William "Smokey" Robinson Jr. is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and former record executive. Robinson was the founder and frontman of the Motown vocal group the Miracles, for which he was also chief songwriter and producer. Robinson led the group from its 1955 origins as "the Five Chimes" until 1972, when he announced a retirement from the group to focus on his role as Motown's vice president. However, Robinson returned to the music industry as a solo artist the following year. Following the sale of Motown Records in 1988, Robinson left the company in 1990. Robinson was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987, and was awarded the 2016 Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for his lifetime contributions to popular music.

Filmography

• 2024Beatles '64 — Self, Songs
• 2017Hitsville US Eh! — Interviewee
• 2013Smokey Robinson - Radio 2 Live in Hyde Park
• 2011Rejoice and Shout
• Celebrity Duets
• 2006Last Holiday — Smokey Robinson
• ToddWorld — Theme Song Performance
• 2003Hollywood Homicide — Cabbie
• 2002Mr. Bill Does Vegas
• One on One — Duane's Father
• The Proud Family
• The Heaven and Earth Show
• Later... with Jools Holland
• The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
• 1985Motown Returns to the Apollo
• The Billy Crystal Comedy Hour
• 1977Big Time — Writer, Music
• Police Story
• The Sound of Protest

Appearances as themselves (59)

• 2024A Motown Christmas — Self
• 2024American Music Awards 50th Anniversary Special — Self
• 2024The Greatest Night in Pop — Self
• 2023Soul of a Nation Presents: Black in Vegas — Self
• 2023Sunday Best: The Untold Story of Ed Sullivan — Self
• Sherri — Self - Guest
• The Jennifer Hudson Show — Self
• 2021Dionne Warwick: Don't Make Me Over — Self
• 2021Miracle in Motor City — Self
• Unfiltered: Paris Jackson & Gabriel Glenn — Self
• 2019Aretha Franklin Remembered (My Music) — Self
• 2019Hitsville: The Making of Motown — Self
• 2019ReMastered: The Two Killings of Sam Cooke — Self
• 2019The Apollo — Self
• The Kelly Clarkson Show — Self
• Beat Shazam — Self
• 2017Smokey Robinson: The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song — Himself
• Steve — Self
• Soundbreaking — Self
• 2014Michael Jackson - The Final Days — self
• 2014The Art of McCartney — Self
• The Voice — Self
• 2010Sesame Street: 40 Years of Sunny Days — Self (uncredited) (archive footage)
• Who Do You Think You Are? — Self
• 2009DJ Juice: The King is Back Mixtape Blend DVD Vol. 70 — Self (archive footage)
• 2009Michael Jackson Memorial — Self
• 2009Motown at the BBC — Self
• 2009The 25th Anniversary Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Concerts — Self
• The Jay Leno Show — Self
• 2008Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History — Self
• NPR Tiny Desk Concerts — Self
• On Air with Ryan Seacrest — Self - Performer
• 2004The Very Best of Smokey Robinson Live In Concert — Himself
• Jimmy Kimmel Live! — Self - Musical Guest
• The Ellen DeGeneres Show — Self
• 2003The Giants of Black Music — Self
• American Idol — Self - Guest Judge
• CMT Crossroads — Self
• 2002It's Black Entertainment — Self
• Hollywood Squares — Self - Panelist
• 1998Motown 40: The Music Is Forever — Self
• 1998Quincy Jones... The First 50 Years — Self
• 1995Ready Steady Go! The Sounds of Motown — Self
• 1993Aretha Franklin: Duets — Self
• 1993Michael Jackson Talks... to Oprah — Self
• The Jim Henson Hour — Self
• 1988Michael Jackson: The Legend Continues — Self
• 1986Knights of the City — Himself
• 1985We Are the World: The Story Behind the Song — Self
• 1984DTV: Golden Oldies — Self
• 1983Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever — Self
• The Kennedy Center Honors — Self
• American Music Awards — Self - Presenter
• Dinah! — Self
• The Midnight Special — Self
• 1964The T.A.M.I. Show — Self - Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
• Top of the Pops — Self
• The Mike Douglas Show — Self
• The Grammys — Self