Warren 'Pete' Moore, member of the Miracles – obituary

Warren “Pete” Moore, who has died on his 78th birthday, was a founder member of the Miracles, the 1960s Motown soul group which, led by Smokey Robinson, helped furnish the soundtrack to the era with hits such as The Tracks of My Tears.

He was born Warren Thomas Moore on November 19 1938 in Detroit, the son of a sculptor, Odell, and a teacher, Oreatha. Moore and Robinson met at school and, with Ronnie White, formed in 1955 a group influenced by doo-wop. They sang bass, lead and baritone, with Robinson already developing his distinctive falsetto.

After changes of name and personnel, they auditioned for Jackie Wilson’s manager, who turned them down as being too similar to the Platters. But their performance had also been seen by the writer of many of Wilson’s songs, Berry Gordy.

He agreed to produce some tracks for them and when the first sold well but only made him $3, Robinson suggested that...