Ron and Bill (Ronnie White and Smokey Robinson)

[Shelley "SoleMann" King]

Ron & Bill was a short-lived incarnation of Ronnie White and Smokey Robinson from the early days of the Motown organization -- the credit appeared on one record, the single "It" b/w "Don't Say Bye Bye," released on the Tamla label, which was the label's attempt at charting with a novelty tune.

Actually, the A-side is very pretty, with superb singing and exquisite choruses, and if the effort here was to imitate "The Purple People Eater" or "The Flying Saucer," as suggested by Bill Dahl in his notes for The Complete Motown Singles, Vol. 1 1959-1961, then the label ended up with something smoother and more sophisticated than either of those sides, and one well worth hearing as straight R&B.

The record constitutes an understandably obscure event in the life of the singer and the history of the Miracles.


Ron and Bill Don't Say Bye Bye

Ron and Bill It

[Shelley "SoleMann" King]

SMOKEY AND HIS FRIENDS...SMOKEY 2ND FROM LEFT

[Shelley "SoleMann" King]

Plenty more where those come from....SMILE

[Edie Antoinette]

These pics are UNBELIEVABLE!!! I have never in my life seen Smokey's parents! And look how little he was with his Daddy! LOL (adorable)...

You shole iz the kang!!!! LOL

Thanks Sole!!!

[Shelley "SoleMann" King]

SMOKEY ROBINSON'S MAMA

[Shelley "SoleMann" King]

SMOKEY ROBINSON AND HIS DADDY

[Shelley "SoleMann" King]

Glad you like it Mama Edie...I found the songs last night and uploaded them to youtube, i used my webcam to record the songs and found that sound of young america pic...I wonder what made them do that? there is a lot of people who probably don't even know about this....LOL

[Edie Antoinette]

This is simply fantastic! You thrill my heart Solebaby...♥ This is like a treasure!!! Don't Say Bye Bye sounds like The Everly Bros..who were popular in the mid 50's. I loved them. I would go across the street with Uncle Cliff and he would buy us a popsicle when I was 5 (1956)--and when you walked in the store The Everly Brothers would be playing.."Wake Up A'Lil Suzie" *smile* Incidentally, I've never heard either of these rare gems that you've posted.

'It" is delightful!!! I can see what the article means when it says they were trying to get on the charts with a similar type ditty tune like Purple People Eater...but "It" is on a different vein...

Priceless Blog!!! Excellent!