Smokey Robinson! WOO WEE SMO-KEY! LOL - Old Hollywood Scandals!

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Transition to Old Hollywood Scandal

Introduction to the Story

• The speaker introduces themselves as Ashley and mentions this video will cover an old Hollywood scandal.

• A disclaimer is provided stating that the content is for entertainment purposes and encourages viewers to do their own research.

The Birth of Smokey Robinson

Flossy Robinson's Miracle Baby

• On February 19, 1940, Flossy Robinson arrives at a Detroit hospital in panic due to her pregnancy after 12 years since her last child.

• Flossy gives birth to William Robinson Jr., nicknamed Smokey by his Godfather due to his light skin tone.

Early Life Challenges

• Discusses Smokey's loving family environment despite his parents' divorce when he was young.

• Shares anecdotes from Smokey's childhood, including a crush on a girl named Artha and humorous school experiences.

Tragedy Strikes: Loss of Mother

Impactful Childhood Events

• Describes how Smokey faced severe emotional challenges when his mother fell ill with headaches around age nine.

• At ten years old, he learns about his mother's passing in a painful manner at school before being confirmed by family later that day.

Coping with Grief

• Highlights the difficulty Smokey had dealing with his mother's death and suggests it affected him deeply throughout his life.

The Early Life and Relationships of Smokey Robinson

Formation of The Miracles

• Smokey Robinson discovered his singing talent while enjoying Jackie Wilson's music, leading him to form a group called The Chimes, which later became known as The Miracles.

• Despite being a small local band, their performances attracted attention, particularly from young women, highlighting the group's early appeal.

Smokey's Teenage Romance

• Smokey met Claudette Rogers, Emerson's sister, at his friend's house; he was captivated by her beauty but took four months to muster the courage to speak with her.

• After becoming friends for several months, Smokey finally asked Claudette out when they were around 15 or 16 years old.

Relationship Challenges

• Their relationship faced challenges when Smokey pressured Claudette for physical intimacy; she refused, stating she was waiting for marriage.

• Despite remaining flirtatious after their breakup due to his infidelity, Smokey struggled with jealousy when a soldier named Raley expressed interest in marrying Claudette.

Jealousy and Reconciliation

• Upon learning about Raley's intentions towards Claudette, Smokey confronted her out of jealousy despite having been unfaithful himself.

• Ultimately, Claudette reassured Smokey of her love for him and set boundaries regarding other relationships. They reconciled officially.

Career Developments and Meeting Barry Gordy

• With Emerson leaving the group for military service, Claudette joined The Miracles as a singer. This shift allowed Smokey to focus on advancing their music career.

• During this time, he encountered Barry Gordy who was then struggling as a talent manager. Their meeting would prove pivotal in shaping the future of Motown Records.

Smokey Robinson's Personal Life and Relationships

Smokey's Romantic Interests

• Claudette expresses interest in dating Smokey, but she is already involved with another man, Smokey Robinson.

• Claudette mentions her boyfriend, Smokey, to a friend who recalls him as the lead singer of their group.

• After signing with Barry Gordy, Smokey marries Claudette in 1959; they are deeply in love despite the challenges ahead.

Affairs and Gossip

• Rumors suggest that Smokey had an affair with Diana Ross shortly after Claudette suffered a miscarriage.

• The relationship between Smokey and Diana Ross evolves from friendship to something more intimate during this tumultuous time.

• Diana seeks hits for her group and reportedly uses her closeness to Smokey to gain his focus on writing music for them.

Tensions in Relationships

• Claudette confronts Smokey about rumors of his involvement with Diana Ross; he denies any romantic connection at that time.

• Years later, Smokey admits to having been unfaithful during the period when Claudette was questioning him about Diana.

Additional Complications

• Following her first miscarriage, Claudette experiences another loss which adds strain to their relationship amidst ongoing rumors of infidelity.

• Besides Diana Ross, there are claims that Roma Gordy (Barry Gordy's wife) was also romantically linked to Smokey during this period.

Flirtations and Escalating Tensions

• Gossip suggests that while working together, Smokey attempted to seduce Roma by discussing personal issues related to Barry's infidelity.

• During a songwriting session, Smokey allegedly makes advances towards Roma while trying to console her over her marital problems.

• Despite initial resistance from Roma due to loyalty towards Barry and Claudette, tensions escalate as Smokey continues his flirtation.

The Turbulent Relationship of Rayoma and Barry

Conflict Escalation

• Rayoma's frustration with Barry's treatment leads her to resist his attempts to leave, indicating a significant strain in their relationship.

• The couple is at the mtown building, where Barry prepares to leave for the sixth consecutive night, prompting Rayoma to insist he stay home with her.

• In a moment of defiance, Rayoma asserts herself by yelling that Barry must stay, showcasing her desperation for attention and connection.

Physical Confrontation

• Tensions escalate when Barry physically confronts Rayoma, pushing her into a dark office room and belittling her emotions.

• After being pushed down and insulted by Barry, Rayoma finds herself alone in the dark room, feeling vulnerable and distressed.

Unexpected Company

• As she processes her emotional turmoil, Rayoma senses another presence in the room—Smokey is watching from the shadows.

