Smokey Robinson on the Motown Family, Songwriting, and Industry Lessons

Smokey Robinson, the legendary singer, songwriter, and Motown pioneer, sat down with Tank and J. Valentine on the R&B Money podcast for an in-depth conversation about his storied career, the birth of Motown, and his unwavering passion for music. Over the course of the discussion, the 84-year-old icon shared personal anecdotes, industry insights, and reflections on his six-decade journey in music.

Living the “Impossible Dream”

Robinson, who grew up in Detroit, described his journey as nothing short of miraculous. “I grew up in the hood, with some gangster brothers,” he said. “This was my impossible dream.” He recalled auditioning for Jackie Wilson’s manager as a teenager and getting rejected, only for a young songwriter in the room—Berry Gordy—to approach him afterward. That chance meeting led to a mentorship that changed the course of Robinson’s life and, ultimately, the history of popular music.

Gordy, who had written hits for Wilson, was impressed by Robinson’s songwriting potential but encouraged him to refine his skills. “A song has got to be like a short book, a short movie,” Robinson recalled Gordy telling him. That advice laid the foundation for a career that would include timeless classics like “My Girl,” “Tracks of My Tears,” and “Tears of a Clown.”

The Birth of Motown

Before Motown became a global powerhouse, Gordy was struggling to get fair payments from record distributors. Frustrated, he borrowed $800 from his family and launched Motown Records, determined to create a Black-owned label that could compete on the world stage. Robinson, one of the company’s first artists and later its vice president, recalled the early days of the label.

“When we started, there were five people working there,” he said. “Berry told us, ‘We’re not just going to make Black music, we’re going to make music for the world.’”

Motown was built on fierce competition. Every Monday morning, songwriters and producers gathered in Gordy’s office for meetings where they critiqued each other’s music. “If you got there at 9:01, you were locked out,” Robinson said. “It was brutal, but it made us better.”

The company’s first million-seller was Robinson’s song “Shop Around,” though it almost didn’t happen. After releasing an early version of the song, Gordy called Robinson at 3 a.m. demanding they re-record it with a different arrangement. Robinson resisted at first but ultimately relented, leading to a version that became Motown’s breakthrough hit.

The Creation of “Quiet Storm”

This year marks the 50th anniversary of A Quiet Storm, the album that marked Robinson’s return to performing after retiring from The Miracles. He initially stepped away from the stage to focus on his role as Motown’s vice president but found himself deeply unhappy.

“I was miserable. Every day, I was sad, and I didn’t want anyone to know,” he said. Gordy noticed and eventually staged an intervention. “He told me, ‘I need you to get yourself a band, go in the studio, make a record, and get the hell out of here,’” Robinson recalled with a laugh.

That push led Robinson back to the studio, where he penned A Quiet Storm, including its title track—a song that would go on to define an entire radio format. A DJ in Washington, D.C., named Melvin Lindsey started playing the song to set the mood for his late-night show, eventually renaming the program Quiet Storm. The format spread nationwide, becoming a staple for R&B slow jams and smooth soul.

The Evolution of “Cruisin’”

Another of Robinson’s iconic songs, “Cruisin’,” took five years to complete. He struggled to find the right lyrics to match the sensual feel of the melody, and inspiration finally struck while driving down Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles.

“I thought to myself, ‘Man, I’m cruising down Sunset,’ and I liked the sound of that word,” he said.

When D’Angelo later reinterpreted “Cruisin’” for his 1995 album Brown Sugar, Robinson was thrilled. “I loved it,” he said. “As a songwriter, I want my songs to last forever. If people sample my music, that means out of the billions of songs on Earth, they chose mine.”

Business Lessons and Legacy

While Motown helped its artists achieve global fame, financial success was a different story. In the label’s early years, record distributors often underpaid or withheld money from the company.

“They’d say we sold 50,000 copies when we knew we sold 100,000,” Robinson explained. “Who was going to check them?”

Motown ultimately fought back by delivering an unstoppable wave of hits, forcing distributors to pay upfront for new releases. As for Robinson himself, he admitted he didn’t fully understand the business side of music early on. “Berry had to explain publishing and royalties to me,” he said. “I was 19, making $5 a week, but I thought I was grown, so I got married.”

Now, at 84, Robinson is still actively touring and performing. He holds a residency at The Venetian in Las Vegas, a continuation of his decades-long presence in the city’s entertainment scene.

“I’ve been doing Vegas residencies since 1980,” he said. “Back then, you had to perform two shows a night, sometimes three on Saturdays. It was a grind, but I loved it.”

The Motown Family

Throughout the conversation, Robinson frequently emphasized the close-knit bond shared by Motown artists. He grew up just doors away from Diana Ross, Aretha Franklin, and members of The Four Tops and The Temptations. “We weren’t just labelmates—we were family,” he said. “We hung out at each other’s homes, had dinner together, took vacations together.”

Looking back, Robinson is struck by how many of his Motown peers have passed away. “Eighty-five percent of the people I came up with are gone,” he said. “When you’re young, you don’t think about seeing your friends die.”

Still, his passion for music remains undiminished. He continues to perform, record, and inspire younger generations, embodying the very spirit of the Motown sound.

“I’m 84, and I still love this,” he said. “I get to do what I love for a living. How many people can say that?”