Inside the December/January Issue of AARP The Magazine: Motown Legend Smokey Robinson Reflects on Creativity, Lost Friends, and the Birth of the Motown Record

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Dec 03, 2018, 12:15 ET

WASHINGTON, Dec. 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- In an exclusive interview, legendary singer and prolific songwriter Smokey Robinson shares behind-the-scenes stories about how he, founder Barry Gordy, and a cast of Detroit teenagers changed the world of music with Motown records.

The iconic record label – responsible for launching the careers of superstars Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross, Marvin Gaye, and Aretha Franklin – turns 60 this year. Smokey Robinson wrote songs, traveled, and shared countless moments with each of them during his time at Motown. In fact, he met Franklin long before their music careers took off; the two were childhood friends and remained close personally and professionally for over 70 years. In this month's cover story, Robinson reveals his reactions and emotions when he learned of the passing of the Queen of Soul.

Being at the forefront of a worldwide phenomenon at the most important music label of the century was beyond Robinson's wildest dreams. He remembers the first day of Motown when founder Berry Gordy sat everyone down and said, "I'm going to start my own record company. We are not just going to make black music, we're going to make music for the world." And according to Robinson, "That was our plan, and we did it."

Also in the December/January ATM:

The Story of Motown
ATM's commemorative feature details the hidden history of Motown records. Read about the young Detroit entrepreneur who created music that broke down racial barriers, electrified the American songbook, and keeps us dancing today. Berry Gordy transformed the sons and daughters of former sharecroppers, autoworkers, clerks, housekeepers and church deacons, and turned them into some of the music industry's greatest.

Health
More than 370,000 Americans undergo hip-replacement surgery each year after the age of 65. The operation, however, isn't a cure-all: At least 1 in 10 hip-replacement recipients will need a second procedure to repair a dislocation, mechanical failure or infection. ATM shares best practices to strengthen and protect your hips from ever needing the procedure.

PLUS:
Discover the surprising reasons you might be getting headaches. AARP's exclusive "decision tree" helps you track down the causes of 12 common headache types, from caffeine withdrawal to barometric pressure changes to medicine-induced headaches.

Money
Finance expert Jean Chatzky shares money tips for re-newlyweds and details which financial accounts to keep separate, and which to consider merging. Forget about the stress of negotiating who pays what bill or how household costs will be split – what's yours is mine might not always be the case.

Entertainment – Movies For Grownups
AARP reveals early picks for Oscar-worthy films, according to top critics at IndieWire, Deadline and Gold Derby. This year's diverse choices range from films about an African American classical pianist being chauffeured through the 1960s to historical dramas about dueling young queens Elizabeth I and Mary.

PLUS:
Ultra-popular national radio host Delilah reveals her personal story, including why she adopted 11 children, her love of farm life, the secret of her radio success, and how she has repeatedly bounced back from hard times and tragedy.

Everyday Heroes
How do we find the courage to step up when facing life-or-death risks? AARP shares the stories of seven heroic individuals who risked their own life to save another. From fighting off a bear to pulling a man from a burning car to chasing down a mass shooter, find out how these inspirational individuals did not let fear get in the way.

Technology
The future is here. Thanks to virtual reality, people can travel the world, visit grandkids and see their doctor without leaving their living room. AARP delves into how VR came about and how it is being explored for a wide range of health and entertainment usages.

PLUS:
Great new tech tools that make everyday living easier. Meet a pillbox that will send you reminders, or a shirt that tells you how much sun is hitting your skin.

About AARP
AARP is the nation's largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering people 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With a nationwide presence and nearly 38 million members, AARP strengthens communities and advocates for what matters most to families: health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment. AARP also produces the nation's largest circulation publications: AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin. To learn more, visit www.aarp.org or follow @AARP and @AARPadvocates on social media.

SOURCE AARP