Motown Singer Bobby Rogers Dies at 73

Members of the motown group The Miracles (L-R): Smokey Robinson, Pete Moore, Claudette Robinson and Bobby Rogers attend the ceremony honoring them with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2009. (Photo by Vince Bucci/Getty Images)

Bobby Rodgers, founding member of the Motown band The Miracles died in his home outside Detroit.

Bobby Rogers, singer in the 1960’s Motown band The Miracles, died yesterday at age 73.  
Rodgers was one of the founding members of the group, “that shot singer/songwriter Smokey Robinson into worldwide fame,” according to The Detroit News.

A Detroit native, Rodgers was born Feb. 19, 1940.  He and Robinson begane sining together in high school. Singing together in The Miracles, Rogers deep tenor backed up Robinson, the lead singer.  

According to his Obituary in The Detroit News, “The tall, bespectacled Rogers was the most graceful dancer in the group, and he proved to be a deft hand at songwriting as well.”

Rogers and the Miracles were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012, but was unable to attend the ceremony because of his health.  Rogers died peacefully at home Mar. 3 after a protracted illness according to the Detroit Free Press.