GRAMMY-winning singer-songwriter and Motown legend Smokey Robinson released his twenty-sixth studio album, GASMS, via TLR Music Group/ ADA Worldwide. The new nine-track album is Smokey’s first solo album in nearly a decade, featuring all new original songs written over the last five years. The first two singles off the album “If We Don’t Have Each Other” and “How You Make Me Feel” are timeless, R&B Smokey Robinson sounds, which appropriately set the stage for the rest of the eye-popping and “‘gasmic” tracks off the global superstar’s new record.
In celebration of GASMS release, Smokey appeared on the TODAY Show on April 27 with two performances including his lead single from Gasms “If We Don’t Have Each Other” and his 1981 classic “Being With You,”. One of the greatest living musical icons of our time, Smokey Robinson’s storied 60+ year career has had an indelible impact on the music industry with over 4,000 songs in his legendary catalog. Further solidifying his place within music history, the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame and Songwriters Hall of Famer was most recently honored alongside fellow Motown legend Berry Gordy as the 2023 “Persons Of The Year” at the Recording Academy’s annual MusiCares event.
Acclaimed singer-songwriter Smokey Robinson’s career spans over four decades of hits. He has received numerous awards, including the GRAMMY Living Legend Award, NARAS Lifetime Achievement Award, Honorary Doctorate (Howard University), Kennedy Center Honors, and the National Medal of Arts Award from the President of the United States. He has also been inducted into the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters’ Hall of Fame.
Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, Robinson founded The Miracles while still in high school. The group was Berry Gordy’s first vocal group, and it was at Robinson’s suggestion that Gordy started the Motown Record dynasty. Their single of Robinson’s “Shop Around” became Motown’s first #1 hit on the R&B singles chart. In the years following, Robinson continued to pen hits for the group, including “You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me,” “Ooo Baby Baby,” “The Tracks of My Tears,” “Going to a Go-Go,” “More Love,” “Tears of a Clown” (co-written with Stevie Wonder), and “I Second That Emotion.”
The Miracles dominated the R&B scene throughout the 1960s and early 70s, and Robinson became Vice President of Motown Records, serving as in-house producer, talent scout, and songwriter.
In addition to writing hits for the Miracles, Robinson wrote and produced hits for other Motown greats, including The Temptations, Mary Wells, Brenda Holloway, Marvin Gaye, and others. “The Way You Do the Things You Do,” “My Girl,” “Get Ready,” “You Beat Me to the Punch,” “Don’t Mess with Bill,” “Ain’t That Peculiar,” and “My Guy” are just a few of his songwriting triumphs during those years. He later turned to a solo career where he continued his tradition of chart-topping hits with “Just to See Her,” “Quiet Storm,” “Cruisin’,” and “Being with You,” among others.
He remained Vice President of Motown records until the sale of the company, shaping the label’s success with friend and mentor Berry Gordy. Following his tenure at Motown, he continued his impressive touring career and released several successful solo albums. Recently, Robinson was singer/co-writer on the certified gold track “Make It Better” from Anderson Paak’s album Ventura and Rita Wilson’s Now and Forever: Duets album joining “Where Is The Love.” His latest single, “If We Don’t Have Each Other,” is the first song off his highly anticipated new studio album set for release in Spring 2023 via TLR Music Group/ ADA.
Throughout his 60-year music career, Robinson has accumulated more than 4,000 songs to his credit and continues to thrill sold-out audiences worldwide with his high tenor voice, impeccable timing, and profound sense of lyric and style.
Track Listing
1. Gasms
2. How You Make Me Feel
3. I Wanna Know Your Body
4. I Keep Callin’ You
5. Roll Around
6. Beside You
7. If We Don’t Have Each Other
8. You Fill Me Up
9. I Fit In There