Eric Roberson | |
|---|---|
) Roberson performing in 2007 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Eric Roberson |
| Born | September 27, 1976 Rahway, New Jersey, United States |
| Genres | R&B, neo soul |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter, record producer |
| Instruments | Vocals, fender rhodes, drum machine |
| Years active | 1994–present |
| Labels | Warner Bros., Blue Erro Soul, Purpose, E1 Music, Liaison |
| Associated acts | Vivian Green, DJ Spinna, Phonte, Musiq Soulchild, Jill Scott, DJ Jazzy Jeff |
| Website | ericrobersonmusic.com |
Eric Roberson (born September 27, 1976) is a singer, songwriter and producer from Rahway, New Jersey. He is sometimes referred to simply as Erro, the name which he later used as part of his label Blue Erro Soul. His first single, "The Moon", was released through Warner Bros. Records in 1994 and recorded an album for that label which remains unreleased.[1]
Career
He subsequently returned to Howard University to complete his studies in Musical Theatre.[1][2] After performing in a number of musicals and plays, he landed a songwriting deal through the EMI label, and went on to collaborate with Philadelphia-based artists such as Jill Scott, Musiq Soulchild, and most extensively, DJ Jazzy Jeff.[2][3]
As a member of Jeff's A Touch of Jazz production company, Roberson made contributions to Jeff's debut album, The Magnificent in 2002. He continued songwriting work as well as releasing his own material through his Blue Erro Soul imprint.[2] He also appeared on DJ Spinna's Intergalactic Soul LP in 2006.
Roberson was nominated for two Grammys in the Best Urban/Alternative Performance category.[1] He was nominated for two songs from his 2009 album Music Fan First- "A Tale of Two" in 2010 and "Still" in the same category a year later.[1]
Roberson's "I Have A Song" was chosen to be the fundraising single, produced by Jak Beula and released in February 2016, to enable the permanent installation of the first dedicated Commonwealth war memorial in the UK to African and Caribbean service men and women of both World Wars.[4]
Studio albums
| Year | Album details | Peak chart positions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US [5] | US R&B [6] | ||
| 2001 | The Esoteric Movement
| – | – |
| 2003 | The Vault, Vol. 1
| – | – |
| 2004 | The Vault, Vol. 1.5
| – | – |
| 2005 | The Appetizer
| – | – |
| 2007 | ...Left
| – | – |
| 2009 | Music Fan First
| – | 89 |
| 2011 | Mister Nice Guy
| 98 | 14 |
| 2013 | United Tenors (with Fred Hammond, Dave Hollister, Brian Courtney Wilson)
| 39 | – |
| 2014 | B-Sides, Features & Heartaches
| – | 45 |
| 2014 | The Box
| 104 | 19 |
| 2016 | Tigallerro (with Phonte)
| – | 19 |
| 2017 | Earth – EP
| – | – |
| 2017 | Wind – EP
| – | – |
| 2017 | Fire – EP
| – | – |
| 2020 | Hear From Here
| - | - |
Live albums
| Year | Album | Peak chart positions | Certifications | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. [5] | U.S. R&B [6] | |||
| 2006 | Erro Live Vol. DC
| – | – | |
Selected discography
- 112 – Room 112 (1998), "Funny Feelings" (writer)
- Wild Wild West (1999), Tra-Knox "Lucky Day" (writer), Kel Spencer featuring Richie Sambora "I'm Wanted" (background vocals), Neutral "Chocolate Form" (writer)
- Gina Thompson – If You Only Knew (1999), "Ya Di Ya" (writer), "Take My Number Down" (writer, background vocals)
- Will Smith – Willennium (1999), "I'm Comin'" (vocal production)
- Jill Scott – Who Is Jill Scott? Words and Sounds Vol. 1 (2000), "Getting In The Way" (background vocals)
- Musiq Soulchild – Aijuswanaseing (2000), "Mary Go Round" (writer, vocal arrangements)
- Will Downing – All the Man You Need (2000), "Thinkin' About You" (writer, background vocals)
- Case – Open Letter (2001), "Driving" (writer, background vocals), "Love Of My Life" (writer), "Wishful Thinking" (writer)
- Vivian Green – A Love Story (2002), "What Is Love?" (writer, background vocals), "Emotional Rollercoaster" (writer, background vocals), "Ain't Nothing But Love" (writer, background vocals)
- Musiq Soulchild – Juslisen (2002), "Previouscats" (writer, background vocals)
- Cam'ron – Come Home with Me (2002), "Tomorrow" (writer, uncredited background vocals)
- Dwele – Subject (2003), "Hold On" (writer, background vocals, vocal production)
- Carl Thomas – Let's Talk About It (2004), "Rebound" (writer, producer)
- Charlie Wilson – Charlie, Last Name Wilson (2005), "Thru It All" (writer)
- Phonte – Charity Starts at Home (2011), "Who Loves You More" (vocals)
- The Foreign Exchange – Love in Flying Colors (2013), "Better" (vocals)
- Robert Glasper – Black Radio 2 (2013), "Big Girl Body" (vocals)
- Algebra Blessett – Recovery (2014), "Mystery" (writer)
- Lil' John Roberts – The Heartbeat[7] (2014), "Space" (vocals)
- AverySunshine – Twenty Sixty Four (2017), "Heaven Is Right Here" (writer), "Twenty Sixty Four" (writer)
- Phonte – No News Is Good News (2018), "Find That Love Again" (vocals)
- Brandon Williams – The Love Factor (2019) "Don't Give Up on Love" (vocals)
- Zo! – FourFront (2019) – "Love Up" (vocals)
- Nao Yoshioka – Undeniable (2019), – "Invest in Me feat. Carolyn Malachi" (producer)
Compilations
- "Couldn't Hear Me" appears on the compilation Gilles Peterson Worldwide Exclusives 3 (2004) Talking Loud.
Awards and nominations
- BET Awards
- 2007: Nominee, BET J Award
- Grammy Awards
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | "A Tale of Two" (feat. Ben O'Neill and Michelle Thompson) | Best Urban/Alternative Performance | Nominated |
| 2011 | "Still" | Best Urban/Alternative Performance | Nominated |
- Soul Train Music Award
- 2009: Nominee, Centric/Underground Approved Artist
See also
References
- ^ a b c d Jeffries, David. "Eric Roberson | Biography". allmusic.com. AllMusic. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
- ^ a b c Rizik, Chris. "Eric Roberson – Artist Biography". soutracks.com. Soul Tracks. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
- ^ R.D. Fox, Lauren. "PASS OR PLAY? ERIC ROBERSON RELEASES NEW SINGLE, "MARK ON ME"". madamenoire.com. Madame Noire. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
- ^ "I Have A Song", African & Caribbean Memorial.
- ^ a b "Eric Roberson – Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved October 28, 2013.
- "United Tenors": "Fred Hammond – Chart History: Billboard 200". Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved October 28, 2013.
- ^ a b "Eric Roberson – Chart History: R&B/Hip-Hop Albums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved October 28, 2013.
- ^ "The Heartbeat — Lil' John Roberts" at iTunes.
External links
- The Jazz Hop Movement
- Official site
- Eric Roberson UK Vibe Interview by Michael "The Dood" Edwards, 2011
- Eric Roberson interview by Pete Lewis, Blues & Soul, September 2011
- Eric Roberson interview by Pete Lewis, Blues & Soul, September 2009
- Eric Roberson audio interview on HoneySoul.com
- Eric Roberson interview by Pete Lewis, Blues & Soul, June 2008
- Eric Roberson: ThaFormula.Com – Interview
- Interview
- Eric Roberson On MySpace