William "Smokey" Robinson, Jr. is a legendary singer-songwriter, record producer, record executive and co-founder of Motown Records. 

Robinson and his group, the Miracles met Berry Gordy after a failed audition for singer Jackie Wilson’s managers. Gordy was impressed with Robinson's vocals and ambitious songwriting. With his help they released, "Got a Job.” It was the beginning of a successful collaboration and the beginnings of Motown. 

In 1960, Miracles recorded their and Motown’s first million selling hit, "Shop Around.” Between 1960 and 1970, Robinson would produce 26 top forty hits with the Miracles including several top ten hits such as "You’ve Really Got A Hold On Me", "I Second That Emotion" and the group's only number-one pop hit, "The Tears Of A Clown". Other notable hits include, "Ooo Baby, Baby” and “The Tracks Of My Tears". 

Robinson has been Inducted into the Kennedy Center, awarded an individual star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and a second star with The Miracles. He was awarded a medal at the National Medal Of Arts, A Heritage Award at the Soul Train Music Awards and a BET Lifetime Achievement Award. Howard University conferred on Robinson the degree of Doctor of Music as did the Berklee College of Music.