Another honor for Smokey Robinson

NEW YORK, June 9 (UPI) -- Smokey Robinson's second honor from the Songwriters Hall of Fame means a lot to the Motown legend.

"I'm a song lover, man," says Robinson, who's not only written his own hits -- "Shop Around," "Tears of a Clown," "Ooh Baby Baby," "Cruisin' " -- but also co-wrote "My Girl" for the Temptations. "I've loved songs all my life, since before, when I was a child. (Writing) is my favorite thing to do."

Robinson, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1990, will attend Thursday's ceremony in New York City to receive the prestigious Johnny Mercer Award. The award is presented to a songwriter who's already been inducted into the hall of fame but "whose body of work is of such high quality and impact that it upholds the gold standard set by the legendary Johnny Mercer.

The Songwriters Hall of Fame will also be honoring John Fogerty, Bill Withers, Booker T & the MGs guitarist Steve Cropper and the teams of Isaac Hayes and David Porter and Richard and Robert Sherman. The Righteous Brothers' hit "You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling" will receive the Towering Song Award. Alicia Keys will receive the organizations Starlight Award, and guitar legend Les Paul will get the Sammy Cahn Lifetime Achievement Award.