Smokey Robinson is a singer-songwriter who was an integral figure in the popularity of Motown Records and the growth of soul and R&B music. As a singer, he used his smooth voice to croon heartfelt songs about love and loss, and as a songwriter, he is credited with writing 4,000 songs. While Robinson celebrates his 85th birthday, we are taking a look at his life and impact on music.

He was born William Robinson Jr. on February 19, 1940, in Detroit, Michigan, where he started singing when he was just a child. In the early 1950s, he formed the Matadors singing group that would go on to become the Miracles. They got a contract with Berry Gordy Jr. at Motown, seeing their first big hit in “Shop Around” in 1960. Several hit songs followed like “You Really Got a Hold on Me,” “I Second that Emotion,” “Ooo Baby Baby,” “Tracks of My Tears,” and their No. 1 hit “Tears of a Clown.”

Not only did Robinson compose and produce songs for The Miracles, he also started working with other Motown acts. He wrote songs like “Two Lovers” for Mary Wells, “The Way You Do the Things You Do” and “My Girl” for The Temptations, “Ain’t That Peculiar” for Marvin Gaye, “When I’m Gone” for Brenda Holloway, and “Don’t Mess with Bill” for the Marvelettes.

In ’72, Robinson decided to pursue a solo career, developing a slower, more soulful sound. His first album, Smokey, had the Miracles tribute song “Sweet Harmony,” then his track “Baby That’s Backatcha” from A Quiet Storm reached No. 1 on the R&B charts. He had a Top 10 pop hit with “Cruisin’” and released the sexy ballad, “Being with You.” His 1987 album, One Heartbeat, had the Top 10 singles “Just to See Her” and “One Heartbeat,” and Robinson won his first Grammy.

He released Double Good Everything and Intimate in the ‘90s, then Robinson shared his spiritual side in his 2004 record, Food for the Spirit. His 2006 album Timeless Love featured his renditions of classic songs like “Our Love is Here to Stay” and “Night and Day.” He released a collection of duets titled, Smokey & Friends, and the holiday album, Christmas Everyday.

In ’89, he wrote his autobiography, Smokey: Inside My Life about his life, overcoming drug addiction, and his religious faith. Robinson was given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1983, he was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in ’87, and he was a Kennedy Center Honoree in 2006.