William "Smokey" Robinson, Jr. is a R&B and soul singer-songwriter, record
producer, and former record executive. Robinson is one of the primary figures
associated with Motown, second only to the company’s founder,Berry Gordy. As
an original member of Motown Record’s first vocal group The Miracles and as a
solo artist, Robinson made thirty-seven Top 40 hits for Motown between 1960
and 1987.

 
Berry Gordy Jr.(above) borrowed $800 from his family and started
his own record label, called TAMLA. When a third release by the
Miracles was issued, a second label was formed, called Motown.

The first release on the TAMLA label was “COME TO ME” by Marv 
Johnson. The song was later released on the United Artists label. 

  
                                       Marv Johnson

                            Berry Gordy Jr. today

 
       Berry Gordy JR. in the Motown Studio control booth.

Berry Gordy JR. is the founder/producer of Motown 
records and signed such artist as Marvin Gaye, The
Supremes, The Temptations, Steve Wonder and the
Jackson 5.

The Supremes had their second Billboard number one hit single with
”Baby Love.” Just four months earlier,the other Motown artists
referred to them as…”the no-hit Supremes”.