R&B

Friday, April 20, 2012 8:00PM

Special Long Island performance!

Legendary singer, songwriter, and Motown hit-maker Smokey Robinson takes the stage on Friday, April 20, 2012 at 8pm at the NYCB Theatre at Westbury.

Don’t miss this extraordinary artist LIVE on Long Island, performing in the round at NYCB Theatre at Westbury, 960 Brush Hollow Road, Westbury, NY 11590.

Produced by Live Nation in association with Marquee Concerts.

ABOUT SMOKEY ROBINSON

Second only to Berry Gordy in the founding of Motown, Detroit-born Smokey Robinson, a prolific songwriter, is credited with 4000 songs and 37 Top 40 hits including “Tears of a Clown”, “Tracks of My Tears” and “Love Machine”. He also served as vice president of Motown records, writing and producing hits for groups including Temptations (“My Girl”) and Mary Wells (“My Guy”).

In the early 1950s, he formed the Matadors, which would later become the world famous Miracles. After a chance meeting with Berry Gordy Jr., the group landed a contract with Motown Records and brought about an important working relationship between Gordy and Robinson. The Miracles scored their first big hit with “Shop Around” (1960) and gained a large following from their energetic R&B sound. Numerous hits followed. Among them, “You Really Got a Hold on Me” (1962) and “I Second That Emotion” (1967).

When he went solo in 1972, Smokey created a more mellow sound for himself and is often associated with romantic soul music. His successful solo albums included A Quiet Storm (1974) and Touch the Sky (1983). The mid-1980s was a challenging time for the singer as he battled drug addiction. He openly discussed his cocaine problem as well as many other personal topics in his 1989 autobiography entitled Smokey: Inside My Life. He has credited his recovery from substance abuse to his religious faith.

In 1987, Smokey Robinson took home his first Grammy Award as a solo artist for Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male for the song “Just To See Her” from the album One Heartbeat. Other later solo releases included Double Good Everything (1991) and Intimate (1999). In 2004, his work took a new direction with the release of Food for the Spirit, a collection of songs reflecting his spirituality.

Still enjoying great popularity, Smokey continues to perform live. In 2006, he was chosen as a Kennedy Center Honoree for his contributions to the arts and American culture and received an honorary degree from Howard University. That same year, he released the album, Timeless Love, with his own take classic songs, such as Cole Porter’s “Night and Day” and the Gershwin brothers’ "Our Love is Here to Stay.” Recent releases include 2009’s Time Flies When You’re Having Fun and 2010’s Now and Then.