Smokey: Inside My Life

This was a very good book. I wanted more details about his love life but at times you have to keep some things to yourself. I recommend this book to Smokey's fans!

Smokey Robinson is truly one of the most-gifted talented singers-songwriters, producers, writers, arrangers, composers, etc. ever been 'round in the music game since we grew up in the likes of Ray Charles, Marvin Gaye, Barry White, Satchmo, Duke Ellington, Miles Davis, Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Patti Labelle, Luther Vandross, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, etc. which we talked about alot in the world and creativity of music. Yet David Ritz is such a Fantastic music writer and critic (as MisterMaxx said in 2000) who talks about the lives, trials and temptations of various artists (i.e. Marvin Gaye, Bill Withers, Aretha Franklin, Barry White, Etta James, etc.) incl. songwriters, producers, movie and TV stars, etc. He's truly one of my heroes and also my all-time favorite. I luv him to death. I dig him on permanent basis or else on frequent basis I mean. He maybe the sounds of world's famous authors out there who are ill and real underrated y'know that discusses what's going on between the music scene, the movie scene, politics, religion, education, etc. If u luv David Ritz, I recommend u'll luv some good I mean best well-known authors or book writers like Michael Eric Dyson, Cornel West, Kevin Powell, Mark Anthony Neal, Nelson George, Marc Eliot, Leonard Feather, Gene Lees, Gary Giddins, etc. Ok back 2 what I said on the memoir by Smokey (whose real name is William Robinson) is b/c this book is very interesting and mostly good 2 read. He truly is the baddest man in the music world since Ray Charles, Marvin Gaye, among others. It deals w/ his past as a music star, dealing w/ family problems incl. his mom leaving him behind at an earlier age, how did he created and formed the group SM & the Miracles, when did he met & worked w/ Berry Gordy, the founder and creator of Hitsville Records now known today as Motown, how he got addicted 2 drugs and soon gave his life up to the Lord and so on and on. He did had a gospel album put out last yr. so hopefully sooner or later I'll cop it. I 'member 1 time I wasn't into 'cuz that's not the gospel side of Smokey IMO, so I changed my mind 'bout that to see it's still good or not. Books I recommend are: 1) Divided Soul: The Life of Marvin Gaye 2) Brother Ray: Ray Charles' Own Story (get the '04 edition that incls. the final days of Bro. Ray written by author David Ritz himself) 3) The 9 Steps to Financial Freedom by Suze Orman 4) Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill 5) Dianetics by L. Ron Hubbard 6) Emerging Church and Emerging Worship all by Dan Kimball 7) How to Make Friends and Influence People and How to Start Worrying and Start Living all by Dale Carniege 8) Man in the Mirror by Patrick Morley (One of my fav. authors to date!) 9) The 7 Habits of Very Effective People by Stephen Covey 10) On Becoming a Leader by Warren Bennis There sum more I may add a lil bit later on. So enjoy the bk.

Smokey Robinson is not afraid to honestly and frankly outline the events that have transpired in his life. One has to appreciate the clarity and detail he uses in expressing the downfall of his marriage and his drift into drug use. Clearly a movie should be in the making.

David Ritz is a Fantastic writer period and he does a Wonderful job with Smokey.now Smokey Robinson is one of The Greatest Artists ever.He has Written songs that are Timeless & are Musical Treasures.this Book is Very to the Point about the Highs & Lows of The Life.also Motown The Beautiful History of a Black Owned & Operated Label that was The Soundtrack for Many Peoples Lives.this is a Must Read.Also About Him & Berry Gordy which is History unto itself.A Great Overview not only on a Musical Genius & Legend but also a Very Together Brother.A Brother who Overcame alot and is still Bad to this day.

From page 1 until the end of this book my eyes kept reading and reading and thanking God that this man is still alive today to give us his talent and energy and love. Smokey has come a long way from the 1st page of his biography. This is one you cannot put down. Believe ME.