writers, and named the Miracles' "I've Been Good To You" as one of his favorite songs. George Harrison also greatly admired Robinson and paid tribute to him in his 1976 song 'Pure Smokey'..While the British Invasion meant the end of many American artists' recording careers,it had very little effect on The Miracles, who continued having hits throughout this period .
During this period, The Miracles were the most popular group on the label. The Miracles' success paved the way for all future Motown stars, and the group was the headlining act of the [[Motor Town Revue]], a nationwide package concert touring show which showcased Motown artists. The group also influenced a significant number of outside performers as well, particularly [[The Beatles]], who covered The Miracles' "[[You Really Got a Hold on Me]]" on their second album, ''[[With the Beatles]]''. [[John Lennon]] of the Beatles acknowledged Smokey Robinson as one of his favorite writers, and named the Miracles' "I've Been Good To You" as one of his favorite songs. George Harrison also greatly admired Robinson and paid tribute to him in his 1976 song 'Pure Smokey'..While the British Invasion meant the end of many American artists' recording careers,it had very little effect on The Miracles, who continued having hits throughout this period .

Revision as of 12:39, 10 July 2008

Template:Infobox musical artist 2

The Miracles (known from 1965 to 1972 as Smokey Robinson & the Miracles) is an American rhythm and blues group from Detroit, Michigan, notable as the first successful group act for Berry Gordy's Motown Records. The Miracles went on to become one of Motown's signature acts of the 1960s, during which time their original lead singer and founding member Smokey Robinson became one of the most successful songwriters and record producers of all time.

During their nineteen year run on the American music charts, The Miracles charted over fifty hits and recorded in the genres of doo wop, soul, disco, and R&B. Twenty-six Miracles songs reached the Top Ten of the Billboard R&B singles chart, including four R&B number ones. Sixteen of the Miracles' songs charted within the Top 20 of the Billboard Hot 100, with seven songs charting within the Top Ten and two - 1970's "The Tears of a Clown" and 1975's "Love Machine" (Part 1) - reaching number-one.

In 2004, Rolling Stone Magazine ranked Smokey Robinson & the Miracles [1] #32 on their list of The Immortals: 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.[2].

History

Early years

The Miracles began with two young Detroit students, William Robinson and Ronald White, who had become friends and started singing together while in the fifth grade. Robinson, nicknamed "Smokey" because of his love of cowboy movies, started a doo-wop group called The Five Chimes in 1955 at Northern High School with himself, White, bass singer Pete Moore (another childhood friend who Smokey knew since he was age 11) , Clarence Dawson, and James Grice. Within a half a year, Dawson and Grice had been replaced by cousins Emerson and Bobby Rogers, and the group's name had been changed to The Matadors. Rogers and Robinson were actually born on the same day - February 19, 1940 - in the same Detroit hospital, although they did not meet until they were fifteen years old.

Emerson Rogers was drafted in 1956. He was replaced by his sister Claudette Rogers, who married Smokey Robinson in November 1959. In 1958, the group added guitarist Marv Tarplin, who had originally been the accompanist for The Primettes (later known as The Supremes).

In 1958, the Matadors auditioned for the manager of Detroit soul star Jackie Wilson, who turned the group down because he felt their sound and four-man-one-woman lineup were too similar to The Platters, a popular vocal group. On their way out the door, the group ran into one of Wilson's chief songwriters, Berry Gordy, Jr. Gordy took a liking to the group, and eventually became the group's manager. In addition, Gordy worked closely with Robinson, the Matadors' chief songwriter, helping him to improve his songcraft.

Gordy and his colleague Billy Davis had written a song called "Got a Job" as an answer song to "Get A Job", a recent hit by The Silhouettes. The Matadors recorded the single, and Gordy arranged a record deal for them with End Records. At this time, they changed their name to The Miracles, as "Matadors" had a masculine sound to it, and the group now included a woman. Gordy became the group's main outside collaborator, and he and Robinson wrote another Miracles single, "Bad Girl". Issued on Chess Records, "Bad Girl" became the group's first charting single, peaking at #93. Other early songs that brought regional attention to the group included "Way Over There"( which eventually charted nationally at # 94 Pop ), and "You Can Depend On Me".

