Wowlebrity La Toya Jackson and birthday boy Smokey Robinson are both pop music royalty. She’s a Jackson, he’s a Motown legend, and the pair have been knowing each other for nearly 50 years. Robinson, who turns 73 today, is a close family friend; he spoke at Michael Jackson’s memorial, and one of the first songs immortalized by the Jackson 5 was Robinson’s amazing “Who’s Loving You?” But… you may not know that Mizz La Toya has also been known to sing some of Smokey’s tunes during her illustrious career. On her 1995 Motown tribute album Stop in the Name of Love (recorded in Sweden, naturally), Toy-Toy served up three of his classic gems: “My Guy,” “Tears of a Clown,” and my favorite La Toya/Smokey cover “Tracks of My Tears.” Watch above and get into its slinky/sassy reggae-meets-New-Jack-meets-Euro vibe!
That’s La Toya… Full of surprises! Expect more when La Toya smokes up your cable box this spring as Life With La Toya hits OWN in April.