Smokey Robinson Biography

With a blend of garage band, surf, and punk/thrash, Smash Mouth burst onto the music scene in 1997 with the hit “Walkin’ on the Sun.” Formed only a few years prior, in 1994 by Steve Harwell, Smash Mouth went on to enjoy success throughout the late 1990’s and into the new millennium. Harwell had initially enjoyed success as a rapper with F.O.S., but after the band broke up, he started playing with Kevin Coleman, a friend and drummer. Greg Camp and Paul DeLisle were introduced to Harwell by his former manager, and within a short period of time, they formed Smash Mouth.

The group decided to record their first album after playing together with No Doubt and Beck during a summer festival. Fush Yu Mang was released in 1997, and “Walkin’ on the Sun” became an immediate hit, helping the album to find a home on the Top 40. Smash Mouth then added Michael Klooster on keyboards, and then later Mark Cervantes on drums for their follow-up album, Astro Lounge. Released in 1999, the album gave audiences the hit single “All Star.”

The albums Smash Mouth (2001) and Get the Picture (2003) followed, and Smash Mouth hit the big screen for the film Shrek, with a cover of the Monkees’ “I’m a Believer,” which closed the film. The single was included on All Star Smash Hits in 2005. Other Smokey Robinson is considered one of the iconic voices of urban contemporary music. Although he’s best noted for his vocal talents, he’s also an accomplished songwriter. In fact, Robinson contributed heavily to the early success of Motown not only for his contributions while a member of the Miracles, but also as a songwriter for performers such as the Temptations and Mary Wells; “My Guy” and “My Girl” were both Smokey Robinson creations, and he also wrote for Marvin Gaye and the Marvelettes.

A fortuitous meeting between Motown founder Berry Gordy Jr. and Smokey Robinson in the late 1950’s would launch careers for both men, as Gordy needed a multi-talented musician for whom to launch a career and Robinson needed a career to launch. The two artists encouraged each other, and Gordy helped to polish Smokey Robinson’s songwriting for the Miracles. “Shop Around” rose to number two, establishing both the group and Motown.  The blend of R&B and rap, and the gospel-like sounds of the single helped to create the iconic Motown sound. The Miracles became Smokey Robinson & the Miracles in 1967, and enjoyed a steady stream of hits until the early 1970’s; “Tears of a Clown” was one of their last big hits.

Smokey Robinson went solo in 1972, giving audiences such classic hits as “Being with You” and “Cruisin’.” Today, Robinson remains an icon of not only the classic Motown sound and achievements of the 60’s, but also as one of the era’s most recognizable vocalists. Smokey was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1987, into the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame in 1989, and recognized by the National Medial of Arts in 1993. Howard University gave Smokey Robinson an honorary Doctorate of Music in 2006, and that same year he was a Kenney Center honoree.

The Miracles were also honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2009, and Smokey Robinson was present along with the original Miracles members - Claudette Rogers, Bobby Rogers, Pete Moore, and Gloria White, who accepted for her husband, the late Ronnie White. Later that same year, Robinson
was recognized with another doctorate degree from the Berklee College of Music after speaking at their commencement ceremony in 2009.

Smokey Robinson continues to perform and record. He recently released the album Smokey & Friends in 2014; the collection of duets includes contributions from notable artists such as James Taylor and Elton John. In 2016, Robinson was awarded the prestigious Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for his lifetime contributions to music.

contributions to film and television followed, and Smash Mouth released a fifth studio album in 2006. Summer Girl featured “Getaway Car,” and many other singles off the album were included in the film Zoom.

With additional changes to their band’s lineup, Smash Mouth continues to write, record, perform, and tour with the current lineup of Steve Harwell, Paul De Lisle, Michael Klooster, Randy Cooke, and Mike Krompass. In 2012, Smash Mouth underwent a record label change, switching to 429 Records, before releasing the album Magic; the live album Playlist: The Very Best of Smash Mouth, followed in 2016. Smash Mouth’s latest album, an acoustic re-recording of their earlier material, arrived in 2017. The album, Fush Yu Mang, coincides with the group’s 20th anniversary.