THE MIRACLES TO BE HONORED WITH
STAR ON THE HOLLYWOOD WALK OF FAME
Star Coincides with Motown Records 50th Anniversary

WHO: The Miracles
Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, President/CEO Leron Gubler
Guest speakers: Berry Gordy and Stevie Wonder
WHAT: 2,381st Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
WHERE: 7060 Hollywood Boulevard near the stars of Motown greats
Stevie Wonder, The Supremes and The Temptations
WHEN: Friday, March 20, at 11:30 a.m.

The Miracles will be honored with the 2,381st star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on March 20, 2009 at 11:30 a.m., joining an elite group of performers and entertainment industry professionals.

The star honorees are the original Miracles’ lineup: Bobby Rogers, Ronnie White (posthumously), Pete Moore, Smokey Robinson, and the First Lady of Motown, Claudette Robinson.

The Motown Sound began in 1959 with The Miracles, the very first of Berry Gordy’s massively-successful pool of performers. From their unpolished start, they were special, diamonds in the rough. Gordy, already a successful songwriter with hits by the likes of Jackie Wilson and Etta James, heard it in their voices and in the songs scribbled in Smokey’s notebook.

With Gordy, The Miracles launched the “Sound of Young America,” and the rest is musical history. From their doo-wop roots, with songs like “Bad Girl” and “Got A Job,” to the 60’s and 70’s smashes “Shop Around,” “You Really Got A Hold On Me,” “Ooo Baby, Baby,” “Tears Of A Clown,” “Do It Baby” and “Love Machine,” The Miracles tore down barriers of intolerance, and got the people of the world dancing.

The group’s songwriting talents, close harmonies, precise choreography, and the smooth lead tenor sounds of Smokey Robinson was a combination equivalent to musical dynamite. Add the premier guitar work and songwriting of Marvin Tarplin, career-long companion to The Miracles, and you’ve got the soundtrack of a generation.

The music has never stopped. Fifty years after they began, original member and beloved tenor/baritone Bobby Rogers still tours and records with a new lineup. Founding members Claudette Robinson and Pete Moore occasionally join them for special performances. She’s that lilting voice on the top of the harmonies - her beauty and sweetness made her the crush of countless teenage boys. And yes, she really was the first girl singer ever signed to Gordy’s hit-making company. Pete is that irreplaceable smooth, deep bass on the bottom, which made songs such as ‘Doggone Right’ and ‘Got A Job’ unforgettable.

Smokey Robinson performs non-stop as a solo artist, his falsetto and charm intact, causing another generation of girls to swoon. Always, all perform in memory of late member Ronnie White.

Even the oldest songs are fresh today. When they began, little did they know that they were singing and writing songs that would become music standards. Everywhere we go in the 21st century, their voices and those songs are heard daily.

LINK: http://www.hollywoodchamb...monies.asp

Well deserved and long overdue.

phunkdaddy said:

Too long in my honest opinion, lol.

they deserve it

Timmy84 said:

Waaaaayyy too long

this should've happened what 20-30 years ago?

That's good that the Miracles are getting a star. I'm assuming Smokey has a star of the Hollywood Walk of Fame already.

thetimefan said:

I don't think he does.

Correction: Smokey said he got one, lol.



Miracles do happen on Hollywood Walk of Fame

LOS ANGELES – Now when Smokey Robinson walks in Hollywood, he'll have two stars to dust off.

Robinson was on hand Friday as The Miracles received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The group's frontman was previously honored with a star for his solo work.

"I've had a star for the last 20 years or so, and it is way, way, way, way overdue" for The Miracles, Robinson said.

A number of their Motown contemporaries were present, including Stevie Wonder, Motown founder Berry Gordy, and original Supremes member Mary Wilson.

A number of events this year mark the 50th anniversary of the legendary Motown record label. Yesterday in Detroit, Gordy and Robinson joined the "American Idol" finalists to tape a segment set to air next Wednesday.