• Smokey’s demeanor suggests he had been observing the confrontation all along, hinting at his interest in Rayoma amidst her struggles with Barry.

Smokey's Rise Amidst Personal Turmoil

Career Advancement

• Following rumors of Rayoma leaving Barry, Smokey allegedly rises to become vice president of mtown, enjoying newfound success and financial stability.

• With his career flourishing through hit songs, Smokey revels in both fame and fortune while navigating complex personal relationships.

Claudette's Challenges

• Claudette decides to quit the Miracles to focus on having a baby after multiple miscarriages; this decision impacts both her health and Smokey’s lifestyle choices.

• Despite staying home for family reasons, Claudette faces challenges as Smokey engages with other women during tours.

The Intriguing Entrance of Candy

A New Distraction

• Candy enters Smokey’s life as an alluring figure who contrasts sharply with Claudette’s more traditional beauty; their meeting occurs under unusual circumstances involving Candy's father.

• Upon introduction at an airport, Candy expresses immediate attraction towards Smokey in front of her father—a bold move that sets the stage for their relationship.

Seduction and Consequences

• Despite initially brushing off Candy’s advances as mere flirtation, Smokey finds himself drawn into a romantic entanglement after she appears backstage post-show.

• Rumors suggest that Smokey quickly becomes involved with Candy romantically while Claudette deals with personal grief from yet another miscarriage.

Smokey Robinson's Complicated Love Life

The Journey to Parenthood

• Smokey and Claudette, desperate for a child, opted for surrogacy and welcomed their son Barry, bringing them immense joy.

• Smokey introduced baby Barry to his friend Candy, who expressed her reluctance to be a second mother and encouraged Smokey and Claudette to work on their family.

Infidelity and New Relationships

• Claudette underwent a procedure allowing her to carry their daughter Tamla, but Smokey's desire for multiple partners led him to meet Meta.

• Meta impressed Smokey with her youthful energy at a party; she was 21 years old but later revealed she was actually only 18.

Relationship Turmoil

• Smokey confessed his feelings for Meta to Claudette, leading to tension in their marriage as he left home excited about his new relationship.

• Upon discovering Meta's true age, Smokey felt uneasy about dating someone so young but found comfort when Meta’s mother accepted their relationship.

The Cycle of Cheating

• After living with Meta for a year, Smokey realized that youthful excitement couldn't replace the love he had for Claudette. He returned home seeking reconciliation.

• Despite returning to Claudette, Smokey resumed cheating with Meta over the next two years until she decided to move on due to his inability to commit.

A Shocking Revelation

• Following the end of his relationship with Meta, Smokey sought out Candy again while neglecting both his marriage and career.

• Ultimately, Candy became pregnant; despite not wanting the child initially, she refused any suggestion of termination.

• In a devastating confrontation during an anniversary celebration or shortly before it, Smokey informed Claudette of Candy's pregnancy and his decision to leave her again.

Smokey Robinson's Turbulent Journey

The Struggles of Smokey and Claudette

• Smokey faced significant turmoil in his marriage to Claudette, who had long struggled to have children. His infidelity with a mistress led to emotional distress for Claudette.

• During an argument, Claudette expressed her desire to work on their marriage, but Smokey was resolute about ending it, indicating he no longer wanted to reconcile.

• Claudette refused to initiate the divorce herself, believing Smokey would not go through with it; however, he surprised her by filing for divorce shortly after leaving their home.

Descent into Addiction

• Following the divorce, Smokey fell into a lifestyle of partying and drug use, reportedly becoming addicted to crack cocaine.

• His addiction severely impacted his health; witnesses described him as being in poor condition and suffering from physical ailments related to his drug use.

Support from Friends

• Amidst his struggles, Smokey isolated himself until his best friend Leon Kennedy intervened. Leon encouraged him to seek help and attend church services.

• At a church service led by a female preacher, an unexpected turn occurred when she attempted to heal him but ended up collapsing instead due to the strength of Smokey's spirit.

Recovery and Redemption

• After several church visits and support from the preacher, Smokey began his journey towards recovery and eventually got clean from drugs in the 1990s.

• He returned to music post-recovery and found love again with Frances Gladney after meeting her at a restaurant.

Legacy and Continued Influence

• Smokey married Frances Gladney; they remain together today. He has since focused on helping youth combat issues like drug abuse and gang violence through music.

• Although not all of his songs became major hits, they reflected his passion for addressing societal issues.

• As of now at 84 years old, Smokey continues performing while sharing stories from his past experiences during interviews.

The Legend of Smokey Robinson

Overview of Smokey Robinson's Legacy

• Smokey Robinson is described as a "green-eyed Casanova devil," highlighting his charismatic and charming persona.

• The speaker emphasizes that Smokey Robinson is one of the few individuals who achieved legendary status during his lifetime, underscoring his significant impact on music and culture.

• Despite any controversies or criticisms surrounding him, the speaker asserts that one cannot deny Robinson's legendary status and contributions to the entertainment industry.

• The discussion concludes with a personal note from the speaker, expressing enjoyment in creating the video about Smokey Robinson's life and legacy.