He co-wrote, “The Way You Do The Things You Do” with Smokey Robinson and gave ‘The Temptations’ there first big hit. He founded and was a member of Motown’s first signed act, ‘The Miracles’, who provided the independent labels’ first No. 1 hit and first million dollar seller with the song, “Shop Around”. What more can you say?
If you really look at it, we would’ve never been exposed to ‘Martha and the Vandellas’, ‘Stevie Wonder’, ‘The Supremes’, ‘The Marvelettes’, Marvin Gaye, The Temptations, The Jackson 5 and many more if Rogers didn’t form The Miracles.
According to ‘The Detroit Free Press’, Rogers died in his home in Southfield, MI on March 3, 2013 after “...succumbing to complications from diabetes.” It’s been reported that he’s been suffering a lengthy illness.
A lot of people didn’t know that he married Wanda Young, lead singer for Motown’s ‘The Marvelettes’ in 1963. Married for twelve years, they had several children with each other. After divorcing Young, Rogers married Joan Hughes in 1981. They have four children together.
Bobby Rogers and ‘The Miracles’ were finally inducted into the ‘Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame’ on February 9, 2012, without Smokey. As a solo artist, ‘Smokey Robinson’ was already inducted 25 years earlier, without the rest of ‘The Miracles’. This caused a serious rift with the fans of ‘The Miracles’.
Claudette Rogers-Robinson says, “He loved to write with Smokey.” She goes on to say, “Bobby would often say how happy he was to be allowed to write with him. Smokey would say, ‘I’m not just allowing you — you’re a great writer...’”, according to ‘The Detroit Free Press’.
Trivia: Claudette Rogers, who later became Claudette Robinson (due to her marriage with Smokey Robinson), is Bobby Rogers’ cousin. She was also a member of ‘The Miracles’.
Trivia: Grandfather of R&B singer, Brandi Williams of the late 90’s R&B group, “Blaque” which was mentored by the late Lisa “Left-Eye” Lopez.
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