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Post by DC on Feb 19, 2004 14:35:18 GMT -5
Man I didn't know Smokey was on that powder. I'd heard people talking about it in general conversations, but I thought that might have been heresay. When was he using? Thank God he's off now, or so I hope. This doesn't make me lose any respect for him. He is still one of the greatest artist ever. His musical contributions are amazing. I know that drug addiction can catch anyone and I have no right to judge him. I just never knew he was on cocaine.
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Post by kalisa2 on Feb 19, 2004 15:17:46 GMT -5
DC,
Smokey is pretty candid about his prior addiction(s) in his autobiography (which according to Amazon.com is currently out of print...you might check ebay).
Here is a review from Amazon's site:
Soul-music legend Smokey Robinson tells his story in this colorless and flawed autobiography. He is relatively candid about his extramarital affairs, cocaine addiction and eventual redemption at the hands of a faith healer, but jeopardizes his credibility to the reader by his uncritical acceptance of nearly everyone associated with his life. Motown founder Berry Gordy is an almost perfect human being, according to Robinson, as are Diana Ross, his ex-wife Claudette, his two mistresses and a variety of other friends and relatives. A powerful performer and a sensitive, intelligent songwriter, Robinson offers here only hints of his creative processes, but he does give readers a sense of the grueling pace of multi-city tours. Collaborator Ritz ( Divided Soul ) faithfully preserves Robinson's vigorous, streettalk narrative style yet falters badly in his stiff re-creations of dialogue.
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Post by ZeldaFScott on Feb 19, 2004 21:40:20 GMT -5
Motown founder Berry Gordy is an almost perfect human being, according to Robinson, as are Diana Ross, his ex-wife Claudette, his two mistresses and a variety of other friends and relatives.I wonder whether the critic knows these people better than Smokey does. 
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Post by kalisa2 on Feb 19, 2004 22:26:27 GMT -5
Motown founder Berry Gordy is an almost perfect human being, according to Robinson, as are Diana Ross, his ex-wife Claudette, his two mistresses and a variety of other friends and relatives.I wonder whether the critic knows these people better than Smokey does. Well this seems to me to be a classic case of "You can't please everybody". Here on our board Otis is drawn and quartered for putting other people's business out there. Smokey assiduously avoided putting OP's business out there or saying anything negative about others if he could help it...he told HIS story only, and the critic pans him for it. AnnaK...it is well known from other independent sources that BG and DR are FAR from perfect people. In point of fact, a lot of the business dealings in the early days that Otis gets crowned with devil horns for here are more directly attributable to BG. As for DR...read the literature. Claudette Robinson, on the other hand, may very well be a perfect person  . She sounds from all I've heard and read to be a classy, elegant, kind woman. |
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Post by ZeldaFScott on Feb 19, 2004 22:31:26 GMT -5
Yes, Kalisa, I know what you mean. But if Smokey considered them perfect, that's his right. I've heard about Diana and Berry and David -- and it's always one person's account of them. What remains to be done is to glue alll the pieces together and create a fairly accurate image ... |
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Post by kalisa2 on Feb 19, 2004 22:39:20 GMT -5
Yes, Kalisa, I know what you mean. But if Smokey considered them perfect, that's his right. Oh, I don't know that Smokey necessarily CONSIDERED them perfect. He isn't by any accounts stupid. He just didn't put their shortcomings or character flaws "out there"...as the old song goes..."ac-cen-tuate the positive, e-lim-inate the negative..." I don't know what you mean by "always one person's account". We have several different independent sources that seem pretty much in agreement about Diana and Berry... |
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Post by ZeldaFScott on Feb 19, 2004 22:44:05 GMT -5
I mean that every opinion is just that -- an opinion -- a personal evaluation of a person's behavior.
