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| - One of the earliest of all Motown groups The Miracles were formed at school in Detroit in 1955 as The Five Chimes. In 1956 they changed their name to The Matadors, adding Claudette Rogers to the line-up. They were spotted by Berry Gordy at an audition in late 1957 and in February 1958 changed their name to The Miracles. Their first release, 'Get A Job' b/w 'My Mama Done Told Me', was issued via the End label that same month. Another single on End followed, and then one on Chess and Motown, before the group finally found a home on Tamla where they had a string of hits and Smokey established himself as a key songwriter for the label throughout the 1960s. In late 1965 Berry Gordy decided to adjust the group's name and they were billed thereafter as Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, until Smokey left the group in July 1972 (although the final Smokey Robinson & The Miracles single was not released until November). He was replaced by Billy Griffin, with the name being reverted back to The Miracles for the new line-up. The Miracles stayed with Motown until 1976, and had a number one US hit with 'Love Machine' in 1975. In 1976 they moved to Columbia.Members:William %22Smokey%22 Robinson (1955–1972) Ronald %22Ronnie%22 White (1955–1983; 1993–1995) Warren %22Pete%22 Moore (1955–1978) Clarence Dawson (1955) James Grice (1955) Emerson Rogers (1956) Robert %22Bobby%22 Rogers (1956–1983; 1993–2013) Claudette Rogers (Robinson) (1956–1964)Billy Griffin (1972–1978; late 1990s) Dave Finley (1978–1983; 1993–present) Sidney Justin (1993–c.2000) Tee Turner (1996–present) Mark Scott (2005–2008) Alphonse Franklin (2008-present)
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| dbo:abstract
| - The Miracles (also known as Smokey Robinson and the Miracles from 1965 to 1972) were an American rhythm and blues vocal group that was the first successful recording act for Berry Gordy's Motown Records, and one of the most important and influential groups in pop, rock and roll, and R&B music history. Formed in 1955 by Smokey Robinson, Warren %22Pete%22 Moore, and Ronnie White, the group started off as the Five Chimes, changing their name to the Matadors two years later. The group then settled on the Miracles after the inclusion of Claudette Robinson in 1958. The most notable Miracles line-up included the Robinsons, Moore, White, Bobby Rogers and Marv Tarplin. After a failed audition with Brunswick Records, the group began working with songwriter Berry Gordy, who helped to produce their first records for the End and Chess labels before establishing Tamla Records in 1959 and signing the Miracles as its first act. The group eventually scored the label's first million-selling hit record with the 1960 Grammy Hall of Fame smash, %22Shop Around%22 , and further established themselves as one of Motown's top acts with the hit singles %22You've Really Got a Hold on Me%22, %22What's So Good About Goodbye%22, %22Way Over There%22, %22I'll Try Something New%22, %22Mickey's Monkey%22, %22Going to a Go-Go%22, %22(Come 'Round Here) I'm the One You Need%22, %22Just A Mirage%22, %22If You Can Want%22, %22More Love%22, %22I Don't Blame You At All%22, %22Ooo Baby Baby%22, the multi-award-winning %22The Tracks of My Tears%22, %22Special Occasion%22, %22I Second That Emotion%22, %22Baby Baby Don't Cry%22, the number-one Pop smashes %22The Tears of a Clown%22 and %22Love Machine%22, %22Do It Baby%22 , and %22My Girl Has Gone%22.Referred to as Motown's %22soul supergroup%22, the Miracles recorded 26 Top 40 Pop hits, sixteen of which reached the Billboard Top 20,seven top 10 singles, and a number one single (%22The Tears of a Clown%22) while the Robinsons and Tarplin were members. Following the departure of Tarplin and the Robinsons, the rest of the group continued with singer Billy Griffin and scored two final top 20 singles, %22Do It Baby%22 and %22Love Machine%22, a second # 1 hit, which topped the charts before the group departed for Columbia Records in 1977, recording as a quintet with Donald Griffin, where after a few releases, they disbanded in 1978. In all, the group had over fifty charted hits by the time they disbanded. On the R&B charts, The Miracles scored 26 Top 10 Billboard R&B hits, with 4 R&B # 1's,and 10 U.S. R&B Top 10 Albums. Bobby Rogers and Ronald White revived the group as a touring ensemble sporadically during the 1980s and again in the 1990s with lead singer Sydney Justin. Following White's death in 1995, Rogers continued to tour with different members until he was forced into retirement due to health issues in 2011, dying less than two years later.The Miracles have been awarded many top music industry honors over the years. In 1997, the group received the Pioneer Award at the Rhythm and Blues Foundation for their musical achievements. Four years later, in 2001, they were inducted to the Vocal Group Hall of Fame. In 2004, they were ranked thirty-two on the Rolling Stone magazine's list of The 100 Greatest Artists of All Time, retaining that same position seven years later, in 2011. Four of their hit songs were inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. In 2009, the group received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Throughout their careers, the Miracles were also enshrined with honors for their songwriting by both BMI and ASCAP. In 2008, Billboard listed them at #61 on their 100 most successful Billboard artists ever list. After much controversy, the Miracles were inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012.
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