Robert Steel Smith (April 10, 1936 – March 16, 2013), professionally known as Bobby Smith, also spelled Bobbie, was an American R&B

singer Singing is the act of creating musical sounds with the voice. A person who sings is called a singer, artist or vocalist (in jazz and/or popular music). Singers perform music (arias, recitatives, songs, etc.) that can be sung with or withou ...

notable as the principal lead singer of the classic Motown/Philly group, The Spinners (also known as the Detroit Spinners or the Motown Spinners), throughout its history. The group was formed circa 1954 at Ferndale High School in Ferndale, Michigan, just north of the Detroit border. The group had their first record deal when they signed with Tri-Phi Records in early 1961. The Spinners (1965)

Smith had been the group's lead singer since its inception, having sung lead

vocals Singing is the act of creating musical sounds with the voice. A person who sings is called a singer, artist or vocalist (in jazz and/or popular music). Singers perform music (arias, recitatives, songs, etc.) that can be sung with or withou ...

on The Spinners first

hit record A hit song, also known as a hit record, hit single or simply a hit, is a recorded song or instrumental that becomes broadly popular or well-known. Although ''hit song'' means any widely played or big-selling song, the specific term ''hit record' ...

in 1961, "

That's What Girls Are Made For "That's What Girls Are Made For" is the debuting single for the American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citi ...

" (which has been inaccurately credited to the group's mentor and former Moonglows lead singer, the late

Harvey Fuqua Harvey Fuqua (July 27, 1929 – July 6, 2010) was an American rhythm and blues singer, songwriter, record producer, and record label executive. Fuqua founded the seminal R&B/doo-wop group the Moonglows in the 1950s. He is notable as one of th ...

). Smith also sang lead on most of their Motown material during the 1960s, such as the charting

singles Singles are people not in a committed relationship. Singles may also refer to: Film and television * ''Singles'' (miniseries), a 1984 Australian television series * ''Singles'' (1992 film), written and directed by Cameron Crowe * ''Singles'' ...

like " Truly Yours" (1966) and " I'll Always Love You" (1965); almost all of the group's pre-Motown material on Fuqua's Tri-Phi Records

label A label (as distinct from signage) is a piece of paper, plastic film, cloth, metal, or other material affixed to a container or product, on which is written or printed information or symbols about the product or item. Information printed ...

, and also on The Spinners' biggest Atlantic Records hits. These included " I'll Be Around", "

Could It Be I'm Falling in Love "Could It Be I'm Falling in Love" is a 1972 song recorded by the American R&B vocal group The Spinners (known as "Detroit Spinners" in the UK). It was co-written by Melvin and Mervin Steals, two songwriter brothers working for Atlantic, who were ...

", "

They Just Can't Stop It the (Games People Play) "Games People Play", also known as ""They Just Can't Stop It" The (Games People Play)", is a song recorded by American R&B vocal group The Spinners. Released in 1975 from their '' Pick of the Litter'' album, featuring lead vocals by Bobby Smit ...

". In 1974, they scored their only #1 Pop hit with " Then Came You" (sung by Smith, in collaboration with superstar Dionne Warwick). ''All four'' of these Bobby Smith-led songs were Certified Gold by the R.I.A.A. Despite the fact that Smith led on many of the group's biggest hits, many have erroneously credited most of the group's success to its other lead singer, the late

Philippé Wynne Philippé Wynne (''aka'' Philippe Escalante Wynn; ''né'' Walker; April 3, 1941 – July 14, 1984) was an American singer, best known for his role as a lead vocalist of The Spinners (a role he shared with fellow group members Bobby Smith and H ...

, who did not join The Spinners until well over a decade after they had formed. (

Henry Fambrough Henry Lee Fambrough (born May 10, 1938) is an original vocalist and current member of the R&B quintet The Spinners (aka The Detroit Spinners and also The Motown Spinners). He is the last surviving original member of the Spinners. The group ...

also sang lead on some of the Spinners' songs.) The confusion between Smith and Wynne may be due to the similarities in their voices and the fact that they frequently shared lead vocals on many of those hits. In fact, Wynne was many times inaccurately credited for songs that Smith actually sang lead on, such as by the group's label, Atlantic Records, on their ''Anthology'' double album collection (an error corrected in the group's later triple CD set, ''The Chrome Collection''). Throughout a succession of lead singers (

G. C. Cameron George Curtis Cameron is an American soul and R&B singer who is currently married to singer Linda Dixon Cameron a.k.a. “Lady L.”. Perhaps best known as the lead singer of The Spinners on their 1970 hit " It's a Shame" and for his 1975 hit ...

, Wynne, John Edwards, etc.), Smith's lead voice had always been The Spinners' mainstay. Smith battled lung cancer, and died of pneumonia and influenza on March 16, 2013, at the age of 76. With the deaths of fellow Spinners members C. P. Spencer in 2004, Billy Henderson in 2007, and

Pervis Jackson Pervis Jackson (May 17, 1938 – August 18, 2008) was an American R&B singer, noted as the bass singer for The Spinners, and was one of the group's original members as well as their spokesman. His deep timbered voice and calm swagger garnered h ...

in 2008,

is the only surviving original member of the group and is still performing with a current-day line-up of Spinners.

References

Bibliography

*Romanski, Patricia and Holly George-Warren (editors). ''The Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll''. New York, NY: Fireside, 2005.

External links

Bobbie Smith interview by Pete Lewis, 'Blues & Soul' February 2009

{{DEFAULTSORT:Smith, Bobby 1936 births 2013 deaths American rhythm and blues singers Motown artists Musicians from Detroit The Spinners (American group) members 20th-century African-American male singers 21st-century African-American male singers