Happy birthday to William “Smokey” Robinson, born in Detroit on this date in 1940.
Some Smokey Robinson trivia:
- The nickname Smokey was given him as a child by an uncle.
- The Robinsons were neighbors of the Franklins; Smokey is two years older than Aretha.
- They both attended Detroit’s Northern Senior High School (as did NewMexiKen’s mom).
- Smokey wrote both “My Guy” and “My Girl.”
- Bob Dylan called Smokey “America’s greatest living poet.”
- Smokey has written more than 4,000 songs.