When did smokey leave the miracles?

Answer 1

Smokey left The Miracles in 1972. He had been a member of the group since it's inception, in 1955, then the group was called the 5 Chimes. The Miracles were Motown's first group, and first recording act. They had been with Berry Gordy, the founder of Motown Records, since before that label was formed . Once incorporated as The Miracles, the original members, in addition to Robinson, were : Claudette Rogers,(later to become Smokey's wife, her cousin Bobby Rogers, Pete Moore, Ronnie White, and Marv Tarplin. When Smokey left the group, Claudette followed, settling for being a stay-at-home wife and mom to her and Smokey's two children. She had stopped touring with the group in 1964, but remained a member , singing on all of the group's studio recordings. Marv Tarplin, after initially staying with The Miracles for a time, also decided to leave the group, to be a musical writer and collaborator with Smokey. The Miracles were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012, some 26 years after Smokey's controversial solo induction in 1987.

Answer 2

Smokey Robinson was a member of The Miracles from the group's inception in 1955 (when they were known as The Five Chimes) until 1972, when he retired).