Talk:Smokey Robinson

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[Terry Gross interview] Would someone listen to this and fill in the article. Thanks. --Gbleem 20:25, 21 August 2006 (UTC)

Contents 1 girl 2 Is smokey black? 3 Nickname origin 4 Best Show Ever 5 Tamla Motown

[edit] girl

Why is there no mention of the fact that he sounds like a girl? I didn't know it was a guy singing "Cruisin" for a long, long, long time. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 138.163.0.44 (talk) 17:27, 9 January 2008 (UTC)

It's not mentioned because "Smokey sounding like a girl" is merely your opinion. Remember this is an encyclopedia, FACTUAL INFORMATION ONLY. The article is fine the way it is, why it's not a featured article candidate is beyond me. 74.224.50.136 (talk) 06:37, 8 April 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Is smokey black?

it's not listed anywhere in the article, he definitely looks mixed to an extent. would you guys consider him a genuine 'african-american'? —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 24.18.247.69 (talk) 23:57, 25 February 2007 (UTC).

No question, he is African-American.--SidP 16:30, 3 April 2007 (UTC)

Smokey Robinson's grandmother (not sure which one) was Caucasian. He self-identifies as African-American, so I'm assuming one parent is mixed while the other is African-American. --FuriousFreddy 22:46, 12 April 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Nickname origin

I once saw a television interview with Smokey, and he was asked how he got his nickname. He said that since he was light-skinned and the name "Smokey" is usually given to a very dark skinned person, it was sort of an ironic joke name. Is there any reference to his uncle's nicknaming him?--SidP 16:32, 3 April 2007 (UTC)

That's not what Smokey told CBN (to whom I don't imagine he'd want to lie): "I loved cowboys. My Uncle Claude used to take me to see cowboy movies. He had a cowboy name for me, which was 'Smokey Joe.' So whenever anybody asked me what my name was, I told ‘em Smokey Joe!". [1] --FuriousFreddy 22:46, 12 April 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Best Show Ever

I just saw Smokey perform at the Cerritos Center,Cerritos, Ca. and just wanted to say that it was one of the best shows I have seen in ages. He still has the greatest voice, and I would say that it has even improved over the years. I love the way he interacts with the audience. After all these years of loving his music it was my first time to see him perform live, but I can assure you it won't be the last! Dabloozer. 08/20/07

[edit] Tamla Motown

In the description of Robinson's & Gordy's formation of 'Motown Records' it mentions it was originally called 'Tamla' and soon was re-incorperated as 'Motown.' Here in the UK at least, for a very long time (throughout the sixties at least), all these records were labelled 'Tamla Motown.' Was this a purely UK label?

And, as a curious aside, if one is to search the -legally ambiguous- P2P networks, (limewire, bearshare et al) while almost anyhting you care to mention is available, from Gangster Rap to Classical Ballet, it is extremely difficult to find ANY 'Smokey Robinson' records. Astounding, considering the vast contribution he made to music in this most crucial era of the history of popular music. Would anyone care to suggest why this might be?Macthefork (talk) 08:40, 5 May 2008 (UTC)