Solo Artist

Smokey Robinson

Active1955-present
OriginDetroit, Michigan
Albums20
Tracks203

Most frequent collaborator: William "Smokey" Robinson  ·  176 tracks

R&BSoulMotownPop
59%
Authorship
Collaborator

Holds writing credit on 120 of 203 tracks

Did Smokey Robinson write his own songs?

Yes, most of them. Smokey Robinson is one of the great Motown songwriters, credited on around 59% of the songs in this catalogue, and he wrote or co-wrote his classics like 'The Tracks of My Tears,' 'Ooo Baby Baby,' and 'Cruisin'.' He usually wrote with his Miracles bandmates and Motown colleagues. His 1980s comeback hits 'Just to See Her' and 'One Heartbeat' were written by outside writers.

By the Numbers

20
Studio Albums
203
Tracks Credited
59%
Self-Written
71
Years Active
140
Collaborators

Authorship Breakdown 120 / 203 self-written

Who wrote the songs?

Across all 203 tracks: how many Smokey Robinson wrote alone, how many they co-wrote, and how many were written by others. The bracket marks every track they hold any writing credit on.

Smokey Robinson has a writing credit59%
27%
32%
41%
Sole author55tracks27%
Co-written65tracks32%
Outside writers83tracks41%

Role Fingerprint how they contribute

Lyricist Performer Composer Producer
Smokey Robinson's roles across the catalogue

Share of all 203 tracks where they are personally credited, by role.

Lyricist (words)59%
Composer (music)59%
Producer13%
Performer100%

Authorship Over Time writing credit per album

Smokey Robinson's writing credit per album, in release order. Hover any bar for the album.

avg 59%
91%
90%
92%
33%
58%
64%
33%
67%
0%
78%
89%
100%
0%
86%
50%
44%
78%
67%
8%
89%
1961Hi... We're the Miracles
1962Cookin' with the Miracles
1965Going to a Go-Go
1966Away We a Go-Go
1967Make It Happen
1968Special Occasion
1969Four in Blue
1971One Dozen Roses
1972Flying High Together
1973Smokey
1974Pure Smokey
1975A Quiet Storm
1977Deep in My Soul
1979Where There's Smoke...
1981Being with You
1982Yes It's You Lady
1987One Heartbeat
1999Intimate
2006Timeless Love
2023Gasms
Early · 65% written
Mid · 57% written
Late · 53% written

Authorship by Decade track-weighted

65%
1960s
Going to a Go-Go, Make It Happen +5 more
57%
1970s
A Quiet Storm, One Dozen Roses +5 more
58%
1980s
Being with You, Yes It's You Lady +1 more
67%
1990s
Intimate
8%
2000s
Timeless Love
89%
2020s
Gasms

Authorship Spectrum pure performer to complete author

Where Smokey Robinson sits on the scale from a pure performer (0%, sings songs written by others) to a complete author (100%, writes everything). The bright marker is their catalogue authorship score, plotted against other artists on the site.

Smokey Robinson
Other artists on the site

Reference artists spread across the scale, closest by genre and era.

Whitney Houston5%
Ray Charles14%
The Jacksons24%
Michael Jackson51%
Christina Aguilera74%
Mariah Carey87%
Prince96%
59%Smokey Robinson
Pure Performer0%
Songwriter~50%
Complete Author100%

