Died On This Date (March 3, 2013) Bobby Rogers / Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
themusicsover Bobby Rogers
February 19, 1940 – March 3, 2013
As an original member of Motown’s legendary R&B group, the Miracles, Bobby Rogers sang on some of popular music’s most lasting songs. Born on the same day and in the very same hospital as Smokey Robinson, Rogers wouldn’t meet his future band mate until 15 years later. In 1959, the Miracles became the first group signed to Berry Gordy’s Motown/Tamla Records, and within a year, they had the label’s first million seller with “Shop Around.” The group went on to release countless hit singles with Rogers singing on “You Really Got A Hold Of Me,” “The Tracks Of My Tears,” “Ooo Baby Baby,” “I Second That Emotion,” and many many more. He was also reportedly responsible for the group’s onstage choreography. Rogers remained in the Miracles until 1978, but participated in reunions in 1980 and 1993. He ultimately retired from the group in 2011. As a Motown songwriter, Rogers wrote or co-wrote such hits as “The Way You Do The Things You Do” (the Temptations), “What Love Has Joined Together” (Mary Wells), and “One More Heartache” (Marvin Gaye), among others. He was elected into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Miracles in 2012. Bobby Rogers was 73 when he passed away on March 3, 2013. Cause of death was not immediately released, but he had reportedly been suffering from an undisclosed illness for some time.
Thanks to Henk de Bruin for the assist.
What You Should Own
Johnnie Bassett was an American electric blues guitarist, singer and songwriter who, over the course of a career that spanned some 60 years, worked as a band leader as well as an in-demand session player for many of music’s biggest names. The list of those that the self-taught guitarist played with includes B.B.King, 
Marv Tarplin was a guitarist and songwriter who is perhaps best remembered as a founding member of Smokey Robinson & the Miracles. Tarplin was playing guitar for Detroit girl group, the Primettes, when they auditioned for Robinson, who was doing A&R at Motown at the time. Robinson was so taken by Tarplin’s playing that he offered him a gig in his own group. The year was 1958, and Tarplin was suddenly the lead guitarist and co-songwriter for the Miracles, who would eventually become one of Motown’s most popular acts. Meanwhile, the Primettes would soon make history themselves after morphing into the Supremes. Tarplin went on to play on and co-write numerous hits for the band. That list includes “My Girl Has Gone,” “Going To A Go-Go,” and most famously, “Tracks Of My Tears.” After both he and Robinson left the Miracles in 1973, Tarplin continued to write and perform with Robinson. He also co-wrote the 
