• IntroductionThe Miracles
  • HistoryInitial career and success"The Showstoppers"SongwritingLater career
  • Accolades, awards and honorsThe 1987 Rock Hall controversy and 2012 induction
  • Legacy
  • Cover versions and influence
  • Awards and achievements
  • Members
  • Discography
  • References
  • Further reading
  • External links
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The Miracles

American R&B and soul vocal group / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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The Miracles (also known as Smokey Robinson and the Miracles from 1965 to 1972) were an American vocal group that was the first successful recording act for Berry Gordy's Motown Records, and one of the most important and most influential groups in the history of pop, soul, R&B and rock and roll music.[1][2][3] The group's international fame in the 1960s, alongside other Motown acts, led to a greater acceptance of Rhythm & Blues and pop music in the U.S., with the group being considered influential and important in the development of modern popular music.[4]

Quick Facts Background information, Also known as ...
The Miracles
Thumb image
The Miracles, c. 1962. Clockwise from top left: Bobby Rogers, Marv Tarplin, Ronnie White, Claudette Robinson, and Smokey Robinson. Not pictured: Pete Moore.
Background information
Also known asThe Five Chimes, The Matadors, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles
OriginDetroit, Michigan, United States
Genres
  • R&B
  • doo-wop
  • rock and roll
  • soul
  • funk
  • disco
Years active1955–1983, 1993–2011
Labels
  • End
  • Chess
  • Tamla
  • Columbia
Past members
  • Ronnie White
  • Warren "Pete" Moore
  • Smokey Robinson
  • Clarence Dawson
  • James Grice
  • Emerson "Sonny" Rogers
  • Bobby Rogers
  • Claudette Rogers Robinson
  • Marv Tarplin
  • Billy Griffin
  • Donald "Don" Griffin
  • Carl Cotton
  • David "Dave" Finley
  • Sidney Justin
  • Tee Turner
  • Mark Scott
Close

Referred to as Motown's "soul supergroup",[5][6] the Miracles recorded more than 50 chart hits, including 26 Top 40 pop hits, 16 of which reached the Billboard Top 20, seven Top 10 singles, and a number-one single ("The Tears of a Clown") while the Robinsons and Tarplin were members. Following the departure of Tarplin and the Robinsons, the rest of the group continued with singer Billy Griffin and managed by Martin Pichinson, who helped rebuild the Miracles. They scored two final Top 20 singles, "Do It Baby" and "Love Machine", a second No. 1 hit, which topped the charts before the group departed for Columbia Records in 1977. Recording as a quintet at Columbia with Billy's brother Donald Griffin replacing Marv Tarplin, after a few releases, they disbanded in 1978. In all, the group had more than fifty charted hits by the time they disbanded,[7] and have won numerous music industry awards, including four songs inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, several BMI and ASCAP Songwriters' Awards, and Induction into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

On the R&B charts, the Miracles scored 26 Top 10 Billboard R&B hits, with four R&B No. 1's, and 11 U.S. R&B Top 10 Albums, including two No. 1's. Bobby Rogers and Ronald White revived the group as a touring ensemble sporadically during the 1980s and again in the 1990s. Following White's death in 1995, Rogers continued to tour with different members until he was forced into retirement due to health issues in 2011, dying less than two years later. Smokey Robinson was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist in 1987, and much controversy ensued over the Miracles' omission from the Hall. The Miracles were finally inducted into the Hall of Fame by lead singer Robinson in 2012.

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