Few artists in the rock ‘n’ roll era have had a greater impact on the music world than Smokey Robinson.

He’s the writer of more than 4,000 songs — many of them beloved classics — including “Tears of a Clown,” “I Second That Emotion” and “Cruisin’,” as well as a producer and record executive during the heyday of Motown Records.

“I feel that songwriting is a gift that comes to me from God.”

Take a listen to just about any current pop song on the radio, and it seems sadly obvious that the level of writing has deteriorated greatly. The legendary performer, interviewed by LifeZette while promoting a string of Los Angeles-area shows this weekend as part of his current “Up Close and Personal” tour, had some surprising insights on the state of today’s music.

One of the biggest is the change in lyrics, particularly the raunchy ones so prevalent today. “I think the censors have relaxed a little bit from when I was starting out, of what could be said and played on the radio,” said Robinson. “The censors are more lax than it was then.”

And the music is more negative.

“We live in a world where the negative gets attention. We’re bombarded by negativity. You look at the news and there’s no good news, it’s all about how many people got killed, what this storm did, what’s going on with a war … There’s always been negative music, hardcore music, but nowadays the negative gets the attention.”

Robinson also remains a popular live performer, having sold out three nights at the 18,000-seat Hollywood Bowl during the 2015 Fourth of July weekend. Yet this weekend, as part of his current tour, he’s bringing his musical touch to the Los Angeles area on a much more intimate level, when he performs in three shows in smaller venues averaging just over 1,000 seats per night.

“God gives everybody gifts. Everybody gets a gift.”

“The intimate shows are totally informal, because I don’t even know what I’m going to play,” said Robinson, 76.

“There are two baskets at the entrance of these shows. One is for guys to put their name in there, the other for a woman. I reach in and call out a name and people can ask a question, make a request or both. What happens is whatever people dictate to happen, so that’s why it’s intimate like that. You can’t do it in a large venue like the Hollywood Bowl because at the Bowl, people are microscopic.”

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Born and raised in Detroit, Robinson founded his former group The Miracles while still in high school. The group was Berry Gordy’s first vocal group, and it was at Robinson’s suggestion that Gordy started the Motown Record dynasty, relying heavy on his own golden touch and prolific songwriting output. The Miracles’ single of Robinson’s “Shop Around” became Motown’s first #1 hit on the R&B singles chart, as well as the label’s first million-selling record.

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Over the next decade, Robinson continued to pen hits for the group including, “You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me,” “Ooo Baby Baby,” and “Going to a Go-Go.”

He is a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and has received numerous awards, including the Grammy Living Legend Award, NARAS Lifetime Achievement Award, Honorary Doctorate (Howard University), a Kennedy Center Honor and the National Medal of Arts Award.

Next month he will receive the prestigious Gershwin Prize for his overall contribution to great American songwriting.

“I’m extremely flattered by that. Gershwin is some of the first music I ever heard in my life in Detroit as a baby,” recalled Robinson, whose real name is William. He was nicknamed “Smokey Joe” as a kid because of his love of Western-movie singing cowboys who had similar nicknames.

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“I had two older sisters, and my mom and they played records all the time of Gershwin music. Cole Porter is the first music I ever heard. I listened to it until I started listening to my own kind of music. The Gershwin Award is unbelievable.”

In addition to writing hits for the Miracles, Robinson wrote and produced hits for other Motown greats, including The Temptations, Mary Wells, Brenda Holloway, Marvin Gaye and others.

“I think when you’re a songwriter — songs are airborne, ideas are airborne, and I feel like it’s a blessing,” said Robinson.

“I think God gives everybody gifts and everybody gets a gift. Some people never discover their gifts, some people never use their gifts, some people shove it aside and do something else — but everybody gets a gift. I feel that songwriting is a gift that comes to me from God, and it comes to me that way.”

Inspiration strikes when he least expects it, he said.

“I’m not a songwriter who needs a pattern. Like, I don’t have to go away to the mountains for two weeks to get inspired,” he said. “I could be on a plane and an idea comes to me — melody or words, and I write all the time.”

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He feels the current presidential election campaign is “the biggest fiasco we’ve ever had” and “a real sideshow,” but Robinson remains optimistic about the state of the world around him.

He simply hopes that whatever voters decide will be a good choice for America, and a large part of that optimistic attitude stems from his own personal health — which he feels is better than it’s been in decades.

“I feel better now than I did when I was 35, and I’m not exaggerating,” said Robinson. “I feel really good. I try to take good care of myself. I still tour because I don’t get that anywhere else in my life. We’re having this party for two-and-a-half hours and singing and having a good time. I don’t get that anywhere else. I tried retirement and it wasn’t for me.”