Iconic Motown singer and songwriter Smokey Robinson shared his testimony in a recent interview.
The 74-year-old discussed in The Telegraph interview how God delivered him from a cocaine addiction, and he has maintained his sobriety for over 28 years.
Robinson was just 17 years old when he met Berry Gordy for the first time, and went on to become one of the most prolific singers and songwriters on Motown Records. He penned The Temptations hits "My Girl," "The Way You Do The Things You Do," and other classics, and his group, The Miracles, were honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
In spite of such incredible accomplishments, he began abusing cocaine late in his career, and became an addict at the age of 41.
"I think it happened to me so late because of the fact that I was... protected," he told The Telegraph.
"I was always, and I still am, open to somebody in my camp saying, 'No. That's not right,' or, 'What do you think you're doing?' I have those kind of people around me, Berry Gordy being the main one of them. I appreciate that as a person and I'm very happy that that's there."
When that hedge of protection was removed however, he began making poor choices.
"When you divorce yourself from these types of people in your life, then you have a tendency to be able to run amok, when you surround yourself with 'yes' people," he explained. "And that's what most people who go amok do – they surround themselves with 'yes' people. Anything you do is fine 'cause you're you and you're popular. And that's dangerous."
Years later, a friend took him to a Los Angeles storefront church, and the pastor prayed for him.
"And she told me that God had told her I was coming," he recounted. "And she told me all the things that were happening to me, physically and emotionally and mentally – which I shared with no on one earth! No one knew. She told me every one of 'em that night. She said God had showed her what was going on.
"And I walked in that church an addict, and I came out free. May of 1986. Never looked back."
Robinson continues to write and record music, and recently released a new album, "Smokey & Friends." The project features duets with legendary singers such as Steven Tyler, Elton John, and Sheryl Crow, as well as relative newcomers Miguel, Jessie J, and Aloe Blacc. The stars sing hit after hit from Robinson's extensive catalogue.
"Smokey & Friends" is available now in online and physical retail stores.
