Music
Claudette Robinson
born 1942 · singer
Member of the Miracles from 1957 to 1972, called the "First Lady of Motown" by Berry Gordy as the first woman signed to a Motown label.
- Born
age 84- Birth name
- Claudette Annette Rogers
- Also known as
- Claudette Rogers Robinson · First Lady of Motown
- Detroit years
- 1957–1972
- Field
- Music
01 / The Detroit story
The Detroit story
Claudette Rogers sang with the Matadorettes, a sister act to the Detroit teenage group the Matadors, and in 1957 took the place of her brother Emerson "Sonny" Rogers when he joined the army. The group soon became the Miracles, the first act Berry Gordy recorded and the first Motown group to sell a million with "Shop Around". Because the Miracles were signed to Tamla, Gordy called Claudette the "First Lady of Motown", the first female artist on any Motown label. She married lead singer Smokey Robinson in 1959; "My Girl", written by Robinson and Ronnie White, was dedicated to her. In 1964 she stopped touring and stayed home in Detroit, while continuing to sing on some of the group's recordings, and she left with Robinson in 1972. She was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with the Miracles in 2012.
Highlights
- Joined the Miracles in 1957
- First female artist signed to a Motown-affiliated label (Tamla)
- "My Girl" was written in her honor
- Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 2012; Hollywood Walk of Fame star 2009 with the Miracles
02 / Their Detroit places
Their Detroit places 2
Where they lived, worked, performed and liked to hang out. Closed and demolished places stay here too, because they are part of the city's history.
Recorded here · 1957–1972
Motown Museum
The Miracles, Motown's first successful group, recorded their hits in Studio A.
Performed here · 1960s
Graystone Ballroom
Demolished · 1922–1980
The Miracles were among the Motown acts who played the ballroom, which Berry Gordy bought in 1963. Demolished in 1980.