Motown pioneer Bobby Rogers dies at 73

Motown legend, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer and co-founder of the Miracles Bobby Rogers died at the age of 73.

According to the Detroit Free Press, Rogers died in his Southfield, Mich. home due to complications with diabetes.

Rogers was one of the founding members of the Motown label’s first successful group, the Miracles, along with Smokey Robinson, (formerly) Claudette Rogers, Pete Moore, Ronald White and Marv Taplin.

Rolling Stone reported that Rogers and Smokey Robinson were born on the same day and in the same hospital and met up at the age of 16 to form the Miracles. The rest is music history as they say, — the group released their first record in 1959 and continued their mainstream success with the Motown label through the 70s.

Rogers’ memory, along with his band-mates', is eternally enshrined on the Hollywood walk of fame. Friends and family remember him as one of tremendous spirit.

“He was personable, approachable and he loved talking to the women, loved talking to the guys, loved to dance, loved to sing, loved to perform,” said the Miracles’ Claudette Robinson. “That was the joy of his life.”