When Smokey Robinson Sings, His Colleagues Become Fans

Smokey Robinson, the man who wrote such classics as “Tears of a Clown,” recently entered his fourth decade of crooning silky little love songs, still earning, as he has almost from the beginning, accolades from all kinds of folks.

In fact, one way to measure Robinson’s reputation as a songwriter--both as leader of the Miracles and as a solo artist--is to examine the kind of praise heaped on him by other songwriters, not exactly the most magnanimous segment of the population.

The best-known thumbs up came from Bob Dylan, who years ago called Robinson “the world’s greatest living poet.” The latest compliment--or at least the latest one you can hear on the radio--is “When Smokey Sings,” a minor hit by English techno-soul band ABC.

Sample lyric: “Debonair lullabies in melodies revealed/In deep despair on lonely nights/He knows just how you feel/The slyest rhymes--the sharpest suits/In miracles made real. . . . When Smokey sings--I hear violins/When Smokey sings--I forget everything.”

And what does Smokey--who plays the Celebrity Theatre tonight--think about “When Smokey Sings”?

“Well, of course, that’s a form of flattery, and I really appreciate it,” Robinson said this week from Sacramento before a performance.

“Earlier this year, I was in Europe when the song first came out, and I went on a TV show in Holland. It turns out the producer had booked them on the show too but didn’t tell either one of us that the other was going to be there. He sort of threw us together, and it was a great meeting, man. They’re nice guys, we enjoyed each other and, like I said, I really appreciate their writing the song.”

Others probably appreciate it, too. But perhaps even more gladdening to many people is that the airwaves these days are not only carrying a song about Smokey but also Smokey’s songs. And we aren’t just talking the oldies outlets, where such faves as “Tracks of My Tears” and “You Really Got a Hold on Me” are always in solid rotation.

No, the 45-year-old singer has new music on the radio, from his latest release, “One Heartbeat.” One of the album’s singles, “Just to See Her,” went Top 10, while the current single “What’s Too Much” has cracked the Top 20.

So it’s hardly surprising that when questions surface about his work as a businessman (for years, he has served in an executive capacity at Motown Records) or other projects (such as film scoring), Robinson said those things have taken a back seat.

“I’ve been spending most of my time with things that directly pertain to my (recording) career,” he said. “Right now, that’s my focal point because this ‘One Heartbeat’ album is probably gonna end up being the biggest album I’ve ever had.”

If so, chalk up another milestone. And that chalkboard has got to be getting pretty crammed as Robinson celebrates his 30th anniversary of making music.

He was asked to single out a few career highlights as he starts decade four (which wasn’t inviting him on a sad trip down memory lane--as it might be with other veteran performers--because “One Heartbeat” obviously presents Robinson as a vital artist whose best days aren’t all behind him).

He paused for a moment, as if flipping through a very thick file. But once he started to answer, the words came at Chick Hearn speed. “There are so many of those things, man. I feel so blessed,” he said.

“But if I had to pick four things that would be highlights, one would have to the very first record that I ever recorded with the Miracles, a thing called ‘Get a Job.’

“You know when you want to make a record and finally get the chance, that’s like a big thing to you. Another would be the formulation of Motown Records and to have its first million-seller, which was ‘Shop Around.’

“And, of course, (being named last year to) the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame is like a wonderful, wonderful kind of thing that will be there forever and ever. And I’ve also been nominated for the Songwriters Hall of Fame. That’s another great thrill.

“Lastly, is the fact that I’m still around. Really, I think about that all the time, because I’ve seen so many people come and go through show business. And I’m still here, man.”

Smokey Robinson will play the Celebrity Theatre, 201 E. Broadway, Anaheim, tonight at 8 p.m. Admission: $18.50. Information: (714) 999-9536.