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|birth_name = Robert E. Rogers
|birth_name = Robert E. Rogers
|alias = B
|alias = B
|birth_date = February 9, 1940
|birth_date = February 19, 1940
|birth_place =[[Detroit]], [[Michigan]], [[United States]]
|birth_place =[[Detroit]], [[Michigan]], [[United States]]
|death_date = March 3, 2013 (aged 73)
|death_date = March 3, 2013 (aged 73)

Revision as of 22:39, 3 March 2013

Bobby Rogers
Birth nameRobert E. Rogers
Also known asB
BornFebruary 19, 1940
Detroit, Michigan, United States
DiedMarch 3, 2013 (aged 73)
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter
Years active1956-2013

Bobby Rogers (February 19, 1940 - March 3, 2013), born Robert E. Rogers, was an American soul singer and songwriter, notable as a member of Motown Records' first signed act and first million selling group The Miracles from 1956 until 2011. He was inducted along with the other members of the Miracles with the exception of Smokey Robinson in 2012 to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Rogers was the grandfather of R&B singer Brandi Williams from R&B girl group Blaque.

Life

Rogers was the son of the late Robert and Lois Rogers. He was born on February 19, 1940 the same day and in the same Detroit hospital as fellow Miracles member Smokey Robinson, although the two would not meet until 15 years later.

On December 18, 1963 Rogers married Wanda Young, of Inkster, Michigan, the lead singer of Motown group The Marvelettes. They had several children together and divorced in 1975 after twelve years of marriage. In 1981 Rogers married Joan Hughes on his birthday. The wedding ceremony was officiated by the late Cecil Franklin (older brother of Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin) at Detroit's historic New Bethel Baptist Church. Rogers and his wife Joan had four children (Bobbae, Gina, Kimberly and Robert III) all are now adults. Rogers resided between his primary residence in Plymouth, Michigan, a western suburb of Detroit, Michigan and a Beverly Hills, California piedaterre with wife Joan.

Rogers' cousin, Claudette Rogers, was also a member of the Miracles, and later married Smokey Robinson.

Bobby Rogers died in March 3, 2013 after a long undisclosed illness.[1]

Motown and The Miracles

The 1960 single "Shop Around" was Motown's first number one hit on the R&B singles chart, and the first big hit for The Miracles. The song was also Motown's first million selling hit single. The Miracles scored many more hits over the years, including:

Columbia Releases

  • Spy for Brotherhood (1977)
  • I Can Touch the Sky (1977)
  • Mean Machine (1978)

Timeline

  • 1956 - Bobby Rogers, Claudette Rogers, Pete Moore, Ronnie White and William "Smokey" Robinson form The Miracles.
  • 1958 - The Miracles release their first single "Got A Job."
  • 1961 - The Miracles "Shop Around" gives Motown Records its first #1 gold record.
  • 1965 - Claudette Robinson retires from live performances with the Miracles while continuing to record on all of The Miracles studio projects.
  • 1965 - Motown changes group's name to Smokey Robinson & The Miracles.
  • 1968 - The Miracles were honored to a Command Performance for Queen Elizabeth (London, England).
  • 1972 - Smokey Robinson announces his retirement. William "Bill" Griffin begins with The Miracles.

Musical career

In addition to his work in The Miracles, Rogers was a part-time Motown songwriter; his most notable composition, authored with bandmate Smokey Robinson, was The Temptations' first hit single, "The Way You Do the Things You Do". Rogers also co-wrote The Temptations' 1965 hit "My Baby", Mary Wells' hit, "What Love Has Joined Together", The Contours' 1965 hit "First I Look at the Purse", (later covered by the J Geils Band), Marvin Gaye's 1966 Top 40 hit, "One More Heartache" and The Miracles' own 1964 Top 40 hit, "That's What Love Is Made Of", and their 1966 hit, "Going to a Go-Go". He is also noted for doing co-lead vocals on The Miracles' 1962 Top 10 smash, "You've Really Got a Hold on Me", and singing lead on the group's 1964 song, "You're So Fine And Sweet".Bobby was also reputed to be the group's best dancer, and was responsible for many of the Miracles' onstage routines,until the arrival of famed Motown choreographer Cholly Atkins. [2]

In late 2006, Bobby re-united with original Miracles members Smokey Robinson and Pete Moore for the group's first-ever extended interview on the Motown DVD release, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles : The Definitive Performances.

