Latest news with #Gasms
Telegraph
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Smokey Robinson: The King of Motown is welcomed back with open arms
There appeared to be no elephants in the room when octogenarian Smokey Robinson took to the stage at the Love Supreme Jazz Festival. It was the King of Motown's first UK show in 15 years, but recent sexual assault allegations – met with denial and a defamation lawsuit: he has yet to be charged with anything – did nothing to dampen a crowd intent on enjoying their night and steadfast in their reverence for his songs. Robinson was the festival's Saturday night headliner. The weekend attracts those swept up in the recent UK jazz renaissance as well as local teens letting off steam after exams, which meant there was a surprisingly young slant to Robinson's audience. Performers of a certain vintage are often propped up with as many bells and whistles as possible, and indeed Robinson shared the modest stage with about 10 musicians. But this is a man adept at defying age with limber moves and a voice that shows only some of the wear of his 85 years. He made his entrance – 20 minutes late – in a shiny blue suit to sing 1981 solo hit Being With You, slow dancing with a backing vocalist. Age hasn't dimmed his appetite for all things raunchy: after all, he did release an album titled Gasms two years ago. Two hits with his Motown group the Miracles followed: I Second That Emotion and You Really Got A Hold On Me. 'We started Motown about 30 years before I was born,' Robinson joked. 'No, I was there from the very first day.' Like an elderly relative at a party, the stories began to flow. His early career is the stuff of legend: he grew up poor in Detroit with Aretha Franklin and Diana Ross for neighbours, and a meeting with Motown founder Berry Gordy in 1957 sent him on his way. He was one of the label's first acts and later its vice president, also penning hits for Mary Wells, The Temptations, The Four Tops, and Marvin Gaye. Two Temptations songs, The Way You Do The Things You Do and My Girl, made the setlist, as well as The Miracles' hits Tears Of A Clown and Tracks Of My Tears, the latter losing some of its emotional heft. Though these songs stand up more than 60 years on, particularly when bolstered by a full band, a live festival performance can't live up to the magic of the records. It didn't help that Robinson's vocals were low in the mix, and occasionally plagued by feedback and sound bleed from other stages. The show's patchy pace didn't help either: 1975 solo song Quiet Storm was more quiet than storm, a cover of Fly Me To The Moon failed to lift off, and Cruisin' lingered far too long, Robinson bringing female fans onstage and engaging the crowd in an interminable singing battle. Seeing him on stage, it was almost hard to believe he was present at the birth of one of the most influential sounds of the 20th century.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Black America Reacts Over Smokey Robinson's Bombshell Sexual Assault Lawsuit
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Generate Key Takeaways It's been an unbelievable 24 hours for fans of Smokey Robinson thanks to the shocking lawsuit that was lobbed against him on Tuesday. And now, folks online don't know how to react. As we previously told you, four women have accused the Motown legend of sexual battery, assault, false imprisonment, gender violence and creating a hostile work environment. His wife, Frances, has also been named in the suit. The women in particular are all allegedly former housekeepers of Robinson who claim that his wife had 'full knowledge of his prior acts of sexual misconduct' but 'failed to take the appropriate corrective action' to prevent 'deviant misconduct' from Robinson. They're seeking $5o million in damages. As the news began to circulate online, people on social media were reeling at the accusations. (And if we're honest so are we because he's 85 and the bad behavior reportedly took place over a decade ago and it's SMOKEY ROBINSON! Thee Smokey Robinson!) Naturally, the news had internet users shocked, appalled, confused and bewildered. 'This just might take Smokey Robinson up out of here. At 85 years old it's a blessing if you can even control your bowels. RAPE ALLEGATIONS?! Bless,' wrote one user on X/Twitter. 'Lawd they accusing #SmokeyRobinson of Sexual Assault….' said another. 'This Smokey Robinson news is deeply troubling. I knew something was off when he titled his recent album, Gasms,' one other user said. Added another, 'Smokey Robinson really will have tears of a clown when he see's the amount he's being sued for.' Over on Instagram, however, some folks were a bit skeptical. 'So your employer assaults you more than 20 times and you keep showing up at work? I be quitting after they deny my PTO,' one user said. 'Why did they wait until these men are my question,' another person questioned. One user made this observation: 'Not to be insensitive but this is becoming a trend now. Every other month there are allegations of another prominent black entertainer. They can't all be freak'd out as people are alleging.' For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
