Smokey Robinson Saddened By 'Brother' Bobby Rogers' Death

Soul icon Smokey Robinson has paid a heartfelt tribute to his "brother" and late bandmate __Bobby Rogers, following the singer's death on Sunday (03Mar13).

The founder of Robinson's backing band The Miracles passed away at his home in his native Michigan following complications from diabetes, and the I Second That Emotion hitmaker has been left devastated by the sad news, revealing he and Rogers shared a special bond from the moment they were born.

In a post on his Facebook.com account, the veteran singer writes, "_B_obby Rogers was my brother and a really good friend. He and I were born on the exact same day in the same hospital in Detroit. I am really going to miss him. I loved him very much."

Rogers' funeral is set to take place at the Tabernacle Missionary _B_aptist Church in Detroit on Monday (11Mar13).

The soul star's death is the second tragedy in five months for his granddaughter, R&B singer _B_randi Williams - her former _B_laque bandmate Natina Reed was killed in a car accident in Georgia in October (12), two days before her 32nd birthday.