Once a recording artist hits a certain age, father time inevitably alters their sound.
Willie Nelson is on the raspy side at 91. Bob Dylan's voice has changed after the legend became an octogenarian.
But there are exceptions.
Smokey Robinson, who will perform 8 p.m. Saturday at the Hard Rock, still looks and sounds great for his age.
With the exception of the aforementioned Nelson, there is no music legend older than Robinson on tour. The Motown icon is 85, but still has a velvet voice. Robinson, along with Sting, is the LeBron James of singers.
How is Robinson music's Dorian Gray? Apparently it's all about clean living for Robinson.
"I take good care of myself," Robinson said while calling from Los Angeles. "I'm not a partier anyway. The way I look at it is that I have a job to do, so the people in the audience can party. I've been blessed to have such an instrument. I thank God for that and the life I have, which is something I enjoy and appreciate. I do all that I can to be as healthy as possible to sing.
"Young singers have asked me how I do it at this age and the answer is to stay in shape," he continued. "I walk everyday. I used to run marathons but I couldn't continue running that distance due to my knees, which got bad on me. I stretch every morning and I've been doing yoga for many years."
Robinson is best known as a performer but the humble Rock and Roll Hall-of-Famer, is the greatest songwriter in Motown's long and illustrious history.
The soulful entertainer's songwriting and production ability made him arguably the most indispensable member of the Motown Machine.
Such gems as "Shop Around" and "You've Really Got a Hold on Me" were written and performed by Robinson while he fronted the Miracles. But Robinson also penned such classics as "My Guy" for Mary Wells and "My Girl" for the Temptations.
"There was a lot of inspiration that was flowing through me," he said. "I had songs coming out of me left and right back then. I've always enjoyed writing songs. It's been as important as singing to me. The ability to write a song is something I'm proud of."
The elegant vocalist, with the familiar falsetto, caused Dylan to gush. The lionized songwriter called Robinson America's greatest living poet.
"That's something I'll always treasure," Robinson said. "To hear something like that from anybody is great, but to hear that from (Dylan) is incredible."
As the leader of The Miracles, Robinson recorded a staggering 26 Top 40 hits between 1960 and 1970.
"You Really Got a Hold on Me," "I Second That Emotion" and "Mickey's Monkey" are a few of Robinson and the Miracle's top-10 hits.
Robinson has 13 more Top 40 hits to his credit as a solo recording artist.
"That's great but I have written thousands of songs," he said.
While growing up in Detroit, Robinson's two older sisters exposed him to jazz and he devoured Frank Sinatra and Sarah Vaughan. His mother played blues innovators such as Muddy Waters and Little Walter for him.
Robinson, who is in the Songwriter's Hall of Fame, grew up with the late Aretha Franklin.
"I was friend's with Aretha's brother (Cecil)," he said. "I remember Aretha, when she was 5 years old and she could sing like nobody else. She had it then and she was just amazing. One of the greatest of all time."
The same can be said for Robinson, who was awarded the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for his lifetime contribution to popular music in 2016.
"I've been incredibly fortunate," Robinson said. "I've been honored so many times and I take that all seriously. But the greatest for me is to be able to write, sing and to have worked with so many incredibly talented people. I don't know how I could have had a better life. I love performing or I wouldn't still be doing this. I could have retired years ago but there is still nothing like entertaining an audience."
Those who enjoy tequila and would like to learn about the art of mixology should check out the 21SEEDS tequila mixology class at Ocean.
The female-led distillery works on different infusions and the mixologist will guide patrons through the art of crafting innovative cocktails using 21SEEDS tequila Friday at Bottled: Wine, Spirit & Tastings at 6:30 p.m.
