Legendary Singer-Songwriter Smokey Robinson To Release Duets Album "Smokey & Friends" This September On Verve Records

ROBINSON TO BE JOINED BY AN ALL STAR ROSTER OF ARTISTS INCLUDING ELTON JOHN AND JAMES TAYLOR

News provided by

May 15, 2014, 08:00 ET

LOS ANGELES, May 15, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Legendary Motown icon and Grammy^® award-winning singer-songwriter, Smokey Robinson is set to release his highly anticipated duets album, Smokey & Friends this September 2014 on Verve Records. Produced by American Idol star and record producer Randy Jackson, Robinson will be joined by an all-star roster of acclaimed artists including rock legends Elton John and James Taylor, with additional artists to be announced soon. To pre-order "Smokey & Friends," on Amazon.com click HERE.

Elton John and James Taylor will duet with Robinson on treasured singles originally released in 1965 and each having sold in the millions. Elton John and Smokey Robinson will duet on "The Tracks of My Tears," one of the most celebrated songs of our time. The legendary track landed in Rolling Stone's Top 500 Songs of All Time and was inducted in the Grammy Hall of Fame and into the Library of Congress. "The Tracks of My Tears" ranked #5 among 10 Greatest Songs of All Time when voted on by a panel of songwriting experts which included Hal David, Paul McCartney, Brian Wilson and Jerry Lieber.

Elton John made a historic pronouncement about the song he sang on with Robinson, "I was lucky enough to pick 'Tracks Of My Tears' because I've always loved the song, probably one of the best lyrics of all time…just an amazing lyric. The greatest pop song ever written."

James Taylor and Smokey Robinson will duet on the Marvin Gaye classic "Ain't That Peculiar" which he composed and became one of Gaye's earliest signature hits. In fact it was Gaye's second consecutive Billboard #1 R&B Single and his second Top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart.

Robinson said, "What a great honor and pleasure it is for me to record with my really good friends Elton John and James Taylor. They are both awesome artists and we had a great time in the studio."

Smokey & Friends will feature Robinson alongside a celebrated roster of contemporary and classic artists who will sing the best loved songs from Robinson's unmatched catalog of hits including those he has written for his solo career, his Rock and Roll Hall of Fame group, The Miracles, as well as hits he wrote for others, including Marvin Gaye and The Temptations. Additional collaborations to be featured on the album will be announced soon.

ABOUT SMOKEY ROBINSON

Once pronounced by Bob Dylan as America's "greatest living poet," acclaimed singer-songwriter Smokey Robinson's career spans over four decades of hits. He has received numerous awards including two Grammy's, the Grammy Living Legend Award, NARAS Lifetime Achievement Award, Honorary Doctorate (Howard University), Kennedy Center Honors and the National Medal of Arts Award from the President of the United States. He has also been inducted into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters' Hall of Fame.

Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, Robinson founded The Miracles while still in high school. The group was Berry Gordy's first vocal group. Their single of Robinson's "Shop Around" became Motown's first #1 hit on the R&B singles chart. The Miracles dominated the R&B scene throughout the 1960's and early 70's. In addition to writing hits for The Miracles, Robinson wrote and produced hits for other Motown greats including The Temptations, Mary Wells, Brenda Holloway, Marvin Gaye and of course The Beatles.

During the course of his 50 plus year career in music, Robinson has accumulated more than 4,000 songs to his credit and continues to thrill sold-out audiences around the world with his high tenor voice, impeccable timing, and profound sense of lyric. Never resting on his laurels, Smokey Robinson remains a beloved icon in our musical heritage.

Web site: www.smokeyrobinson.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesmokeyrobinson
Twitter: https://twitter.com/smokey_robinson

SOURCE Verve Records