Smokey Robinson: Motown At Its Best
By Donald B. Kravitz
Fans of all ages filled the Event Center in the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa to capacity Saturday night, March 30, 2019. Adoring followers from all over and every age came to be with Smokey Robinson, minus The Miracles. Called “America’s greatest living poet” by singer Bob Dylan, Smokey Robinson brought his familiar soul and Motown sounds to Atlantic City once again to the joy of the excited crowd which included fans from age eight to eighty.
Just walking out on the stage brought the audience to their feet with loud applause. Smokey Robinson, looking as if he just stepped out of a fashion magazine, adorned in a dazzling light suit began to sing as the multi-generational audience went wild.
Robinson wasted no time bringing back the sounds that have become so familiar to music fans around the world when he belted out, “Being With You.” By the time he finished his second song, “Second That Emotion,” the swooning and the cheers began to elevate.
The loud cries of “Smokey we love” began to emanate from the floor to which Robinson replied, “I love you too” to a resounding explosion of applause and laughter.
The quality of his unmistakable sound, the ability to hit the falsetto notes and his smooth and easy style on stage, made the evening a pleasure to watch as well as hear and enjoy. As one of the adoring women sitting in the audience remarked, “Smokey oozes soul.”
Taking the audience on a Motown trip, Robinson performed, “Really Got A Hold On Me,” “Ooh Baby Baby,” which elicited screams of “Sing it Smokey!” from a fan in the rear of the showroom. His medley of Temptations songs ending with “My Girl” brought the audience to their feet in an uproarious standing ovation even before he nailed the last high note of the song.
One of the pleasantries of a Smokey Robinson appearance is the time he spends interacting with the audience. Making them a part of the show as he tells them about his recording life and is one of the unique oddities of a Smokey Robinson performance enabling the audience feels so at home and at ease with the star. Those in attendance just scream up what they want and what they feel from, “Smokey I Love You!” to “Smokey sing “Hey Girl,” and Robinson with a smile, answers and responds.
Robinson set the tone of the evening when he told his ardent fans, “We came to have fun and to have a good time, to be intimate, to touch and get to know each other better,” causing even more applause from Robinson’s admirers. The show ran ninety minutes and included twelve tunes and two medleys.
Near the end of the concert one of Robinson’s devotees came to the stage to give him a bouquet flowers and just to adore him. Taking it all in stride, Robinson reached down and shook hand, accepted and acknowledged her gift.
Robinson was born February 19, 1940 in Detroit and began his career in the late 1950’s, when he met Motown founder Berry Gordy, Jr. Robinson, as a member of The Miracles, released a number of singles with one of them, “Shop Around,” establishing them as a group with much promise. The promise became evident as The Miracles, with Smokey Robinson as lead had twenty-six Top 40 hits.
In addition to Robinson’s singing, he became one of the most sought after songwriters at Motown, writing hits for Mary Wells and The Temptations. Robinson reflects very fondly on his days at Motown. I had the pleasure of growing up in Motown, what a wonderful place. I would not trade my time there or my life for anything…I have been so lucky.”
Smokey Robinson married the Miracles lead female singer, Claudette Rogers in 1964 and stopped touring with the group even though he continued to sing on their recordings, finally leaving the group in 1972. Robinson went on to marry Frances Glandney in 2004.
His best known albums were, “Quiet Storm,” (1975 and “Being With You”1981). Smokey Robinson has retained all of the attributes that made him so popular from the start. He is warm, friendly, and comfortable on stage. He still sounds like he did 35 years ago with a rich voice and a charming manner. For anyone who wants to spend an evening hearing wonderful music, have lasting memories and a soulful filled evening, make sure you catch Smokey Robinson the next time he is in Atlantic City … you won’t regret it.
Donald B. Kravitz is an Entertainment & Special Events photographer for national publications including Getty Images & Miss America
