Claudette Rogers Robinson

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Claudette Rogers Robinson
Robinson next to the Hollywood Walk of Fame star for the Miracles in 2013
Robinson next to the Hollywood Walk of Fame star for the Miracles in 2013
Background information
Birth nameClaudette Annette Rogers
Born (1942-06-20) June 20, 1942 (age 81)
New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
OriginDetroit, Michigan, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)Singer
Years active1956–2010
LabelsMotown, Tamla
Formerly ofThe Miracles
Spouse(s)
​
​
(m. 1959; div. 1986)​

Claudette Annette Rogers Robinson (née Rogers; born June 20, 1942) is an American singer, best known as a member of the vocal group The Miracles from 1957 to 1972. Her brother Emerson "Sonny" Rogers was a founding member of the group, which before 1957 was named "The Matadors". Claudette replaced her brother in the group after he was drafted into the U.S. Army.

In 2012, Claudette was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with the rest of the original Miracles, including her cousin Bobby Rogers, Pete Moore, Ronald White, and Marv Tarplin. She was inducted alongside her former husband, Miracles lead singer Smokey Robinson.

Biography[edit]

Robinson in 1962

Claudette Rogers and Smokey Robinson were married on November 7, 1959. Smokey and Claudette had plans to raise a family, but the rough music touring life caused Claudette to have seven miscarriages.[1]

Smokey Robinson co-wrote the number-one Motown single "My Girl" with Miracles member Ronald White in dedication to Claudette, a song performed most notably by The Temptations. The song was originally intended to be recorded by The Miracles.

The Robinsons have two children, and both have Motown-referenced names: Berry William Borope Robinson was named after label chief Berry Gordy with his first middle name, "William", in honor of his father (William "Smokey" Robinson), and his second middle name in honor of fellow Miracles group mates Bobby (Rogers), Ronnie (White) and Pete (Moore), and Tamla Claudette Robinson was named after Motown's original record label, Tamla Records.[1] with her middle name "Claudette", after her mother.

Smokey Robinson and Claudette were divorced in 1986, after 27 years of marriage. Motown founder Berry Gordy gave Claudette the official title of the "First Lady of Motown", as noted in his autobiography, because, as a member of The Miracles, Motown's first group and first recording act, she was the first female artist ever signed to a Motown-affiliated record label (Tamla). Several years ago, Claudette began writing her autobiography, A Miraculous Life, a book of her memoirs, and of her life with The Miracles. Robinson is a board member of the national Rhythm & Blues Foundation and the HAL Awards. Her cousin and original Miracles member Bobby Rogers toured with the last incarnation of The Miracles throughout the United States, Canada and Europe, until his death in 2013. Claudette still performs and makes selected appearances with The Miracles. She can be seen on stage with The Miracles live at the Apollo Theatre in a rare 1962 film clip on the 2006 Motown/Universal DVD release, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles: The Definitive Performances. She can also be seen onstage with original Miracles, Smokey Robinson, her cousin Bobby Rogers, Pete Moore, and Marv Tarplin (but not Ronnie White) on the DVD release of The "Motown 25" Television Special.[2]

2023 biofilm[edit]

The First Lady of Motown: The Claudette Robinson Story is a biographical documentary of the life and career of Claudette Robinson, including her years as a founding member of The Miracles. Scheduled for a 2023 release and currently in post-production, it includes interviews with her former husband Smokey Robinson, their children, Berry and Tamla Robinson, Motown founder Berry Gordy, Mary Wilson of The Supremes, Martha Reeves of Martha and the Vandellas, Kim Weston, Jayne Kennedy, and others, as well as archive footage of deceased Miracles: Ronnie White, Pete Moore, Marv Tarplin, and her cousin, Bobby Rogers.[3]

Robinson at the LBJ Presidential Library in 2019

Rock Hall of Fame controversy and 2012 Miracles induction[edit]

In 1987, Smokey Robinson was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist. However, in a controversial decision, the other original members of The Miracles—Bobby Rogers, Ronnie White, Pete Moore, Marv Tarplin, and Claudette Robinson—were not.

In 2012, it was finally announced that, after a 26-year wait, Claudette Robinson would be automatically and retroactively inducted with the rest of The Miracles into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame alongside Miracles lead singer Smokey Robinson.[4][5]

Claudette pictured with members of The Earth Angels doo wop band

Awards[edit]

  • Claudette and the original members of The Miracles were honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on March 20, 2009.[6]
  • Worldwide more than 60 million records sold.[7]
  • Doo-Wop Hall of Fame Inductees.[8]
  • Vocal Group Hall of Fame Induction and Award.[9]
  • Miracles Boulevard and Miracles Park, Detroit, Michigan (Woodbridge Estates), named in honor of Motown group The Miracles.[10]
  • The Miracles received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on March 20, 2009.[11]
  • Goldmine Magazine names The Miracles one of the "20 Greatest Doo-Wop Groups of All Time" .[12]
  • The Miracles were retroactively inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012 alongside Smokey Robinson.[5]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Price, Simon (November 5, 2006), "Here's to you Mr. Robinson", Independent on Sunday, The [dead link]
  2. ^ "Archived copy". YouTube. Archived from the original on November 3, 2020. Retrieved July 24, 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. ^ "The First Lady of Motown: The Claudette Robinson Story". IMDb.com.
  4. ^ Graff, Gary (April 14, 2012). "The Miracles Grateful of Effort to Get Them Into Rock Hall of Fame". Billboard. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
  5. ^ a b "Inductee explorer – Rock & Roll Hall of Fame". Rockhall.com.
  6. ^ Video on YouTube
  7. ^ "Claudette Robinson". Themiracleshop.com.
  8. ^ "Starpulse". Starpulse.com. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved June 22, 2013.
  9. ^ "Smokey Robinson and The Miracles – Inductees – The Vocal Group Hall of Fame Foundation". Archived from the original on October 18, 2013.
  10. ^ "Claudette Robinson – About Claudette Robinson". Archived from the original on November 27, 2013. Retrieved June 22, 2013.
  11. ^ "Hollywood Star Walk | The Miracles". Los Angeles Times.
  12. ^ "Goldmine's 20 greatest doo-wop groups". Goldminemag.com. July 12, 2011.

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Claudette Rogers Robinson.
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