Motown legend Warren ‘Pete’ Moore has died aged 78.
Smokey Robinson has led tributes to his "brother" and original bandmate in the Miracles, who sadly passed away on Sunday (19.11.17).
Taking to Twitter, Smokey, 77, wrote: "It’s always tough to loose someone that you love. Pete Moore was my brother since I was 11 years old. I’m really going to miss him (sic)"
Iconic Motown Records label founder Berry Gordy confirmed the sad news and praised the late singer and songwriter for his "wonderful Bass voice".
In a statement, he said: "I am deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Warren ‘Pete’ Moore, a fine human being and valued member of the Motown family.
"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."
Moore was responsible for co-writing several of the Miracles biggest hits including 1965’s ‘Ooo Baby Baby’, ‘The Tracks of My Tears’ – for which he won the ASCAP Award Of Merit – and ‘My Girl Has Gone’.
Moore and Robinson formed the group whilst attending high school together in Detroit, Michigan in the 1950s.
In 2012, Moore was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame joining Robinson who had joined in 1987.
He’d also penned The Temptation’s ‘It’s Growing’ and ‘Since I Lost My Baby’ and Marvin Gaye’s biggest hits ‘Ain’t That Peculiar’ and ‘I’ll Be Doggone’.
The Miracles – who reunited on-and-off from 1955 until 2011 – were the first band on Gordy’s Motown to become a success story, and are highly regarded as one of the most important and influential groups in pop, rock and roll, and R&B music history.
Smokey Robinson leads tributes to Warren ‘Pete’ Moore
