NASHVILLE |DATE: AUGUST 13, 1999
FROM: TODD BRODGINSKI/MITCH SCHNEIDER
SMOKEY ROBINSON
SET TO RELEASE NEW CD `INTIMATE' ON MOTOWN RECORDS
SEPTEMBER 28;
NEW SINGLE `EASY TO LOVE' TO IMPACT RADIO IN AUGUST
AND PERFORMANCE ON NBC'S `TODAY SHOW'
SET FOR FRIDAY, AUGUST 20
The legendary SMOKEY ROBINSON will jump-start the September 28 release of INTIMATE–his first CD in seven years–with the August debut of the first single "Easy To Love." The INTIMATE CD marks SMOKEY's return to Motown Records, the label where he had many massive hits, as a solo artist and with The Miracles. SMOKEY's return will be heralded by a performance on NBC-TV's "Today Show" Friday, August 20, where he'll perform his new single from INTIMATE as well as hits from his vast repertoire.
An R&B ballad in the classic SMOKEY tradition, "Easy To Love" finds the legendary singer in a pensive mood, reminiscing about an old flame whose memory continues to haunt him. Warm and inviting, "Easy To Love" is imbued with a romantic yearning that is encapsulated in its memorable refrain: "you're easy to love, hard to forget."
Now back at Motown, the Miracle Man returns to his rightful recording home with an album only he could create. Featuring 11 captivating tracks, SMOKEY once again embraces the seductive R&B sound he pioneered on his 1975 album, A Quiet Storm–a recording so influential it spawned its own eponymous radio format. INTIMATE began as a collaboration between SMOKEY and writer/producer, Michael Stokes.
As the project progressed, SMOKEY solicited the involvement of longtime friend, mentor and Motown founder, Berry Gordy. In turn, Gordy brought in writer/producer Michael Lovesmith. David Foster joined in and produced the stand out "Love Love Again" track.
SMOKEY ROBINSON & THE MIRACLES had the first million-selling single for Motown, the SMOKEY-penned "Shop Around," in December 1960. The group hit number one with "The Tears Of A Clown" while other major hits include "You've Really Got A Hold On Me," "Mickey's Monkey," "Going To A Go-Go," "I Second That Emotion" and "Tracks Of My Tears."
SMOKEY also served as a Vice President at Motown Records where he wrote songs, produced records, signed artists and worked closely with founder Berry Gordy. Among the many #1 songs he wrote and produced is the classic "My Girl" for The Temptations. SMOKEY's solo hits (he left THE MIRACLES in `72) include "Cruisin'," "Being With You," "Just To See Her" and "Quiet Storm." SMOKEY was honored with the Grammy Living Legend Award in 1988; inducted into the Songwriters' Hall of Fame in 1990 and into the Rock `n Roll Hall of Fame in 1987; and presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 1999 Grammy's. He did the score for the recent critically acclaimed NBC mini-series "The Temptations." SMOKEY performed "Really Gonna Miss You"–one of the two songs he wrote for the project–appearing as himself in a brief cameo.
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