A 1975 Smokey Robinson song that gave its name to a U.S. R&B radio programming format featuring smooth, slow soul and jazz-influenced ballads.
Composition
Quiet Storm was written by Smokey Robinson with Rose Ella Jones and recorded for the album of the same name. The arrangement features a flute solo, sustained string parts, and Robinson’s high tenor vocal floating over a slow groove.
Reception
Released as the title track of the album in 1975, the song received airplay on R&B radio but charted modestly. Its broader cultural impact came through the format it spawned.
Legacy
The phrase “Quiet Storm” was adopted as the name of a slow jam radio format pioneered by Washington, DC, station WHUR-FM in 1976 and adopted by other U.S. R&B stations. The format remains in use across many U.S. urban radio markets.