September 27, 1960: "Shop Around" by the Miracles, with Smokey Robinson writing and singing lead, is released on the Tamla label. Motown Records has its 1st major hit, as it rises to Number 2 on Billboard magazine's Hot 100 chart. Unfortunately, the song that keeps it out of Number 1 is rather lame: The instrumental "Calcutta," by the Lawrence Welk Orchestra.
William Robinson Jr. was born on February 19, 1940 in the North End of Detroit. His uncle Claude would take him to Western movies, and gave him a "cowboy nickname," Smokey Joe. By the time he was 12, the boy usually called "Bill" had dropped the "Joe," and began going by "Smokey." (That was also what Frank Sinatra and the rest of the Rat Pack called Sammy Davis Jr.)
He lived near Aretha Franklin, and the friendship lasted for the rest of her life. When he was 15, he formed his first vocal group, The Five Chimes, including Ronald White and Pete Moore. (There was also an all-Italian doo-wop group in The Bronx named The Chimes, but neither group knew about the other.) In 1957, they were renamed the Matadors, and took on siblings Barbara and Claudette Rogers. In 1958, they were renamed the Miracles, and added guitarist Marv Tarplin.
Their 1st release, on End Records, was an answer song to The Silhouettes' 1958 Number 1 hit "Get a Job": In "Got a Job," they showed that having one wasn't all it was cracked up to be. But hardly anybody remembers it, because Eddie Cochran had a similar idea, if not a similar sound, with "Summertime Blues."
Still, while not charting on Billboard's Hot 100, it did reach Number 5 on the magazine's rhythm & blues (R&B) chart, giving them a foothold in the business. And they'd already met Berry Gordy Jr., who was about to found Motown, and "Shop Around" was its 1st signature song.
"You've Really Got a Hold On Me" became their 1st Top 10 hit in 1962, reaching Number 8. The Beatles would cover it. In 1963, with The Monkey being a big dance, they recorded "Mickey's Monkey," which also reached Number 8. It was one of the few Miracles hits not written by Smokey: The team of Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier and Brian's brother Eddie Holland wrote it. In 1964, Mary Wells had a Number 1 hit with Smokey's "My Guy."
In 1965, they had no Top 10 hits, but 4 in the Top 20: "Ooo Baby Baby," later covered by Linda Ronstadt; "The Tracks of My Tears," which became a Number 3 hit for Johnny Rivers in 1967; "My Girl Has Gone"; and "Going to a Go-Go." The same year, The Temptations, who had surpassed The Miracles to become Motown's biggest male vocal group, recorded The Temptations Sing Smokey, which included their 1st Number 1 hit, "My Girl."
In 1967, with the group now officially labeled "Smokey Robinson & The Miracles," they hit Number 4 with "I Second That Emotion." In 1970, The Miracles hit Number 1 again, with "The Tears of a Clown," written by Smokey, Stevie Wonder and Henry Cosby (another prolific Motown songwriter, no relation to Bill).
This output led Bob Dylan, himself a contender for the title, to say, "Smokey Robinson is America's Greatest Living Poet."
Smokey split with The Miracles, and they had a Number 1 hit without him in 1975 with "Love Machine." Smokey had several solo hit singles, including "Cruisin'" in 1980 and "One Heartbeat" in 1987, but his biggest solo hit was "Being With You," hitting Number 2 in 1981.
As of September 27, 2022, Smokey is still alive, at age 80. His then-wife, Claudette Robinson, "The First Lady of Motown," is 78, born the exact same day as the Beach Boys' Brian Wilson, and 2 days after the Beatles' Paul McCartney. They are the only surviving original members of the Miracles. Ronnie White, who discovered Stevie Wonder and co-wrote "My Girl" with Smokey, died in 1995. Marv Tarplin died in 2011. Bobby Rogers, Claudette’s cousin, died in 2013. Pete Moore died in 2017.
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September 27, 1960 was a Tuesday. The New York Yankees beat the Washington Senators, 5-1 at Griffith Stadium in Washington. Ryne Duren started for the Yankees, but Eli Grba turned out to be the winning pitcher. Bill "Moose" Skowron hit a home run. Mickey Mantle went 0-for-2 before leaving the game. Roger Maris went 1-for-2 with 2 walks and an RBI. Yogi Berra pinch-hit, and did not reach base. For the Senators, Harmon Killebrew went 0-for-4.
* The Baltimore Orioles beat the Boston Red Sox, 17-3 at Fenway Park in Boston. The O's got home runs from Gus Triandos, Jackie Brandt, Jerry Adair and Ron Hansen. Brooks Robinson went 1-for-5 with a walk. For the Sox, Ted Williams went 0-for-2 with a walk before leaving the game.
The next day would be Williams' last game, and he famously hit a home run in his last at-bat. Adair would be a part of the Red Sox' 1967 "Impossible Dream" Pennant, and Hansen would turn an unassisted triple play with the Seantors in 1968.
* The Philadelphia Phillies beat the Milwaukee Braves, 5-3 at Connie Mack Stadium in Philadelphia. Robin Roberts outpitched Joey Jay. Hank Aaron went 1-for-4 with an RBI. Eddie Mathews went 0-for-4.
* The Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Cincinnati Reds, 4-3 at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh. The game went 16 innings, before Dick Schofield singled Gino Cimoli home. Roberto Clemente went 1-for-7 with a walk. Frank Robinson went 1-for-4 with 3 walks.
* The Detroit Tigers beat the Chicago White Sox, 2-0 at Comiskey Park in Chicago. Jim Bunning outpitched Early Wynn. Al Kaline went 0-for-4. Luis Aparicio went 0-for-4.
* The Kansas City Athletics beat the Cleveland Indians, 5-4 at Kansas City Municipal Stadium.
* The Los Angeles Dodgers beat the St. Louis Cardinals, 5-1 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Tommy Davis went 3-for-4 with a home run and 4 RBIs. Most of the Brooklyn "Boys of Summer" were gone. Gil Hodges pinch-hit and did not reach base, and Duke Snider, while available, did not play. Stan Musial went 1-for-4.
* And the Chicago Cubs beat the San Francisco Giants, 3-1 at Candlestick Park in San Francisco. Ernie Banks went 3-for-4. Willie Mays went 3-for-4 with an RBI. Willie McCovey pinch-hit, but did not reach base.
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