Marv Tarplin, Guitarist And Songwriter For Smokey Robinson & The Miracles Has Died

October 3, 2011 6:27 AM

Motown’s Marv Tarplin has passed away.

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Motown’s Marv Tarplin, guitarist and songwriter for [lastfm link_type="artist_info"]Smokey Robinson[/lastfm] & [lastfm link_type="artist_info"]The Miracles[/lastfm] has died at the age of 70 in Las Vegas.

Tarplin was a full-time member of the [lastfm link_type="artist_info"]The Miracles[/lastfm] from their first Motown recordings in the late ’50s, recording and touring with them and appearing on album covers as a member of the group.

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He was briefly with the [lastfm link_type="artist_info"]Supremes[/lastfm] in their early Primettes days, but Smokey liked his guitar sound and grabbed him for the group. He was vital to the group’s sound not only as a guitarist, but because he co-wrote many Miracles hits with Robinson, including “The Tracks of My Tears” and “Going to a Go-Go.”

Tarplin and Smokey also co-wrote “Ain’t That Peculiar” and “I’ll Be Doggone” for Marvin Gaye.

Tarplin continued to tour and co-write with Smokey Robinson as a solo artist, working on “Cruisin’” and “Being With You” with him.

Here’s Smokey and the Miracles doing “Tracks of My Tears!”