Claudette Rogers Robinson

Robinson in 1962

Claudette Rogers and Smokey Robinson were married on November 7, 1959. Smokey and Claudette had plans to raise a family, but the rough music touring life caused Claudette to have seven miscarriages.[1]

Smokey Robinson co-wrote the number-one Motown single "My Girl" with Miracles member Ronald White in dedication to Claudette, a song performed most notably by The Temptations. The song was originally intended to be recorded by The Miracles.

The Robinsons have two children, and both have Motown-referenced names: Berry William Borope Robinson was named after label chief Berry Gordy with his first middle name, "William", in honor of his father (William "Smokey" Robinson), and his second middle name in honor of fellow Miracles group mates Bobby (Rogers), Ronnie (White) and Pete (Moore), and Tamla Claudette Robinson was named after Motown's original record label, Tamla Records.[1] with her middle name "Claudette", after her mother.

Smokey Robinson and Claudette were divorced in 1986, after 27 years of marriage. Motown founder Berry Gordy gave Claudette the official title of the "First Lady of Motown", as noted in his autobiography, because, as a member of The Miracles, Motown's first group and first recording act, she was the first female artist ever signed to a Motown-affiliated record label (Tamla). Several years ago, Claudette began writing her autobiography, A Miraculous Life, a book of her memoirs, and of her life with The Miracles. Robinson is a board member of the national Rhythm & Blues Foundation and the HAL Awards. Her cousin and original Miracles member Bobby Rogers toured with the last incarnation of The Miracles throughout the United States, Canada and Europe, until his death in 2013. Claudette still performs and makes selected appearances with The Miracles. She can be seen on stage with The Miracles live at the Apollo Theatre in a rare 1962 film clip on the 2006 Motown/Universal DVD release, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles: The Definitive Performances. She can also be seen onstage with original Miracles, Smokey Robinson, her cousin Bobby Rogers, Pete Moore, and Marv Tarplin (but not Ronnie White) on the DVD release of The "Motown 25" Television Special.[2]

The First Lady of Motown: The Claudette Robinson Story is a biographical documentary of the life and career of Claudette Robinson, including her years as a founding member of The Miracles. Scheduled for a 2023 release and currently in post-production, it includes interviews with her former husband Smokey Robinson, their children, Berry and Tamla Robinson, Motown founder Berry Gordy, Mary Wilson of The Supremes, Martha Reeves of Martha and the Vandellas, Kim Weston, Jayne Kennedy, and others, as well as archive footage of deceased Miracles: Ronnie White, Pete Moore, Marv Tarplin, and her cousin, Bobby Rogers.[3]

Robinson at the LBJ Presidential Library in 2019

In 1987, Smokey Robinson was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist. However, in a controversial decision, the other original members of The Miracles—Bobby Rogers, Ronnie White, Pete Moore, Marv Tarplin, and Claudette Robinson—were not.

In 2012, it was finally announced that, after a 26-year wait, Claudette Robinson would be automatically and retroactively inducted with the rest of The Miracles into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame alongside Miracles lead singer Smokey Robinson.[4][5]

Claudette pictured with members of The Earth Angels doo wop band

• Claudette and the original members of The Miracles were honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on March 20, 2009.[6]
• Worldwide more than 60 million records sold.[7]
• Doo-Wop Hall of Fame Inductees.[8]
• Vocal Group Hall of Fame Induction and Award.[9]
• Miracles Boulevard and Miracles Park, Detroit, Michigan (Woodbridge Estates), named in honor of Motown group The Miracles.[10]
• The Miracles received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on March 20, 2009.[11]
• Goldmine Magazine names The Miracles one of the "20 Greatest Doo-Wop Groups of All Time" .[12]
• The Miracles were retroactively inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012 alongside Smokey Robinson.[5]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Claudette Rogers Robinson.

• The Official First Lady of Motown – Claudette Robinson website
• Video: Claudette Robinson speaks at The Miracles' Hollywood Walk Of Fame Ceremony- March 20, 2009 on YouTube
• KLEAN Radio interview with Claudette Robinson and son Berry Robinson on YouTube