Smokey Robinson’s Rise from Modest Beginnings to Vice President at Motown

Hey there, music lovers! Let’s take a moment to soak up some inspiration from a legend – Smokey Robinson. Now this is a name that rings a bell, right? Well, if it doesn’t, here’s a rapid-fire recap. Smokey was the voice and soul of The Miracles—the band that pretty much set the foundation of Motown Records back in 1959. And can you believe he started when he was only 15 years old? Talk about starting young!

Smokey’s conversation on the “R&B Money” podcast shines a light on an intriguing founding story. The visionary behind Motown Records, Berry Gordy, got the ball rolling—and let me quote Smokey here—”He said, ‘Imma start my own record company. Ain’t nobody paying. Imma start my own record company, and we gonna be the crew, and we’re not just going to make Black music. We’re going to make music for the world.'”

And boy, he wasn’t kidding! The purpose of Motown Records was to dream big and inclusively. They were committed to beats that’d get you grooving, and stories that would stir your soul. That was the gold standard for any music they produced.

However, transforming this vision into reality was not easy street for them. Remember when I said Smokey started young? Well, he was only making 5 bucks a week when Motown kicked off. But clearly, these initial sacrifices and their dedication to quality tunes paid off in the long run.

So, here’s what we take away from Smokey’s story. It’s about fostering big ideas, enduring the struggles, and maintaining a rigorous quality standard. It’s about believing in the power of inclusivity. No matter what, never forget we’re all making music for the world to dance to! Keep that beat going, folks!