Smokey Robinson shares secret to longevity, memories of Marvin Gaye | News, Sports, Jobs

Legendary songwriter Smokey Robinson will make his Maui debut on Friday. Ahead of his performance at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center, Robinson gave an interview earlier this week to share his memories of working with other star performers and look back on a long career of big-time hits. Photos courtesy of Smokey Robinson

An American icon, who Bob Dylan once included in a list of poets he admired, Smokey Robinson has been acclaimed among the most memorable songwriters of our time.

The Miracles, with Robinson at the helm, had 46 Hot 100 hits between 1959 and 1975, with legendary songs like “The Tracks Of My Tears,” “Ooo Baby Baby,” “I Second That Emotion” and “The Tears of a Clown.”

One of Motown’s chief architects, he wrote and produced for many artists, including Marvin Gaye (“Ain’t That Peculiar”), The Temptations (“Get Ready,” “The Way You Do the Things You Do”) and Mary Wells (“My Guy”).

His influence extended to the Beatles and Rolling Stones who recorded his songs. Paul McCartney once commented, “Smokey Robinson was like God in our eyes.”

Among his recent albums, “Smokey & Friends” included collaborations with Elton John, Steven Tyler and James Taylor. In a promotional interview, John called “The Tracks Of My Tears,” “maybe the greatest pop song ever written.”

At 82, Smokey Robinson is still going strong, composing a song for The Temptations’ latest album decades after his chart-topping debut. “I just try and take care of myself,” Robinson said of keeping up his health and voice over a long career. “I tell young singers that all the time, that mythical medicine, the lemon and the honey and this and that, no. If you’re getting hoarse and you want to take care of your voice, first of all, you have to take care of yourself. Keep yourself in as good condition and shape as you can. That’s been my remedy all my life.”

Still busy composing, 62 years after his chart-topping debut, Robinson recently wrote “Is It Gonna Be Yes or No,” for The Temptations’ latest album and plans to release two new recordings, including a Spanish-language album.

Robinson will make his Maui concert debut on Friday at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center. In an interview for The Maui News earlier this week, he talked about his achievements and life at Motown Records.

Q: You turned 82 in February, and you still have an amazing voice. Is there some special approach to life that helps you maintain your marvelous voice and health?

Robinson: I just try and take care of myself. I tell young singers that all the time, that mythical medicine, the lemon and the honey and this and that, no. If you’re getting hoarse and you want to take care of your voice, first of all, you have to take care of yourself. Keep yourself in as good condition and shape as you can. That’s been my remedy all my life.

Q: When did you first realize you had talent as singer and songwriter and this could be your destiny?

Robinson: It’s hard to say. I don’t know that there was a moment that came to me or anything like that. I was blessed enough and I am blessed enough to be doing something that I absolutely love and earn a living at it. I can’t think of anything else I’d rather be doing with my life. So I’m blessed enough to be doing what I love and it just came when it came. You look up and here you are. Show business is a very fickle life. You’re up today and down tomorrow. If you can swim through your downs and struggle to get back up again that’s what show business is about. I don’t know there was a moment where I said, oh you’re successful now. I don’t think I’ve ever had that moment.

Q: I just can’t imagine what it must have felt like to have helped found Motown Records and basically establish a sound which changed the world.

Robinson: It’s one of the proudest things of my entire life, to have been there from the ground floor from the very first day and to see what it has become around the world. I can’t tell you how proud I am.

Q: Your song “Shop Around” was Motown’s first million-seller. It must have been a thrill for you.

Robinson: Especially back in those days, a million-seller was the thing. So that was a great thrill for all of us.

Q: Talking about great songs, I was just listening to your song “Going to a Go-Go,” and it still sounds brilliant. It was another million-seller, and even the Rolling Stones sang a version of it.

Robinson: That’s another thing I love about the Motown Records. If you listen to them today, the sound holds up as if they were just recorded.

Q: In the early days I understand you helped guide the Supremes.

Robinson: I actually brought them to Motown. I had known Diana (Ross) since she was about 8 years old. She lived down the street.

Q: You produced another legend, Marvin Gaye. What was he like to work with?

Robinson: Marvin was an awesome singer, one of the greatest. Marvin was always late, so it got to a point if I was going to do a session with Marvin which was supposed to start at 7 o’clock in the evening, I would tell Marvin that it started at 6, and he still wouldn’t get there ’til 8. But when he got there he would do stuff with your song vocally that you didn’t dare to do. He Marvin-ised my songs because he would sing them like he knew them before he got there.

Q: Here you are coming to Maui to perform for the first time. Have you hung out in the islands much?

Robinson: I’ve been many times. I love golf, and I’ve played in some of the Pro-Am golf tournaments over there. I love Hawaii. It’s beautiful. I’ve been to almost every island, and I’m looking forward to coming.

“An Evening With Smokey Robinson” is presented at 7:30 p.m. on Friday in the Maui Arts & Cultural Center’s A&B Amphitheater & Yokouchi Pavilion. Gates open at 6 p.m. Tickets are $85, $125 and $195 (plus applicable fees). Purchases are online only at MauiArts.org.

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