Smokey Robinson to receive BET Lifetime Achievement
Nearly six decades into an illustrious career, Motown legend Smokey Robinson has a lot that he's thankful for.
"I am so blessed to live my life, earning my living, doing what I absolutely love," Robinson, 75, says. "For somebody to still be caring about what I'm doing, this is my proudest moment."
The famed singer/producer will receive the Lifetime Achievement award at the 15th annual BET Awards June 28 (BET, 8 p.m. ET/PT), an honor which has been given to other Motown icons such as Diana Ross and The Isley Brothers in years prior. He will also take the stage at Los Angeles' Microsoft Theater for a performance, joining the previously announced Kendrick Lamar, Chris Brown and Nicki Minaj as some of the night's biggest headliners.
"I'm just gonna go out there and whatever they want me to do, I'm gonna do it," Robinson says. "Just have a great time, man."
Having penned several hits for the likes of the Temptations, Marvin Gaye and the Marvelettes, Robinson is probably best known as frontman of R&B group The Miracles, which scored hits such as Love Machine, You've Really Got a Hold on Me and Mickey's Monkey throughout the '60s and '70s. As a solo artist, he later notched top-10 singles in Cruisin' and Being with You, and served as Motown Records' vice president until it was sold by label founder Berry Gordy in the late '80s.
Also recognized as a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and Kennedy Center honoree in past years, Robinson has a simple philosophy for career longevity: "I respect show business and I don't trip on Smokey Robinson," he says. "I know that I'm a blessed man. I came from the ghetto in Detroit, so for me to be living the life that I'm living now is my impossible, most wild dream. When I was a child, I dreamed this would be my life and it's beautiful."
The longstanding hitmaker is now hard at work writing another album, with a possible release later this year, but most likely next, he says. Just last summer, he released Smokey & Friends, a compilation of some of his biggest hits re-recorded as duets with hot talent such as John Legend, Jessie J, Miguel and Aloe Blacc.
As for who he's listening to now, he says he "won't even start to name names, because I listen to all the young people," Robinson says. "I listen to everybody. You might catch me listening to Bach or you might catch me listening to Nelly, and everybody in between."