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Motown legend Smokey Robinson, one-time leader of The Miracles ("Ooh Baby Baby," "The Tracks of My Tears," "The Tears of a Clown"), started out in early soul and R&B genres in 1958, and has scored hit singles in every decade since. But aside from some scattered concert tours in recent years, Robinson, 64, is more often speaking at churches and charities, making his Christian faith more public. And now along comes his first spiritually themed album, Food for the Spirit, ending a five-year recording hiatus. We recently had a nice chat with Robinson, just a day after Motown's latest televised anniversary special. Here's what the member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame had to say…

What are your feelings when you're able to reunite with the Motown family?

Smokey RobinsonThat's always wonderful, man! One thing I can say about the Motown acts is that we were a family. That's not a myth. And we still have that same attitude, those of us who are still here. When we see each other, it was like it was just yesterday because we have that love and that brotherhood and that sisterhood that has lasted throughout the ages. It's always good to see any of them, especially those you haven't seen in a long time.

What's your relationship with Motown, despite working on non-Motown projects?

RobinsonMy relationship is everlasting. Once you're a Motown artist, you're always a Motown artist. People still look at Michael Jackson as being a Motown artist. Once you're a Motown artist, that's your stigmatism, and I was there from the very first day. Motown will always be a heavy-duty part of my life because those are my roots. I don't ever balk at being considered a Motown person, because Motown is the greatest musical event that ever happened in the history of music.

Those records we recorded back in the early days, they're played all the time now. The majority of them would be hits if they were released today. That's because we did not set out to make black music. We set out to make quality music that everyone could enjoy and listen to. I think we've accomplished that and way beyond.

How's it feel to be a legend?

RobinsonYou know what, I'm probably one of the most blessed people there's ever been, and I thank God for it. Through his grace, I'm allowed to live this life that I love so much. As a kid, this is what I wanted my life to be. Not in my wildest dreams did I ever dare to dream that it would be this.

Tell me about the new direction you're forging with an inspirational record.

RobinsonOriginally I was not writing songs for myself. I know everybody in the gospel world just like I know everybody in the secular world. Yolanda Adams is my sister [in Christ]. She's my friend just like Kirk Franklin, The Winans and Shirley Caesar. I was originally writing these songs for them, but eventually the Lord impressed upon me to sing them for myself. And as most people probably do not know, I have this wonderful relationship with God and with Jesus. I've been speaking at churches for years, as well as juvenile jails, rehabs and hospitals, and I always talk about my faith. That is a declaration of my relationship with God.

You'd said this is an "inspirational" record rather than a gospel record. Why?

RobinsonThe only thing that is different are the words, because the music is the same as I've always done. I didn't want to try to be gospel because I'm not. There's so many wonderful gospel people out there, and I don't necessarily want to compete with those people. So I wanted to sing inspirational music, and that's exactly how I approached it—only the words have been changed to declare my relationship with God.

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