Eric Roberson
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 an American singer, songwriter and producer. 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 he recorded an album for that label which remained unreleased as 2015.[1]
Career[]
Raised in Rahway, New Jersey, Roberson attended Rahway High School.[2]
He subsequently returned to Howard University to complete his studies in Musical Theatre.[1][3] 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.[3][4]
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.[3] 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.[5]
Studio albums[]
| Year | Album details | Peak chart positions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US [6] |
US R&B [7] | ||
| 2001 | The Esoteric Movement
|
– | – |
| 2003 | The Vault, Vol. 1
|
– | – |
| 2004 |
|
– | – |
| 2005 | The Appetizer
|
– | – |
| 2007 | ...Left
|
– | – |
| 2009 | Music Fan First
|
– | 89 |
| 2011 |
|
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. [6] |
U.S. R&B [7] | |||
| 2006 |
|
– | – | |
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[8] (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[]
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d Jeffries, David. "Eric Roberson | Biography". allmusic.com. AllMusic. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
- ^ Russell, Suzanne C. "Man on a Mission; Rahway teacher wants everyone to know about the city's black men and women", Home News Tribune, June 8, 2007. Accessed May 24, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "This year, the mural includes Tomi Jenkins, a singer with the group Cameo, a friend of Akbar's father, and Eric Roberson, a former Rahway football player who is a singer songwriter and has written songs for Mariah Carey and other top R&B singers."
- ^ Jump up to: 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.
- ^ Jump up to: 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.
- ^ Jump up to: 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[]
 | This article includes a list of general references, but it remains largely unverified because it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (October 2013) |
- 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
Categories:
- Howard University alumni
- Living people
- People from Rahway, New Jersey
- Rahway High School alumni
- American neo soul singers
- 1976 births
- American contemporary R&B singers
- 21st-century American singers