International Talent Management

William "Smokey" Robinson first lived on the east side, right in the middle of the old Black Bottom neighborhood, on St. Antoine and Napoleon, long replaced by I-75. His mother died when he was 10 and he was raised by his oldest sister on Belmont between Brush and Oakland. At Dwyer Elementary, teachers noticed his writing ability. When he was just 13 when in 1953 he started singing with neighborhood friends, including Bobby Rogers, Ronnie White, Pete Moore and Claudette Rogers, Bobby's cousin. Smokey thought Claudette was the prettiest girl he'd ever seen in his life. Claudette thought Smokey was "skinny." The friends continued singing on and off through high school. After Claudette joined the group permanently and they met Berry Gordy in 1957, Gordy suggested the Matadors was no name for a group with a girl, and they became the Miracles. From left, back, Bobby Rogers, guitarist Marv Tarplin, Ronnie White; front, Smokey Robinson and Claudette Rogers Robinson. Pictured here in 1963.