Bobby Rogers Dies Ages 73, Co-Founder Of Motown Group The Miracles

Singer-songwriter, Bobby Rogers of the Motown Group, The Miracles, died at his Detoit home, March 3. He was aged 73.

Rogers had formed the rhythm and blues group, The Miracles, along with Smokey Robinson, Claudette Rogers, Pete Moore and Ronnie White in 1956. The group gave hit singles like "I Second That Emotion" , "Baby Baby Don't Cry," The Tears of a Clown", "Love Machine" and many more.

"My cousin, Robert 'Bobby' Rogers, who was like a brother to me, lost his battle and succumbed," said Claudette Rogers (Claudette Robinson) in a statement, Reuters reported.

"He had a sparkling personality that was loved by everyone. People always commented on the tall one with the glasses," she told the Detroit Free Press newspaper. "He was personable, approachable and he loved talking to the women, loved talking to the guys, loved to dance, loved to sing, loved to perform. That was the joy of his life," she added.

Roger's collaborator and fellow group member, Smokey Robinson, said in a statement that "Another soldier in my life has fallen. Bobby Rogers was my brother and a really good friend. He and I were born on the exact same day in the same hospital in Detroit. I am really going to miss him. I loved him very much."  

Rogers was the tenor of the group and his most important contribution was the "two-part harmony with Robinson on 'You've Really Got a Hold on Me,'" Reuters reported. The song was later covered by The Beatles.

Robinson and Rogers shared a number of songwriting credits that they recorded with The Miracles like, "Going to a Go-Go," "The Way You Do the Things You Do" and "First I Look at the Purse" of The Contours.

Rogers was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012 along with the rest of Miracles members.