Smokey Robinson’s 1981 solo album Being With You came along after he conquered a period of writer’s block. The Motown singer, writer, and Vice-President left The Miracles in 1972. His albums did not consistently produce hits because it was difficult for him to fulfill all three roles simultaneously. Marv Tarplin, the guitarist for The Miracles and a frequent collaborator with Robinson, shared a song he wrote earlier and Robinson turned the tune into “Being With You,” the single. Sixteen years after he enchanted audiences with his unmistakable falsetto singing “Ooh Baby Baby” with The Miracles, his ability to finesse a love song was unchanged. “Being With You” was his highest-charting single hitting number one in the UK. The album reached Gold status and put Robinson in the company of other Motown artists like Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye who were relevant in the ’80s. In 2023, Robinson released the album Gasms. The title was purposely controversial but it meant “anything that makes you feel good.” 

Smokey Robinson’s “Quiet Storm” was co-written with his sister Rose Ella Jones for his 1975 third solo album A Quiet Storm.  Robinson’s falsetto had the quality of a soothing breeze within the song that started a late-night programming format of love songs on national radio. The unassuming bass, snug conga and windy sound effects played well with the sublime vocalists and flute to recreate a feeling of calm in the midst of a cold winter. A Quiet Storm revitalized Robinson’s reputation as an artist and a songwriter after leaving The Miracles in 1972. The album also produced his only disco hit “Baby That’s Backatcha” and was one of Motown’s most relevant releases of 1975. Robinson’s artistic reboot created three hit singles and an album that sparked a romantic blueprint for the airwaves. The late DJ Melvin Lindsey is credited with launching the Quiet Storm radio show in the ’70s on Washington DC’s WHUR-FM station. Smokey Robinson’s solo album Christmas Everyday was released in 2017 and he was featured on anderson.paak’s “Make It Better” in 2019. In 2021, Robinson had a starring role in the Lifetime movie Miracle In Motor City. 

[youtube id=”WlzY6cWpoMQ”]Smokey Robinson recorded his 1979 single “Cruisin'” for the Where There’s Smoke album. Robinson co-wrote “Cruisin'” with Marv Tarplin who was a member of The Miracles with him. The romantic song about lovers going for a car ride or just spending time together put Robinson in the spotlight as a solo artist after his earlier days at Motown as a Miracle. He had experienced success in 1975 with his Quiet Storm album but his subsequent albums until 1979 were not as well-received. “Cruisin'” was his first pop hit to make the Top Ten charts and took Robinson’s voice into the ’80s. Robinson had already introduced his flawless falsetto to the world as a Miracle singing “Ooh Baby Baby” and made that vocal style an essential of pop music and “Cruisin'” took that influence to Generation X and beyond. D’Angelo would record a successful cover of “Cruisin'” for his debut album Brown Sugar in 1995. In 2014, he revisited “Cruisin'” with singer Jessie J on his Smokey & Friends album that featured covers of his songs with contemporary artists. The collection is his second most successful solo album and his most recent work. Robinson will debut his new show Live In Vegas! at the Encore Theater on February 27th.