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Post by Aba21 on Feb 19, 2004 22:48:29 GMT -5
I personally found Smokey's book to be a little closed minded in the way he thought of others..............like Bery Gordy.....we know Berry was his mentor and I'm sure he would have had a hard time listing any shortcomings by him...............I believe if you are going to write a book, don't be afraid to write one and don't try to make everybody happy with a bunch of soft petal stuff. Otherwise leave it alone. A story is just that. You all have seen many things in your lives....why be afraid to talk about them. If we are as mature as we say, then we can read something negative and draw our own conclusions from it. The problem is that when one of these people write a book, we, and I don't mean all of us, believe everything we read. Maybe we all can't relate to the money, power and fame and so we can't imagine how one could act that way. I am one who believes that no matter how much money you have, you still ain't no smarter................
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Post by kym on Feb 20, 2004 17:08:02 GMT -5
If we are as mature as we say, then we can read something negative and draw our own conclusions from it. The problem is that when one of these people write a book, we, and I don't mean all of us, believe everything we read. Maybe we all can't relate to the money, power and fame and so we can't imagine how one could act that way. I so agree. I wonder who will be an "acceptable" source for the Motown story? "We" clearly need different views/stories on the subject. BTW Happy Birthday Smokey!  |
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Post by MikeNYC on Feb 22, 2004 13:53:40 GMT -5
I personally found Smokey's book to be a little closed minded in the way he thought of others..............like Bery Gordy.....we know Berry was his mentor and I'm sure he would have had a hard time listing any shortcomings by him...............I believe if you are going to write a book, don't be afraid to write one and don't try to make everybody happy with a bunch of soft petal stuff. Otherwise leave it alone. A story is just that. You all have seen many things in your lives....why be afraid to talk about them. If we are as mature as we say, then we can read something negative and draw our own conclusions from it. The problem is that when one of these people write a book, we, and I don't mean all of us, believe everything we read. Maybe we all can't relate to the money, power and fame and so we can't imagine how one could act that way. I am one who believes that no matter how much money you have, you still ain't no smarter................ Smokey told HIS BUSINESS...not others...he did't put the other Miracles business out there...and for that I will always respect him for that. As DC stated he is still one of the greatest artist ever. People have not lost respect for him....just wish David got the same treatment. DOUBLE STANDARD! |
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Post by Melody on Feb 22, 2004 17:23:45 GMT -5
Shout outs to (((((((((((Everybody)))))))))!
I read (((Smokey)))'s autobiography too, and I was surprised to find out he was on cocaine, but the more I read of people in show business, it seem as though you're lucky if that drug scene escapes you. What do you all think?
Hey (((Kalisa))) and (((Mike)))! I agree with you two. I think it was very Classy of Smokey not to put everybody's business out there, cause hey the book is about him not everybody else. I think ((Aretha))) is very Classy for doing the same thing in her autobiography.
Speaking of Smokey, he was on channel 32 morning news program promoting this new soul food antry that he has out. Has any one else heard of it? TTYAL!
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Post by selfishreasons on Feb 22, 2004 19:16:33 GMT -5
why is it shocking that he was on cocaine. I'm sure MOST of them were on some drug.
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Post by Melody on Feb 22, 2004 19:34:16 GMT -5
Hey ((Sexy)))! It was years ago when I read (((Smokey)))'s autobiography, while it wouldn't now to read it, it did surprise me then. It proably had something to do with the way I looked at him. TTYL!
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Post by ThezeThreeWordz on Feb 22, 2004 23:03:37 GMT -5
i sure am surprised smokey was doing drugs...  .. im happy he overcame it.. not everybody got into the drug scene.. stevie didn't.. hehehe for smokey.. "eenie meenie minie moe.. love is just a guessing game i know.. sometimes you win.. sometimes you lose.. i've got to win cause it's you that i choooose oooh yeaahh.. doggon right" what's the dude name that wore the glasses in the miracles? |
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Post by DC on Feb 22, 2004 23:27:40 GMT -5
That's a good point you just made. Do you think Stevie might have been a victim of drugs if he wasn't blind? Stevie has people helping him get around all time. If he was by himself he might of gotten caught up as well. Just something to think about.
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. She sounds from all I've heard and read to be a classy, elegant, kind woman.
