The epithet ‘legend’ is hurled about far too liberally in the entertainment arena if the truth be told. In fact, I admit that I may have sprinkled some barely deserving candidates with the term rather more readily than perhaps I should. But every so often, a performer should not have to have departe
d for the cabin in the sky to have deserved this special accolade.
Besides inducting a new class of inductees annually, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame also bestows another honour on musical icons once a year, with their Annual Music Masters Series. This year that honour goes to Motown legend . . . . yes, LEGEND Smokey Robinson.
Each year, the Music Masters series explores the legacy of popular music pioneers with a series of events that includes exhibits at the Rock Hall, lectures, films, a major conference and a tribute concert, all of which benefits the Rock Hall’s education programs. Previous artists to be honoured by the Rock Hall’s Music Masters Series include Chuck Berry, Woody Guthrie, Aretha Franklin, Sam Cooke and Fats Domino.
Robinson, who was inducted into the regular Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a part of the second batch of inductees in 1987, was a pivotal figure in Motown Records (and Tamla Motown in the UK), as a singer, first with the Miracles and later on his own. But he has also been a prolific songwriter and has produced and arranged of many of the label’s hits. Indeed he was a co-founder of the label (then Tamla Records) along with Berry Gordy Jr., and served as a talent scout and vice-president.
With his group, The Miracles, Smokey Robinson gave Motown their first million selling hit with ‘Shop Around’ and even named his first two children Berry (after Motown’s co-founder) and Tamla (the label’s initial name, which later became an imprint running alongside the main label and was used early on for UK releases).
There will be a week of celebrations in Smokey’s honour in Cleveland, Ohio – the home of the Rock Hall – culminating in a Music Masters concert on November 7th at Playhouse Square’s State Theatre, featuring a number of yet to be announced artists performing his songs. According to a press release, the man being honoured, now 75, will attend but not perform.