Who Really Wrote the Hits signature songs

Ooo Baby Baby
Going to a Go-Go
Written by Warren Moore, Smokey Robinson
Co-wrote
The Tracks of My Tears
Going to a Go-Go
Written by Warren Moore, Smokey Robinson, Marvin Tarplin
Co-wrote
My Girl Has Gone
Going to a Go-Go
Written by Warren Moore, Smokey Robinson, Marvin Tarplin, Ronald White
Co-wrote
Going to a Go-Go
Going to a Go-Go
Written by Warren Moore, Smokey Robinson, Robert Rogers, Marvin Tarplin
Co-wrote
The Love I Saw in You Was Just a Mirage
Make It Happen
Written by Smokey Robinson, Marvin Tarplin
Co-wrote
The Tears of a Clown
Make It Happen
Written by Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder, Henry Cosby
Co-wrote
Baby That's Backatcha
A Quiet Storm
Written by Smokey Robinson
Wrote it
The Agony and the Ecstasy
A Quiet Storm
Written by Smokey Robinson
Wrote it
Quiet Storm
A Quiet Storm
Written by Smokey Robinson, Rose Ella Jones
Co-wrote
Being with You
Being with You
Written by Smokey Robinson
Wrote it
Shop Around
Hi... We're the Miracles
Written by Smokey Robinson, Berry Gordy
Co-wrote
Ain't It Baby
Cookin' with the Miracles
Written by Berry Gordy, Smokey Robinson
Co-wrote
Everybody's Gotta Pay Some Dues
Cookin' with the Miracles
Written by Smokey Robinson, Ronnie White
Co-wrote
Broken Hearted
Cookin' with the Miracles
Written by Berry Gordy, Smokey Robinson
Co-wrote
(Come 'Round Here) I'm the One You Need
Away We a Go-Go
Written by Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, Eddie Holland
Outside writers
If You Can Want
Special Occasion
Written by Smokey Robinson
Wrote it
I Don't Blame You at All
One Dozen Roses
Written by Smokey Robinson
Wrote it
I Can't Stand to See You Cry
Flying High Together
Written by Johnny Bristol, Wade Brown Jr., David Jones Jr.
Outside writers
We've Come Too Far to End It Now
Flying High Together
Written by Johnny Bristol, Wade Brown Jr., David Jones Jr.
Outside writers
Baby Come Close
Smokey
Written by Smokey Robinson, Pamela Moffett, Marvin Tarplin
Co-wrote
Virgin Man
Pure Smokey
Written by Smokey Robinson, Rose Ella Jones
Co-wrote
Cruisin'
Where There's Smoke...
Written by Smokey Robinson, Marvin Tarplin
Co-wrote
Tell Me Tomorrow
Yes It's You Lady
Written by Gary Goetzman, Mike Piccirillo
Outside writers
Just to See Her
One Heartbeat
Written by Jimmy George, Lou Pardini
Outside writers
One Heartbeat
One Heartbeat
Written by Brian Ray, Steve LeGassick
Outside writers

Discography 20 albums

This page covers Smokey Robinson's complete studio discography, 7 Miracles-era albums (1961-1972) and 13 solo albums (1973-2023).

Collaborator Network who they worked with most

Smokey Robinson203 tracks
W"176 BG21 SW17 GT17 MT15 SF13

Bubble size = tracks worked on together. W" William "Smokey" Robinson · BG Berry Gordy · SW Stevie Wonder · GT George Tobin · MT Marvin Tarplin · SF Sid Feller

The Writers & Producers Behind Smokey Robinson 6 key collaborators

W"
William "Smokey" Robinson
Producer
Going to a Go-Go / Hi... We're the Miracles / Cookin' with the Miracles / Away We a Go-Go176 tracks
BG
Berry Gordy
Songwriter & Producer
Hi... We're the Miracles / Cookin' with the Miracles21 tracks
SW
Stevie Wonder
Songwriter
Make It Happen / Away We a Go-Go / One Dozen Roses / Flying High Together17 tracks
GT
George Tobin
Producer
Being with You / Yes It's You Lady17 tracks
MT
Marvin Tarplin
Songwriter
Going to a Go-Go / Make It Happen / One Dozen Roses / Smokey15 tracks
SF
Sid Feller
Producer
Timeless Love13 tracks

The Authorship Story

Data Insight

Smokey Robinson wrote virtually everything he recorded, for The Miracles AND his solo catalog. He also wrote for other Motown artists (Mary Wells, The Temptations, Marvin Gaye), making him one of Motown's defining creative voices. As a recording artist, his authorship score approaches 100%, with only rare covers interrupting an otherwise complete record of self-penned or co-penned material. His co-writes with Miracles bandmates like Warren Moore and Marvin Tarplin are genuine collaborative credits, not outside-writer intrusions.

