Warren "Pete" Moore

Warren Thomas "Pete" Moore (November 19, 1938 – November 19, 2017) was an American singer-songwriter and record producer, notable as the bass singer for Motown group The Miracles from 1955 onwards, and was one of the group's original members. He is also a 2012 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee, and a BMI and ASCAP award-winning songwriter,[2] and was the vocal arranger on all of the group's hits.[3]

Warren "Pete" Moore
Moore c. 1965
Background information
Birth nameWarren Thomas Moore[1]
Born(1938-11-19)November 19, 1938
Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
DiedNovember 19, 2017(2017-11-19) (aged 79)
Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Occupation(s)
  • Singer-songwriter
  • record producer
  • entrepreneur
  • arranger
  • Music publisher
Labels
  • Tamla
  • Motown
Associated actsThe Miracles

Career

Moore was born on November 19, 1938 in Detroit.[1] A childhood friend of Miracles lead singer Smokey Robinson, the two met at a musical event given by the Detroit Public School system, where Moore spotted Robinson singing as part of the show. The two became friends and formed a singing group, which eventually became the Miracles. Besides his work in the Miracles, Moore helped Miracles member Smokey Robinson write several hit songs, including The Temptations' "It's Growing" and "Since I Lost My Baby", and two of Marvin Gaye's biggest hits, the Top 10 million sellers, "Ain't That Peculiar" and "I'll Be Doggone".

Moore also co-wrote several of The Miracles' own hits. These included "Ooo Baby Baby" (1965), the million-selling Grammy Hall of Fame Inductee "The Tracks of My Tears" (also 1965), for which he won the ASCAP Award Of Merit,[2] "My Girl Has Gone", another Top 20 hit from 1965, "Going to a Go-Go" (also 1965), (where he came up with the song's initial percussion sequence), and the multi-million selling #1 Pop smash, "Love Machine" (co-written with Miracles' member Billy Griffin) and the platinum album from which it came, City of Angels,[2] among others. Moore as leader of the Miracles enjoyed other hits with Griffin i.e. Do it Baby which was the Miracles first major hit after Smokey left the group. Moore and the group signed a management agreement with Martin Pichinson who also managed Lou Rawls and Bill Withers. Pichinson was very instrumental in developing the new direction for the Miracles.

The song "Overture" from that album, also co-written by Moore and Billy Griffin, was used as the official theme on Radio Monte Carlo in France from 1978 to 1979.[4] Moore also sung co-lead on a few recordings as well, such as "I Love Your Baby" and the groups' Billboard Top 40 hit "Doggone Right". Pete was also an accomplished producer, having produced several hit songs, including the Miracles' 1965 R&B chart hit, "Choosey Beggar", their 1969 hit, "Here I Go Again", the group's million-selling Top 10 hit, "Baby Baby Don't Cry" (also 1969), and the aforementioned City Of Angels album, along with albums by Marvin Gaye, and the Supremes.[5]

In late 2006, Moore reunited with original Miracles members Smokey Robinson and Bobby Rogers for an extended interview on the Motown DVD release, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles: The Definitive Performances. In the interview, Moore revealed for the first time that he was the group's uncredited vocal arranger. The second most prolific songwriter in the Miracles after Robinson, Moore's compositions have been recorded by Linda Ronstadt, Michael Jackson, Marvin Gaye, Aretha Franklin, George Michael, The Rolling Stones, Ramsey Lewis, Tom Jones, Luther Vandross, The Temptations, The Four Tops and Debby Boone.

Moore was owner and CEO of Las Vegas-based entertainment firm, WBMM Enterprises,[4] and co-owner, with Miracles member Billy Griffin, of music publishing company, Grimora Music.[6] Moore and his wife Tina have two grown daughters, Monette and Monique.

