The Miracles

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The Miracles (known from 1965 to 1972 as Smokey Robinson & the Miracles) are an American musical 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 climbing into 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].

[edit] History

[edit] 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, 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 Within a half a year, Dawson and Grice had been replaced by cousins Emerson and Bobby Rogers, and the group's name had been changed to The Matadors.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 1960, 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.

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.

[edit] 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" (1962), "What's So Good About Goodbye" (1962), "I'll Try Something New" (1962), "Mickey's Monkey" (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" (1965).

During this period, The Miracles were the most popular group on the label, and as its lead singer, Smokey Robinson became a popular teen idol. 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'.

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.

[edit] 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 and major motion picture which also featured The Supremes, Marvin Gaye, The Beach Boys, 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, and The Mike Douglas Show. 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.

After scoring a few more major hits such as "(Come Round Here) I'm The One You Need" (1966), "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) and "Baby, Baby Don't Cry" (1969), although their position as the label's preeminent act had been long usurped by their former protégés Diana Ross & the Supremes. Constantly away from home and his family, Smokey Robinson began planning to leave the group for a solo career, which would allow him more 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 three more years when the group's 1970 single "The Tears of a Clown" became the group's 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) after first reaching number-one in the United Kingdom, (the first Motown record ever to do so). This led to the reissue of Make It Happen as Tears of a Clown: same tracks, same cover, different title. In addition, the group had its own ABC television special in 1970 with The Smokey Robinson Show, which starred The Miracles and guest-starred The Temptations and The Supremes.

[edit] 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. To coincide with this tour , the lead single from the groups' final studio album, 1972's "Flying High Together", was the appropriately-named " We've Come Too Far To End It Now" (Top 10, R&B). 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. 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.

[edit] Later years and the Rock Hall Of Fame Controversy

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, 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. (The controversy stems from the fact that the Head of the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Committee, Jann Wenner,is also Head of Rolling Stone Magazine,which had already named the Miracles in his list of "The Immortals: The Fifty Greatest Artists Of All Time". As of 2007, The Miracles are one of only four artists on this "Immortals" list that are not in the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame. This has miffed many fans , who feel the entire group deserves induction.) The Miracles as a unit were 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 of their 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". In 1997, The Miracles were honored with the national Rhythm And Blues Foundation's prestigous Pioneer Award. 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.

[edit] 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 groups. Many of the Miracles' songs have been major hits or important recordings for other artists. Among these are:

• "Going to a Go-Go" - The Rolling Stones, The Hags, and Secret Affair.
• "I Second That Emotion" - Japan, Michael McDonald, Kiki Dee, The Manhattan Transfer, Jerry Garcia, Diana Ross & the Supremes with the Temptations, 10db, Tammy Wynette, Jose Feliciano.
• "(Come Round Here) I'm The One You Need " - The Jackson 5, The Cowsills
• "If You Can Want" - The Dirtbombs
• "I'll Try Something New" - Diana Ross & the Supremes with the Temptations, A Taste of Honey, Spyder Turner (as an excerpt from his cover of "Stand By Me")
• "My Girl Has Gone" - Etienne Daho
• "The Love I Saw In You Was Just A Mirage" - The Jackson 5, Vance Gilbert, The Uniques
• "Love Machine" - Wham, Thelma Houston.
• "Mickey's Monkey"- Mother's Finest, Martha & The Vandellas, The Hollies, The (Young) Rascals, John (Cougar) Mellencamp
• "More Love" - Kim Carnes, Paul Young, Barbara McNair, Mica Paris
• "Ooo Baby Baby" - Linda Ronstadt, Shalamar, Ruby Turner, Sylvester, Spirit Traveler, The Five Stairsteps, Zapp, Laura Nyro, Ella Fitzgerald,(from her album " Things Ain't What They Used To Be ").
• "Shop Around" - The Captain and Tennille and Georgie Fame, among numerous others
• "The Tears Of A Clown" - Latoya Jackson, The Beat, The Rocking Chairs, The Re-Bops, Nnenna Freelon, The Flying Picketts
• "The Tracks Of My Tears " - Linda Ronstadt, Aretha Franklin, Johnny Rivers, Gladys Knight & The Pips, Mongo Santamaria, and Bryan Ferry, among many others.
• "Who's Loving You" - The Jackson 5, En Vogue, Terence Trent D'Arby, Brenda Holloway, The Supremes, Honey Cone.
• "You've Really Got A Hold On Me" - Percy Sledge, The Beatles, The Zombies, Aidan Smith, Sonny & Cher, Mickey Gilley, Cyndi Lauper, The Bobs, Greg Brown, The Small Faces, and Bobby McFerrin, among many others
• "I Gotta Dance To Keep From Crying"- The Who.
• "From Head To Toe"- Elvis Costello (from his album "Imperial Bedroom"), Chris Clark.
• " A Fork In The Road " - Rebbie Jackson.
• " Way Over There " - The Royal Counts, The Temptations, Edwin Starr.
• "(You Can't Let The Boy Overpower) The Man In You"- Chuck Jackson.
• "What's So Good About Goodbye"- Giant Sunflower, The Temptations.
• "More , More, More Of Your Love"- Bob Brady & the Con Chords .
• "Swept For You Baby"-The Sylvers.