Frustrated by low financial returns due to the group's practice of selling their masters to various labels, Robinson suggested Gordy start his own record label. Thus, in 1959, Gordy founded Tamla Records (later Motown), and signed The Miracles as one of his first acts. By 1961, Robinson would be appointed vice-president of the corporation.

File:Themiracles-early60s.jpg
The Miracles in the early 1960s. Clockwise from top left: Bobby Rogers, Marv Tarplin, Ronald White, Claudette Rogers, and Smokey Robinson. At the time of this photograph, Miracles member Pete Moore (not pictured) was serving in the US Army after being drafted.

Success at Motown: 1960 - 1967

After three unsuccessful singles, The Miracles' fourth Tamla single, "Shop Around" backed with "Who's Lovin' You" (1960), became their first Motown hit. "Shop Around" was the first Motown song to reach #1 on the national R&B charts, and the first to sell over a million copies. Both sides of this record became standards for R&B and rock musicians for several decades afterwards. In the wake of this success, the Miracles became the first Motown act to perform on Dick Clark's American Bandstand in February 1961. "Shop Around" was followed by many more hits, including "You Really Got a Hold on Me" (Top 10) (1962),"What's So Good About Goodbye" (1962),"I'll Try Something New (1962)" "Mickey's Monkey" (Top 10) (1963), "Going to a Go-Go" (1965), "My Girl Has Gone" (1965), "The Tracks Of My Tears" (1965), and their signature song, "Ooo Baby Baby" (all Top 20-1965).

During this period, The Miracles were the most popular group on the label. The Miracles' success paved the way for all future Motown stars, and the group was the headlining act of the Motor Town Revue, a nationwide package concert touring show which showcased Motown artists. The group also influenced a significant number of outside performers as well, particularly The Beatles, who covered The Miracles' "You Really Got a Hold on Me" on their second album, With the Beatles. John Lennon of the Beatles acknowledged Smokey Robinson as one of his favorite writers, and named the Miracles' "I've Been Good To You" as one of his favorite songs. George Harrison also greatly admired Robinson and paid tribute to him in his 1976 song 'Pure Smokey'..While the British Invasion meant the end of many American artists' recording careers,it had very little effect on The Miracles, who continued having hits throughout this period .

Behind the scenes, Robinson handled most of the songwriting and production for not only the Miracles, but for most of the acts on Motown during this early period. During the first half of the 1960s, Robinson tutored labelmates The Supremes and The Temptations. Indeed, by the time each group had its breakthrough hit in 1964, the Miracles had already issued a double-LP greatest hits album, Greatest Hits from the Beginning.

In addition to penning their own material, Miracles Robinson, White, Rogers, Tarplin, and Moore wrote for many of their labelmates as well. Motown hits written, but not recorded, by members of the Miracles include songs for the Temptations ("The Way You Do The Things You Do", "My Girl", "Since I Lost My Baby", "Get Ready"), Mary Wells ("My Guy", "The One Who Really Loves You", "Two Lovers"), Marvin Gaye ("I'll Be Doggone", "Ain't That Peculiar"), The Marvelettes ("Don't Mess With Bill"), The Contours ("First I Look at the Purse), and Brenda Holloway ("When I'm Gone").

Despite their success, the Miracles were beset with a number of personal problems during the early and mid-1960s. During the first Motor Town Revue tour, Smokey Robinson caught the Asian flu, requiring Claudette Robinson to take over his role as lead singer until he recovered. In addition, Pete Moore was drafted into the US Army, and remained away from the group for over a year. Smokey and Claudette Robinson made plans to begin a family, but the rough life of touring caused Claudette to have several miscarriages. In early 1964, Claudette decided to retire from the road and remain at home in Detroit. From this point on, Claudette did not tour with the Miracles or appear in any official group photographs or on television, although she continued to sing backup with the group in the studio until 1972.

