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Moore, Pete (19th November 1938-19th November 2017)

He was a bass singer-songwriter, producer and arranger born Warren Moore in Detroit, Michigan, who became friends with the singer Smokey Robinson when he was around eleven years old while he was singing in a music show when they were at school.  They co-founded the doo-wop group, The Five Chimes, which became The Matadors and then The Miracles or Smokey Robinson & The Miracles as they were often known.

As well as singing with them he was a co-writer of their hit singles “Ooo Baby Baby”, “Tracks of My Tears”, “Going to a Go-Go” and “Love Machine”.  At the same time he and Smokey Robinson wrote “I’ll be Doggone” and “Ain’t That Peculiar” which were hits for Marvin Gaye and “Since I Lost My Baby” and “It’s Growing” which were hits for The Temptations.

In 1976 he and Billy Griffin, who had been his co-writer on the smash hit “Love Machine”, decided to retire from performances and concentrate on the song-writing side of things.

His songs have seen him winning an ASCAP Award, 4 BMI Awards and have been recorded by numerous artists which include George Benson, Booker T & The MGs, Debby Boone, Paul Carrack, The Contours, Rita Coolidge, Elvis Costello, The Delfonics, Jose Feliciano, The Four Tops, Aretha Franklin, Peter Gabriel, Jim Gilstrap, Hall & Oates, Jimi Hendrix, Thelma Houston, Jermaine Jackson, Michael Jackson, Japan, Quincy Jones, Tom Jones, Billy J, Kramer, Michael McDonald, George Michael, Aaron Neville, Alan Price, Otis Redding, Martha Reeves, The Rolling Stones, Linda Ronstadt, Rufus & Chaka Khan, Todd Rundgren, The Searchers, James Taylor, Luther Vandross, John Waite and The Zombies to name just a few.

Working as a backing vocalist he sang with Hoyt Axton in the studio and as a producer he leant his talents to Marvin Gaye, Isley Brothers, Smokey Robinson and Diana Ross & The Supremes.

He was still busy into the 2000s with him appearing with the original members of The Miracles for an interview for their 2006 DVD and for their 50th anniversary performance in 2007 and in 2009 they received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

He was also the CEO and owner of WBMM Enterprises which is based in Las Vegas, Nevada.

He died in Las Vegas, Nevada, in 2017 on his 79th birthday.

The Miracles recordings
Love Machine (Part 1)/Love Machine (Part 2) (UK 45)
Tamla Motown TMG 1015

Sources:

  1. http://www.gbelv.com/pete_moore.html
  2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pete_Moore
  3. http://www.answers.com/topic/pete-moore
  4. http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:gifyxqygldhe
  5. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Miracles
  6. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Griffin
  7. http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:gifyxqygldhe~T3
  8. http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:gifyxqygldhe~3~T32C
  9. http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:gifyxqygldhe~4~T32C
  10. http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:gifyxqygldhe~5~T32C
  11. http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:gifyxqygldhe~T4