Music

Smokey Robinson to receive prestigious Ella Award

Published Wednesday, Aug 10 2011, 16:50 BST | By Justin Harp | Add comment

Smokey Robinson is to receive the Society of Singers' (SOS) prestigious Ella Award.

The 'Being with You' singer will be given the prize at an invitation-only gala on September 19 at the Beverly Hills Hilton.

Robinson said that he is extremely honoured to be chosen as the recipient of this year's Ella Award, which is named after legendary jazz musician Ella Fitzgerald.

"I'm very honoured by this. Ella Fitzgerald was one of the first people that I ever heard in my life, as a baby growing up in Detroit," Robinson told Billboard. "I had two older sisters and my mum, and they were always playing music and of course Ella Fitzgerald was one they were playing all the time."

Julie Andrews, Frank Sinatra, Gladys Knight and Natalie Cole have all received the Ella Award in previous years.

Robinson's close friend Aretha Franklin will also receive a tribute at the SOS ceremony, while Sally Stevens will accept the Voice Award.

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Watch Smokey Robinson and The Miracles perform their US top ten single 'The Tracks of My Tears' below: