Bobby (Bobbie) Smith - Spinners R I P

The death of the Spinners Bobby (Bobbie) Smith has been flagged up on his page on Wiki. It states there that he passed last Wednesday (March 13th)

Surely such a major happening on the soul music scene should have registered in the music press ?

added by site

Seems that this sad news has now been confirmed via various soul sites out there

Title photo (l to r)

Philippe Wynne, Billy Henderson, Pervis Jackson, Bobbie Smith and Henry Fambrough

Wikipeda Link

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobby_Smith_(rhythm_and_blues_singer)

Robert "Bobby" Smith (sometimes spelled Bobbie; April 10, 1936 - March 16, 2013[citation needed]) was born in Detroit, Michigan and was an American R&B singer, the principal lead singer of the soul vocal group, The Spinners, also known as the Detroit Spinners or the Motown Spinners, throughout its history.

Smith had been the group's main lead singer since its inception, having sung lead vocals on The Spinners first hit record in 1961, "That's What Girls Are Made For" (which has been inaccurately credited to the group's mentor and former Moonglows lead singer, Harvey Fuqua). Smith also sang lead on most of their Motown material during the 1960s, such as the charting singles like "Truly Yours" (1966) and "I'll Always Love You" (1965); almost all of the group's pre-Motown material on Fuqua's Tri-Phi Records label, and also on The Spinners' biggest Atlantic Records hits, such as "I'll Be Around", "Could It Be I'm Falling in Love", "They Just Can't Stop It the (Games People Play)", and the Billboard #1, "Then Came You" (with Dionne Warwick).

With the death of Smith on March 16, 2013 as well as fellow Spinners members Billy Henderson in 2007, and bass singer Pervis Jackson in August 2008, Henry Fambrough is the last remaining original member still performing with the Spinners

Blues and Soul Interview with Bobbie by Pete Lewis

http://www.bluesandsoul.com/feature/384/spinners_reaching_dizzy_heights/