Smokey Robinson & the Miracles: 1965 - 1971

After Claudette Robinson's departure, the remaining Miracles appeared in The T.A.M.I. Show, a 1964 concert film distributed nationally by American International Pictures ,which also featured The Supremes, Marvin Gaye, The Beach Boys, Lesley Gore , Chuck Berry , The Rolling Stones, and James Brown & the Famous Flames. The Miracles also appeared on many of the popular variety television programs of the period, including The Ed Sullivan Show, Shindig!, Hullabaloo, American Bandstand , Where The Action Is, The Mike Douglas Show, and Britain's Ready Steady Go. Acknowledging Robinson's presence upfront, the Miracles changed their name to "Smokey Robinson & the Miracles" in 1965, although they were billed as simply "The Miracles" on their 45s until "The Love I Saw in You Was Just a Mirage", a Top 20 pop hit, in 1967. On that song's flip side was "Come Spy with Me"; The Miracles sang the original theme to the 1967 20th Century Fox film of the same name.

After scoring a few more major hits such as "(Come 'Round Here) I'm The One You Need" (1966),the Top 10 "I Second That Emotion" (1967), and "More Love" (1967), The Miracles' career began to falter somewhat during the late 1960s. The group still continued to chart hits, including "If You Can Want" (1968), "Special Occasion" (1968), and the Top 10 "Baby, Baby Don't Cry" (1969). However, their position as the label's preeminent act had been long usurped by Diana Ross & the Supremes, their former protégés. Constantly away from home and his family, Smokey Robinson began planning to leave the group for a solo career, which would allow him time to remain at home more often and concentrate on his role as vice-president of Motown Records . Robinson told White, Moore, and Rogers of his intentions in 1969, but Robinson decided to stay for two more years when the group's 1970 single "The Tears of a Clown" became their biggest hit to date.

"The Tears of a Clown" had, in fact, been recorded in 1967 for the album Make It Happen, and became the group's first US number-one hit (and their only number-one hit with Smokey Robinson). Also in 1970, the group was given its own ABC television special, The Smokey Robinson Show, which guest-starred The Temptations , The Supremes , and Stevie Wonder .

Exit Smokey Robinson, enter Billy Griffin

After one more Top 20 hit in late 1971, "I Don't Blame You At All", Robinson announced that he would indeed leave the Miracles, and the group began a six-month farewell tour of the United States. Coinciding with this tour was the release of the group's final studio album with Robinson, Flying High Together (1972). The lead single, "We've Come Too Far To End It Now", became a Top 10 R&B hit.

Robinson's final performance as a Miracle was at the Carter Barron Amphitheater in Washington, DC on July 16, 1972. For this performance, Claudette Rogers Robinson rejoined the group onstage for the first time in eight years. At the conclusion of the concert, which Motown later released as a live album entitled "Smokey Robinson & The Miracles: 1957-1972", Robinson introduced the group's new lead singer, Billy Griffin. Griffin was introduced to national television audiences on NBC'S The Midnight Special, on an episode guest-starring The Miracles and hosted by Smokey Robinson, broadcast on July 13, 1973.

Griffin's arrival marked the departure of not only Smokey Robinson, but Claudette Robinson and Marv Tarplin as well. Tarplin continued to tour and work with Smokey Robinson, while his replacement, Griffin's brother Donald, became the Miracles' new guitarist.Claudette, however, had no direct replacement. The Miracles continued, scoring two more Top 40 hits: 1973's #13 hit "Do It Baby", and 1976's #1 hit "Love Machine (Part 1)", the group's biggest hit. The Miracles also scored a Top 10 R&B hit with "Don't Cha Love It". However, the group's other releases failed to match the success of "Love Machine", and The Miracles never managed to regain their former fame. In 1977, they left Motown for Columbia Records, where their releases failed to make an impact.

Later years, The RRHOF controversy, awards and accolades

In 1978, Billy Griffin and Pete Moore retired from performing to concentrate on songwriting. Griffin later went on to enjoy a briefly successful solo career in the 1980s, scoring a hit with "Hold Me Tighter in the Rain" in 1982. Ronnie White and Bobby Rogers recruited new member Dave Finley. After reuniting with Smokey Robinson on the Motown 25 television special in 1983,(minus Ronnie White), the Miracles essentially disbanded and ceased to perform.

Motown held a 35th anniversary retrospective for the Miracles in 1993, and Ronnie White and Bobby Rogers decided to reunite the group. The two of them and Dave Finley recruited Sidney Justin (formerly of Shalamar) as the new fourth member, and began making personal appearances and touring. White, the last founding member remaining in the group, died of leukemia in 1995, and the other three members carried on as a trio for some time. In 1987, Smokey Robinson was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist. In a move that has since proved controversial, the other original Miracles - Bobby Rogers, Ronnie White, Pete Moore, Marv Tarplin, and Claudette Robinson - were not inducted. Nor was '70's Miracles lead singer Billy Griffin. The Miracles as a unit were honored with the national Rhythm and Blues Foundation's Pioneer Award in 1997, and inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2001.

A video retrospective of the Miracles' work, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles: The Definitive Performances, was released on DVD by Motown Records and Universal Home Video in late 2006. It featured new interview footage with original Miracles Smokey Robinson, Pete Moore, and Bobby Rogers. In early 2007, "The Tracks of My Tears" became the fourth Miracles song to be inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. The other inducted songs are "Shop Around" (inducted 2006), "The Tears of a Clown" (inducted 2002), and "You've Really Got a Hold on Me" (inducted 1998). Three Miracles songs, "The Tracks Of My Tears", "Ooo Baby Baby", and "Shop Around" are in Rolling Stone magazine's list of "The 500 Greatest Songs Of All Time", and their 1965 Going To A Go-Go album is on Rolling Stone's list of "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time" . With their song, "The Tears Of A Clown", The Miracles are also noted as the first-ever Motown group to have a #1 record in England. In addition, "Going to a Go-Go", "The Tracks of My Tears", and "You've Really Got a Hold on Me " are on The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's list of "The 500 Songs That Helped Shape Rock and Roll", and Rolling Stone Magazine ranked the Miracles # 32 in their list of "The Immortals: The 100 Greatest Artists Of All Time".

Today, the Miracles are comprised of classic-era members Bobby Rogers and Claudette Robinson, along with Dave Finley, Tee Turner, and new lead singer Mark Scott. The group continues to tour and perform, and, in 2001, The Miracles were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame. It was recently announced that in 2009 ,Motown Records' 50th anniversary year, the Miracles would be one of twenty-five entertainment acts to be honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame more than fifty years after the group's founding in 1957.[3].

Cover versions

The Miracles, Motown's first group, are also the most covered Motown group of all time. Almost all of their hits were self-written, making them unique among Motown acts. Many of the Miracles' songs have been major hits or important recordings for other artists. Among these are:


Reference: All Music Guide

Members

(*) Claudette Robinson retired from performing in 1964 to start a family. Although she does not appear in any official Miracles photographs, after this point, she continued to sing backup with the group on record for as long as her husband Smokey Robinson was a member.

Discography

For a detailed listing of albums and singles, see Miracles discography.

File:Smokey-miracles-anthology.jpg
The Miracles circa 1966. From left to right: Pete Moore,Bobby Rogers, Ronnie White, and Smokey Robinson

Top Twenty US and UK singles

Top Forty albums

References

  1. ^ "Smokey Robinson and The Miracles". Bob Seger. Rolling Stone Issue 946. Rolling Stone.
  2. ^ "The Immortals: The First Fifty". Rolling Stone Issue 946. Rolling Stone.
  3. ^ http://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/entertainment-0/1214037237320080.xml&coll=2

External links

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