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Hollywood Bowl

2301 North Highland Avenue, 90068, Hollywood, CA, US

www.hollywoodbowl.com/

Capacity: 17,376

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With eight Grammy wins and 28 nominations between them, Gladys Knight and Smokey Robinson are undisputed icons of American soul music.

Named among the greatest singers of all time by Rolling Stone magazine, Gladys Knight burst onto the music scene with Motown group The Pips in 1961 and spent the next six decades delivering number-one hits in pop, gospel and R&B. Although best known for her timeless singles "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" and "Midnight Train to Georgia", Knight’s ceaseless energy has led her to record more than 38 albums as well as acting in film and television. In 2024, Knight added a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award to her seven-strong collection.

Smokey Robinson has penned and performed some of the 20th century’s most indelible hits, including “You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me” and “I Second That Emotion.” As frontman of the Miracles and a primary songwriter for the Motown label, he also wrote and produced countless chart-toppers for other greats of the era, such as the Temptations and Marvin Gaye. Robinson’s mastery of performance and songcraft has shaped a career spanning more than half a century, and this Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee shows no sign of slowing down.

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Smokey Robinson biography

Smokey Robinson, real name William Robinson Jr., is an American R&B and pop singer- songwriter from Detroit, Michigan. Born in 1940, Smokey Robinson has had extensive success as a member of The Miracles, as a solo artist and as the Vice President of Motown Records.

At the age of 15, Smokey Robinson joined forces with the first members of what would eventually be the powerhouse group, The Miracles. The group was one of the first to be taken on by the Motown Record label and The Miracle’s first single, “Shop Around”, became the first million-copy-selling track for the label. As lead singer and songwriter for the group, Smokey Robinson single-handedly drummed up extensive success for Motown after producing 26 top 40 hits for the band, including the number one single, “Tears of a Clown”.

Smokey Robinson’s golden song-writing touch saw him quickly become Motown’s go-to writer and he was sought to write songs for artists such as Mary Wells, The Temptations and Marvin Gaye. Many of Smokey Robinson’s songs for other artists, such as “My Girl” and “Operator”, became legendary and are still well known today.

In 1972, Smokey Robinson left The Miracles to focus on his job as Vice President of Motown. Unable to stay away from the music, though, he returned to the limelight in 1973 to launch his solo career. His debut solo album “Smokey” shot to the number 10 spot on the US R&B charts, but a bout of writers block meant that Smokey Roninson was unable to score a top twenty single on the US Billboard 200 until the release of “Cruisin’” in 1979.

The release of “Cruisin”, which got to number four on the Billboard 200, seemed to reignite Smokey Robinson’s career and his 1981 album, “Being With You”, hit the number 10 spot on the Billboard 200 and shot to number one on the US R&B chart. The album’s lead single of the same name is Smokey Robinson’s most successful solo track, going to number two on the US Billboard 200 and hitting the number one spot on the US R&B chart and on the UK singles chart.

Smokey Robinson’s talents have been recognized all over the world. The recipient of a Grammy Award and an Ivor Novello Award, the singer also has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Gladys Knight biography

Gladys Knight is a soul singer born on the 28th of May 1944, hailing from Atlanta, Georgia, USA. She has been consistently writing, recording and performing for over 60 years, making her professional debut in 1953.

“Empress of Soul”. You can keep your “King of Rock’n’Roll”, “Lord of the Dance”, and “Pop Princess”, is there a nickname in music that sounds as deliciously regal as “Empress of Soul”? I really don’t think there is. It’s the kind of name that’s earned, not bestowed, and when the woman it describes is Gladys Knight, there’s no-one who it fits better.

Her first taste of fame came when she was a mere seven years of age. She won a TV Talent show contest, namely Ted Mack’s Original Amateur Hour in 1952, the following year she formed a musical group with her brother, sister and cousins who christened themselves The Pips. By the end of the decade they were touring together and they were signed to Motown by 1966.

At this point in time it was rare for a band to be so incredibly experienced live. Even The Beatles, famed for cutting their teeth in their residencies in Hamburg and the Cavern, had only spent three years regularly performing live. Knight and The Pips however, had over a decade’s experience by this point and it showed.

According to her memoirs, she and The Pips were kicked off a tour opening for Diana Ross and The Supremes because they were upstaging Ross night after night and getting a better reception from the crowd. While arguably a second tier Motown act they still had considerable success on the label, with songs like the first released version of “I Heard It Through The Grapevine” and the Grammy winning "Neither One of Us (Wants to Be the First to Say Goodbye)".

Come 1973 however, they left for a better deal at Buddha records, where her first single was the monster hit “Midnight Train to Georgia”. Worked out pretty well for her, eh? It wasn’t just the music world she was conquering, as Knight made her acting debut in the 1976 film Pipe Dreams, that saw her get a Golden Globe nomination for Best New Actress.

Since then she’s recorded with the likes of Stevie Wonder and Elton John, along with recording the theme for the 1989 James Bond film Licence To Kill. While her work today might focus more on her church and philanthropy than that electrifying voice, if anyone’s earned the right to take a break now and again, it’s her. Also, if she does take to the road once more, you can bet that she’s be absolutely peerless.

Live reviews

You have to wonder what the Motown secret is, because there seems to be so many of their stars of yesteryear still out performing on the live circuit today; alongside the likes of The Four Tops and The Temptations, the living legend that is Smokey Robinson continues to hit the road on a regular basis. After an initial retirement way back in 1972, back when he was vice president of the label, he returned to make a slew of new hits through the eighties, before leaving the imprint in 1990. Recently, he made a high-profile return to the UK, performing live on the BBC from their pre-Commonwealth Games outdoor gig at Edinburgh Castle. Backed by a full live band, he played a handful of classics, ‘Tracks of My Tears’ included, before duetting with Jessie J on ‘Cruisin’ to a rapturous reception from a huge crowd. He’s now gearing up for the release of Smokey and Friends, a new record that features a slew of collaborations, from the impressive - James Taylor, Mary J. Blige - to the highly questionable, like a version of ‘Get Ready’ with Gary Barlow. He’ll play the Hammersmith Apollo in November; it’s probably not unreasonable to expect some special guests.

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Joeg_67

Gladys Knight is by far one of my favorite performers. As a kid growing up I remember listening to the sounds of her soulful voice singing Midnight Train to Georgia. That song always stuck in my head making me think one day a train to Georgia wouldn't be a bad thing to train. I think she sure could have sold millions of tickets for the train company singing that song.
It wasn't until I seen her in person that I really appreciated all of her music and singing ability. Starting from her unforgettable smile ending with her humble ways, I enjoyed every bit of her. You can hear her voice with such clarity and range over the mic. In person her voice is beautiful sweeping you in and filling the venue with hometown soul. Blues and Jazz with a soulful mix is what you feel at her concerts.
She also gives the history behind some of the songs she sings like when and where it was recorded. She just goes a step beyond to make sure you take in all that is offered. If she comes back on tour or does any shows in the near future I'll be sure to get a ticket and enjoy the old classic sounds of Motown.

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