# At 85, Smokey Robinson Reveals 10 Singers He Hated the Most

At 85, Smokey Robinson, the soulful icon of Motown, has stunned fans by unveiling a list of 10 singers he harbored deep resentment toward, breaking his long-held image as an unscandalous gentleman of R&B.

This candid confession, filled with decades of suppressed rivalries and personal disappointments, offers a raw glimpse into the artistic battleground behind Motown’s glittering stage lights. Here’s a look at some of the key figures on his list and the reasons behind his bitterness.

**Diana Ross** ranks at number 10, not due to scandal but an emotional wound from their past. Smokey and Diana shared a profound romantic relationship during Motown’s early days, despite his marriage to Claudette Rogers.

Though their breakup was mutual, driven by respect for others, the artistic empathy they once shared faded. As Diana rose to superstardom, Smokey felt a lingering pain over lost connection, a quiet cut between two souls who once harmonized.

**Mary Wells**, the voice that launched Motown nationally with Smokey’s hit *My Guy* in 1964, left him with regret and quiet anger. After mentoring her like a sister, Smokey was devastated when she abruptly left Motown for 20th Century Fox Records without warning.

Her career faltered post-exit, and Smokey felt abandoned, viewing her departure as a betrayal of their shared dream and trust.

**The Temptations**, for whom Smokey wrote iconic tracks like *My Girl*, drifted apart as they sought a bolder sound with producer Norman Whitfield in the late 1960s.

While Smokey respected their evolution, the lack of a heartfelt goodbye and the loss of friendship stung. Their collaboration, once brilliant, ended in a chilling silence, marking a professional and personal parting of ways.

**Marvin Gaye**, a close friend during Motown’s golden era, disappointed Smokey by rejecting the label’s classic love songs with his revolutionary *What’s Going On*.

Marvin’s public critique of past romantic tracks as shallow felt like a dagger to Smokey, who wrote from the heart. Their bond, fractured by differing paths, never recovered, ending with a polite but distant reunion at Motown’s 25th anniversary before Marvin’s tragic 1984 death.

**Berry Gordy**, Motown’s founder and Smokey’s mentor, strained their friendship through power dynamics. As Motown shifted to Los Angeles and prioritized stars like Diana Ross, Smokey felt sidelined, lamenting the loss of family spirit to corporate ambition. Though publicly cordial, their early closeness eroded, a casualty of business over personal ties.

Others on the list include **Rick James**, whose rebellious funk dismissed Smokey’s refined era; **The Four Tops**, with whom he lacked emotional connection; and **Norman Whitfield**, whose contrasting musical vision clashed with Smokey’s.

This list, not an indictment but a portrait of love, betrayal, and passion, reveals the complex human side of a musical legend whose legacy endures beyond conflict.