[edit] Members

• Smokey Robinson (1955–1972)
• Ronnie White (1955–1983; 1993–1995)
• Pete Moore (1955–1978)
• Clarence Dawson (1955)
• James Grice (1955)
• Emerson Rogers (1956)
• Bobby Rogers (1956–1983; 1993–present)
• Claudette Rogers (Robinson) (1956–1964; 2005-present)
• Marv Tarplin (1960-1973)
• Billy Griffin (1972–1978; late 1990s)
• Dave Finley (1978–1983; 1993–present)
• Sidney Justin (1993–c.2000)
• Tee Turner (1996–present)
• Mark Scott (2005–present)

(*) 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. Ms. Robinson did reunite with The Miracles for a PBS special and performed with the group in October, 2007 at the Rehoboth Beach Jazz Festival in Delaware. Today,she is a board member of the national Rhythm And Blues Foundation, an organization dedicated to the preservation of Rhythm and Blues music, and the protection of it's artist's rights.

[edit] Discography

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

[edit] Top Twenty US and UK singles

• 1960: "Shop Around" (US: #2)
• 1962: "You've Really Got a Hold on Me" (US #8)
• 1963: "Mickey's Monkey" (US #8)
• 1965: "Ooo Baby Baby" (US: #16)
• 1965: "The Tracks of My Tears" (US #16, UK #9)
• 1965: "My Girl Has Gone" (US #14)
• 1965: "Going to a Go-Go" (US #11)
• 1966: "(Come 'Round Here) I'm The One You Need" (US #17, UK #13)
• 1967: "The Love I Saw in You Was Just a Mirage" (US #20)
• 1967: "I Second That Emotion" (US #4)
• 1968: "If You Can Want" (US: #11)
• 1968: "Baby, Baby Don't Cry" (US #8)
• 1970: "The Tears of a Clown" (US #1, UK: #1)
• 1971: "I Don't Blame You at All" (US #18, UK #11)
• 1974: "Do It Baby" (US #13)
• 1976: "Love Machine - Pt. I"(US #1, UK #3)

[edit] Top Forty albums

• 1965: Greatest Hits from the Beginning (US #21)
• 1965: Going to a Go-Go (US #8)
• 1967: Make It Happen (US #28)
• 1968: Greatest Hits, Vol. 2 (US #7)
• 1969: Time Out For Smokey Robinson & the Miracles (US #25)
• 1975: City of Angels (US #33)

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• The Miracles' official website
• History of Rock page on The Miracles
• 'Smokey Robinson and The Miracles' Vocal Group Hall of Fame Pageang:The Miracles

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