Motown great Smokey Robinson to receive prestigious Gershwin Prize

R&B master and “poet laureate of soul” Smokey Robinson will receive the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song.

The Motown legend has recorded dozens of hit songs, including “You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me,” “Ooo Baby Baby” and “The Tracks of My Tears,” which was named to the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress in 2007.

He is also a powerhouse producer and songwriter and is credited with boosting the Motown label into a global force. His fingerprints are on nearly 4,000 songs, and he was the visionary behind classics such as “My Girl” and “The Way You Do the Things You Do” and “Since I Lost My Baby.”

“It gives me such joy and gratitude to be included among the past recipients of this most prestigious songwriting award,” Robinson, 76, said in a statement.

Robinson is the ninth recipient of a prize that salutes living musical artists whose lifetime achievements promote a cultural understanding through song. Previous honorees are Paul Simon, Stevie Wonder, Paul McCartney, Burt Bacharach and the late Hal David, Carole King, Billy Joel and Willie Nelson.

The prize will be awarded in November in Washington.

Born in Detroit, Robinson founded the Miracles. The group recorded “Shop Around,” which became Motown’s first million-selling record. Robinson retired from the group in 1972 and went on to a solo career highlighted by more top hits, Grammy Awards, and induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Acting Librarian of Congress David Mao described Robinson as a musical legend whose artistry has influenced, and entertained, generations.

“His rich melodies are works of art – enduring, meaningful and powerful,” Mao said in a statement. “He is a master at crafting lyrics that speak to the heart and soul, expressing ordinary themes in an extraordinary way.”

The Library of Congress selects the winners after consulting with members of the music industry and the library’s curators in the divisions of music, folklife, and motion pictures, broadcasting and sound recording.

This story was originally published July 5, 2016 at 11:44 PM with the headline "Motown great Smokey Robinson to receive prestigious Gershwin Prize."