Awards and legacy

In 2007 Moore reunited on stage with original Miracles Bobby Rogers, Claudette Robinson, and Smokey Robinson to celebrate the group's 50th anniversary. In 2009, the Miracles received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.[7] Pete was also inducted with the rest of The Miracles into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2001.[8]

In 2012, Pete Moore was retroactively inducted with the rest of the original Miracles, Bobby Rogers, Ron White, Claudette Robinson, and Marv Tarplin into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame alongside Miracles lead singer Smokey Robinson. The induction was handled by a Special Committee, under the premise that the entire group should have been inducted with Robinson back in 1987.[9][10] Miracles lead singer Smokey Robinson was the only member of the Miracles to have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987.[11] Moore was also inducted into the Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame as a founding member of The Miracles in his hometown of Detroit, on October 4, 2015.

Death

Pete Moore died on his 79th birthday in Las Vegas, Nevada due to complications of diabetes.[1][12]

In a tribute to Pete, Motown Records founder Berry Gordy stated: "I am deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Warren 'Pete' Moore, a fine human being and valued member of the Motown family," Gordy said. "Pete was an original member of my very first group, the Miracles. He was a quiet spirit with a wonderful Bass voice behind Smokey Robinson’s soft, distinctive lead vocals and was co-writer on several of the Miracles hits."[13] Moore's childhood friend, and fellow Miracle Smokey Robinson, stated: "It’s always tough to lose someone that you love. Pete Moore was my brother since I was 11 years old. I’m really going to miss him." [14] Original Miracles member Claudette Rogers-Robinson placed flowers on the Miracles' Hollywood Walk of Fame Star on November 21, 2017 in Hollywood, California in tribute to Moore.[15][16][17] According to Tina, his wife of over 40 years, the cause of death was complications of diabetes. Besides his wife, Pete was survived by his sister, Winifred Moore, and adult twin daughters, Monette and Monique.[18] The deaths of White, Tarplin, Rogers and Moore leave Smokey Robinson and Claudette Rogers-Robinson as the last surviving original members of The Miracles as of late 2018.

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References
  1. Sandomir, Richard (26 November 2017). "Pete Moore, an Original Miracle and Co-Writer of Hits, Dies at 79". Retrieved 19 April 2018 – via NYTimes.com.
  2. "gbelv.com". Gbelv.com. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  3. DVD: Smokey Robinson & The Miracles: The Definitive Performances
  4. "gbelv.com". Gbelv.com. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  5. Joslyn Layne. "Warren 'Pete' Moore - Music Biography, Credits and Discography : AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 8 May 2013.
  6. "He's just a `Love Machine,' and a big Orioles fan, too". Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  7. "The Miracles". Los Angeles Times.
  8. "The Vocal Group Hall Of Fame | Smokey Robinson and The Miracles". Vocalgroup.org.
  9. "Inductee Explorer - Rock & Roll Hall of Fame". Rockhall.com. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  10. "The Miracles - Future Rock Legends". Futurerocklegends.com. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  11. Plain Dealer File. "The Miracles: In the '60s, we loved and lost to this Motown legend's smooth songs (Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2012)". Cleveland.com. Retrieved 2012-07-28.
  12. Cirisano, Tatiana (20 November 2017). "Warren 'Pete' Moore, Founding Miracles Singer and Motown Legend, Dies at 78". Billboard.com. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  13. "Miracles Singer Warren 'Pete' Moore Dead at 78". rollingstone.com. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
  14. "Warren 'Pete' Moore Dies: Motown's Miracles' Bass Singer Was 78". newsmax.com. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
  15. "Flowers Placed On The Hollywood Star Of The Miracles In Remembrance Of Pete Moore". gettyimages.com. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
  16. "claudette flowers pete moore - Google Search". www.google.com. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
  17. Celebretainment, By. "Smokey Robinson leads tributes to Warren 'Pete' Moore". celebretainment.com. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
  18. "The Miracles' Pete Moore dies at 79". amsterdamnews.com. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
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