Quick Facts

  • Rock HallInducted as a solo artist in 1988, and again with the Miracles in 2012
  • The MiraclesFounder and frontman of Motown's Miracles from 1955 to 1972
  • Motown executiveServed as a vice president of Motown Records
  • Wrote for othersWrote 'My Girl' for the Temptations and 'My Guy' for Mary Wells
  • Co-writersWrote many hits with his Miracles bandmates, including guitarist Marv Tarplin

Creative Fingerprint

A Motown master songwriter: Smokey Robinson wrote or co-wrote the majority of his catalogue, usually alongside his Miracles bandmates like Warren Moore and Marv Tarplin, though his 1980s comeback leaned on songs by outside writers.

The Story

William "Smokey" Robinson Jr. founded The Miracles in 1955 and became one of Motown's most important figures, serving as the group's lead singer and also as a prolific songwriter and in-house producer who helped define the label's sound. Berry Gordy called him "the greatest living poet," and Bob Dylan praised his songwriting in similar terms; Robinson wrote enduring classics for Mary Wells, The Temptations, and Marvin Gaye in addition to his own recordings. After leaving The Miracles in 1972, he launched a successful solo career that continued for decades, producing silky, introspective R&B and earning a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1999.

Awards & Recognition

Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist in 1988
Inducted again with the Miracles in 2012
Founder and frontman of the Miracles, one of Motown's pioneering groups
Wrote 'My Girl' for the Temptations and 'My Guy' for Mary Wells, among many Motown hits for other artists
One of the most important songwriters in the history of soul and R&B

Frequently Asked Questions Smokey Robinson

Did Smokey Robinson write his own songs?
Yes, most of them. Smokey Robinson is one of the great Motown songwriters, credited on around 59% of the songs in this catalogue, and he wrote or co-wrote his classics like 'The Tracks of My Tears,' 'Ooo Baby Baby,' and 'Cruisin'.' He usually wrote with his Miracles bandmates and Motown colleagues. His 1980s comeback hits 'Just to See Her' and 'One Heartbeat' were written by outside writers.
Who wrote 'The Tracks of My Tears'?
'The Tracks of My Tears' (1965) was co-written by Smokey Robinson with his Miracles bandmates Warren 'Pete' Moore and Marv Tarplin. It is one of the most celebrated songs of the Motown era.
Did Smokey Robinson write songs for other artists?
Yes, many. As a Motown writer and executive, he wrote 'My Girl' for the Temptations and 'My Guy' for Mary Wells, plus hits for the Marvelettes, the Contours, and others.
Who wrote 'The Tears of a Clown'?
'The Tears of a Clown' was co-written by Smokey Robinson with Stevie Wonder and Hank Cosby. Wonder and Cosby came up with the circus-like melody, and Robinson added the lyrics.
Was Smokey Robinson in a group?
Yes. He was the founder and lead singer of the Miracles, one of Motown's first and most important groups, from 1955 until 1972, when he left to focus on being a Motown vice president.
Who wrote 'Cruisin''?
'Cruisin'' (1979), his solo-era comeback hit, was co-written by Smokey Robinson with his longtime collaborator, guitarist Marv Tarplin.
How many albums has Smokey Robinson released?
This catalogue covers 20 of his albums, spanning his work with the Miracles and his long solo career from the 1960s to Gasms (2023).
Is Smokey Robinson in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?
Yes, twice. He was inducted as a solo artist in 1988 and again as a member of the Miracles in 2012.
Who did Smokey Robinson write with?
Mostly his Miracles bandmates, Bobby Rogers, Pete Moore, Ronnie White, and guitarist Marv Tarplin, along with Motown founder Berry Gordy and, on 'The Tears of a Clown,' Stevie Wonder.
What genre is Smokey Robinson?
He is a foundational soul and R&B artist, central to the Motown sound, known for his smooth falsetto and poetic, romantic lyrics.

Sources

Wikipedia: Smokey Robinson Wikipedia: Going to a Go-Go (album) Wikipedia: Make It Happen (Smokey Robinson & the Miracles album) Wikipedia: A Quiet Storm (Smokey Robinson album) Wikipedia: Being with You (album)