Smokey Robinson Opens Up About Retiring: ‘I Tried That Once and It Didn’t Work For Me’

Smokey Robinson has been in the music industry for several decades, and he’s not done yet.

Robinson, 82, and Motown legend and founder Berry Gordy, 93, were honored at the MusiCares Persons of the Year event ahead of the 2023 Grammy Awards.

Robinson told Fox News Digital that retirement is not in his foreseeable future.

“I don’t plan on doing that anytime soon,” he told Fox News Digital. “You know I tried that once. And it didn’t work for me. So here I am.”

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Robinson briefly stepped away from his career in 1972, when he was vice president of Motown, to spend time raising his children with then-wife Claudette.

Robinson would return a year later, releasing his hit album “Smokey” in 1973.

Smokey Robinson and wife Frances attended Clive Davis’ pre-Grammy gala.
(Frazer Harrison)

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To be honored as MusiCares People of the Year along with Gordy, Robinson says it surpassed any achievement the men could conceptually conceive.

“Berry and I talk about it all the time. We never dreamed it would become what it has become around the world,” he shared of Motown’s musical impact.

“We were just starting to make good music for everyone, and hope people like it. And that was our goal,” he said. “But for him to become what he has become is beyond our two wildest imaginations.”

Smokey Robinson was kissed by Berry Gordy at the MusiCares Persons of the Year event.
(Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)

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Robinson was thrilled to bask in the magic of Grammy weekend, giving him the opportunity to reunite with fellow Hollywood elites at Clive Davis’ infamous pre-Grammy gala, in addition to receiving his honor.

“The party is in honor of an icon,” he told Fox News Digital. “You know, Clive Davis is a music icon. He always throws great parties, we come all the time. And you get to see people you haven’t seen in a long time, because everyone is there,” he explained.

“Show business is a small community. And everybody knows everybody. So it’s beautiful from that angle,” he added.