Diana confirmed this also when she wrote about it in her book “Secrets Of A Sparrow.” Now ain’t that something?!!One of Smokey’s nieces was Diana’s best friend and that’s how they hooked up.Smokey had a lot of friends back in his Detroit days.
Although he said he still loves her, he actually didn’t mind at all, partly because he’d been knowing Diana since she was 10 or 11, so their relationship was and still is as strong as ever, and partly because he has major love for Berry and just wanted to see both of his close friends very happy. By the way, Smokey also admitted that he and Berry have always had the exact same taste in women throughout the years.“There were so many talented kids in our neighborhood: Diana lived four doors down from me; Aretha Franklin lived around the corner,” says Smokey.“I’ve known her (Aretha) since I was six years old.Smokey obliged, but as soon as Diana left the Supremes, he produced one of their monstrous hits “Floy Joy” in 1972.The message in this one is powerful: When you love to see the person that you love, continue to love, that’s REAL love right there!