Rogers continues to perform throughout the United States, Canada and Europe with members Dave Finley, Tee Turner and Mark Scott in the current incarnation of The Miracles, making him, as of 2009, the longest-serving original Miracles member still with the group today. On March 20, 2009, Bobby was in Hollywood to be honored along with the other original members of The Miracles (Smokey Robinson, Claudette Robinson and Pete Moore) as they received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Also on hand were Gloria White, the wife of original Miracles member Ronnie White who is deceased (White is responsible for discovering Motown artist Stevie Wonder), and Bill Griffin was in attendance. He replaced Smokey Robinson when he left the group.

The Miracles : awards and professional recognition

  • Bobby, and each member of The Miracles (except Claudette) has been awarded the BMI award for songwriting .(Reference: Ebony,October 1971,pg 169).
  • Berry Gordy's Motown Record Corporation's signature act; their first Group, and their first million selling act was The Miracles, Motown Royalty.
  • Without The Miracles there would be no Motown, quoted Berry Gordy, 3/20/2009
  • Without The Miracles there would be no Stevie Wonder, quoted Stevie Wonder, 3/20/2009
  • Gold and Platinum Record (Single and Album) Awards (Sales of more than 500,000 or 1,000,000 units)
  • Worldwide over 40 Million records sold.
  • Twenty six of The Miracles single releases reached the Top Ten Billboard R&B Charts
  • Four of The Miracles songs reached #1 on Billboard R&B Charts
  • Sixteen releases of The Miracles recordings reached Billboards Hot 100 List with 7 Top Tens.
  • Four time inductees Grammy Hall of Fame.
  • Doo-Wop Hall of Fame Inductees.
  • Triple induction Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's "500 Best" song List.
  • Double recipient of the prestigious "Heroes and Legends" Award.
  • Rhythm & Blues Pioneer Award
  • Vocal Group Hall of Fame Induction and Award
  • Spirit of Detroit Award
  • Rolling Stone Magazine named The Miracles the "32nd Greatest Rock n' Roll Artists" of all time.
  • Billboard Magazine and VH1 list The Miracles of The 100 Greatest Artists of all Time.
  • Under the terms of the National Recording Preservation Act of 2000, the Library's National Recording Preservation Board announced The Miracles' million seller, "Tracks of My Tears" being "culturally, historically, and aesthetically significant" to preserve for all time in the United States Library of Congress.
  • Miracles Boulevard and Miracles Park, Detroit, Michigan (Woodbridge Estates)
  • Governor of the state of Michigan, Certificate of Tribute and recognition of The Miracles and their importance to the state of Michigan and the city of Detroit for tremendous accomplishments in the music industry.
  • Mayor of Detroit Proclamation for a Lifetime of history making accomplishments in music.
  • Resolution Award, the Detroit City Council gave the Highest Honor they can present to The Miracles for 5 decades of unchallenged achievements in the music industry.
  • City of Beverly Hills, CA, Beverly Hills Mayor and City Council Proclamation recognizing The Miracles contributions to the music industry and American Culture.
  • The Miracles received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on March 20, 2009.
  • The Miracles were retroactively inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012 by a special committee, alongside Smokey Robinson.

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction in 2012

In 1987, Smokey Robinson was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist. However, in a decision that has since sparked much scrutiny, debate, and controversy, the other original members of The Miracles, Bobby Rogers, Ronnie White, Marv Tarplin, Pete Moore and Claudette Robinson, were not, at that time, inducted. This proved a source of many protests from angry Miracles fans.

On February 9, 2012, it was announced that Bobby Rogers would be inducted with the rest of The Miracles into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame alongside Miracles lead singer Smokey Robinson. [2] This induction occurred on April 14, 2012. After a 26 year wait, Bobby was automatically and retroactively inducted with the rest of the original Miracles, Marv Tarplin, Pete Moore, Claudette Robinson, and Ronnie White into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame alongside Miracles lead singer Smokey Robinson. The induction was handled by a Special Committee designated by The Rock Hall in 2012, that inducted The Miracles, and five other deserving pioneering groups, that were overlooked when their lead singers were inducted into the Rock Hall many years ago. This induction occurred without the usual process of nomination and voting, under the premise that the entire group should have been inducted with Smokey Robinson back in 1987.[3][4]

References

  1. ^ "Bobby Rogers of the Miracles dies after long illness | The Detroit News". detroitnews.com. 1940-02-19. Retrieved 2013-03-03.
  2. ^ a b "The Miracles Biography | The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum". Rockhall.com. Retrieved 2013-03-03.
  3. ^ "The Miracles: inducted in 2012 | The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum". Rockhall.com. Retrieved 2013-03-03.
  4. ^ "The Miracles". Future Rock Legends. Retrieved 2013-03-03.

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