24 Carat Star Time

I have been a HUGE fan of Smokey Robinson since I was old enough to understand the difference between The Miracles and the Temptations. Ok, the Temptations were cool and I especially loved Eddie Kendricks, but in my eyes no one could top Smokey Robinson. I loved his voice, and loved the fact that he not only sang the songs, but – more often than not – he also WROTE the songs. And not only his own songs, but also songs for groups like the Temptations (“My Girl” anyone?)  or Mary Wells and The Marvelettes.

I was such a Smokey fan that – at the tender age of 12 – I stood on a street corner in Camden, NJ, and debated the relative merits of the Miracles versus The Temptations as my cousin Kim can probably attest.

I had heard about Smokey’s performance on Def Poetry Jam called ” A Black American“  awhile ago, but till now hadn’t gotten round to listening to it. I did tonight, though, after first listening to “Oooh Baby Baby” and “The Tracks of My Tears” (and discovering his live version with my girl Annie Lennox!) and my all-time favorite “More Love” (and deciding that I might want to play “Darling Dear” at my 2nd wedding).

Like I said: I’ve always loved Smokey Robinson, but never more than after hearing this piece from Def Poetry Jam. So – just a few days after the anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King – I’m happy to have not only this clip from youtube.com, but also to know that “my” Smokey is still a man who makes my heart beat faster.

Even when he isn’t singing…