Eric Roberson

Eric Roberson
Roberson performing in 2007
Background information
Born	(1973-09-26) September 26, 1973 (age 51) Rahway, New Jersey, United States
Genres	R&B, neo soul, indie soul [1]
Occupation(s)	Singer-songwriter, record producer, rapper
Instrument(s)	Vocals, Fender Rhodes, drum machine
Years active	1994–present
Labels	Warner Bros., Blue Erro Soul, Purpose, E1 Music, Liaison, SoNo Recording Group
Website	Ericrobersonmusic.com

Eric Roberson (born September 27, 1973) ^[2] is an American singer, songwriter, former rapper and music 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, "Represent", was released through Warner Bros. Records in 1994 and he recorded an album for that label which remains unreleased. ^[3]

Career

Raised in Rahway, New Jersey, Roberson attended Rahway High School. ^[4]

He subsequently returned to Howard University to complete his studies in Musical Theatre. ^{[3] [5]} 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. ^{[5] [6]}

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. ^[5] 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. ^[3] 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. ^[3]

In 2013, he was a member of the band, United Tenors ^[7] together with Dave Hollister, Fred Hammond and Brian Courtney Wilson.

Roberson's 2014 album, The Box, peaked at #8 on the Billboard Top R&B Albums. ^[8] It was on the chart for 3 weeks. The album reached #104 on the Billboard 200. ^[9] The album cover and promotional material featured speakers by BoomCase. ^{[10] [11]}

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. ^[12]

In 2024, Roberson signed with the Universal Music Group distributed label SoNo Recording Group. His first release for the label is the Jeff Lorber featured "Every Kinda People", ^[13] a cover of the 1978 Robert Palmer single.

Studio albums

List of studio albums, with selected chart positions, sales figures and certifications

Year	Album details	Peak chart positions
		US [14]	US R&B [15]
2001	The Esoteric Movement Released: June 15, 2001 Label: P-Vine	–	–
2003	The Vault, Vol. 1 Released: July 1, 2003 Label: Blue Erro Soul	–	–
2004	The Vault, Vol. 1.5 Released: February 24, 2004 Label: Blue Erro Soul	–	–
2005	The Appetizer Released: November 7, 2005 Label: Blue Erro Soul	–	–
2007	...Left Released: February 27, 2007 Label: Blue Erro Soul	–	–
2009	Music Fan First Released: August 25, 2009 Label: Blue Erro Soul	–	89
2011	Mister Nice Guy Released: September 5,2011 Label: Purpose, eOne Music	-	85
2012	Eric Roberson Prestons When Loves Calls Released: February 2, 2012 Label: Blue Erro Soul/Purpose Records/E1 Music(US), Dome Records(UK)	98	14
2013	United Tenors (with Fred Hammond, Dave Hollister, Brian Courtney Wilson) Released: March 22, 2013 Label: Verity/RCA Inspiration	39	–
2014	B-Sides, Features & Heartaches Released: February 4, 2014 Label: Blue Erro Soul/Liaison (US), Dome Records (UK)	–	45
2014	The Box Released: August 12, 2014 Label: Blue Erro Soul/Liaison (US), Dome Records (UK)	104	19
2016	Tigallerro(with Phonte) Released: July 22, 2016 Label: Blue Erro Soul/Foreign Exchange Music	–	19
2017	Earth – EP Released: April 21, 2017 Label: Blue Erro Soul	–	–
2017	Wind – EP Released: July 21, 2017 Label: Blue Erro Soul	–	–
2017	Fire – EP Released: October 20, 2017 Label: Blue Erro Soul	–	–
2020	Hear From Here Released: April 3, 2020 Label: Blue Erro Soul	–	–
2022	Lessons Released: April 1, 2022 Label: Blue Erro Soul	–	–

Live albums

Year	Album	Peak chart positions		Certifications
		U.S. [14]	U.S. R&B [15]
2006	Erro Live Vol. DC Released: August 10, 2006 Label: Blue Erro Soul	–	–

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 ^[16] (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

Year	Award	Artist/work	Category	Result	Ref.
2006	SoulTracks Readers' Choice Awards	The Appetizer	Album of the Year	Won	[17]
		Eric Roberson	Male Vocalist of the Year	Won
2007	BET Awards		BET Cool Like That Award	Nominated
2007	SoulTracks Readers' Choice Awards	Left	Album of the Year	Nominated	[18]
		"Pretty Girl"	Song of the Year	Nominated
		Eric Roberson	Male Vocalist of the Year	Nominated
2009	Soul Train Music Awards		CENTRIC Award	Nominated
2009	SoulTracks Readers' Choice Awards	Music Fan First	Album of the Year	Won	[19]
		"Dealing" with Lalah Hathaway	Song of the Year	Won
		"The Power that Kisses Hold"		Nominated
		Eric Roberson	Male Vocalist of the Year	Won
2010	Grammy Awards	"A Tale of Two" feat. Ben O'Neill & Michelle Thompson	Best Urban/Alternative Performance	Nominated
2011		"Still"		Nominated
2012	SoulTracks Readers' Choice Awards	Mr. Nice Guy	Album of the Year	Nominated	[20]
		"At the Same Time"	Song of the Year	Nominated
		Eric Roberson	Male Vocalist of the Year	Nominated
2014		The Box	Album of the Year	Nominated	[21]
		"Mark on Me"	Song of the Year	Nominated
		Eric Roberson	Male Vocalist of the Year	Nominated
2017		Wind	Album of the Year	Nominated	[22]
		Eric Roberson	Male Vocalist of the Year	Nominated
2021		"Lessons"	Song of the Year	Won	[23]
2022	Pop Awards			Nominated	[24]
	SoulTracks Readers' Choice Awards	Lessons	Album of the Year	Won	[25]
		Eric Roberson	Male Vocalist of the Year	Won

References

1. "With Indie-Soul Singer Eric Roberson, You Don't Just Get The Music, You Get The Process". Ericrobersonmusic.com. July 27, 2017.
2. "Eric Roberson's 50th Birthday Celebration". instagram.com. Instagram From Meta. Retrieved September 30, 2023.
3. Jeffries, David. "Eric Roberson | Biography". =AllMusic . Retrieved March 29, 2015.
4. 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."
5. Rizik, Chris (May 12, 2007). "Eric Roberson – Artist Biography". soutracks.com. Soul Tracks. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
6. R.D. Fox, Lauren. "PASS OR PLAY? ERIC ROBERSON RELEASES NEW SINGLE, "MARK ON ME"". madamenoire.com. Madame Noire. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
7. "Fred Hammond on His New Group United Tenors, and the Return of the Male Gospel Ensemble". Essence. October 28, 2020. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
8. "Eric Roberson | Biography, Music & News". Billboard. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
9. "Eric Roberson | Biography, Music & News". Billboard. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
10. Butta (July 11, 2014). "Eric Roberson Reveals Provocative New Album Promo & 'The Box' Tour Dates". SoulBounce. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
11. "Review: Eric Roberson – The Box | POP MAGAZINE" . Retrieved April 18, 2024.
12. "I Have A Song", African & Caribbean Memorial.
13. "Eric Roberson releases new track "Every Kinda People" with Jeff Lorber". sonorecordinggroup.com. SRG-ILS. Retrieved December 28, 2024.
14. "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.
15. "Eric Roberson – Chart History: R&B/Hip-Hop Albums". Billboard . Prometheus Global Media . Retrieved October 28, 2013.
16. "The Heartbeat — Lil' John Roberts" at iTunes.
17. "SoulTracks Readers' Choice Awards - Past Winners". SoulTracks. September 14, 2013. Retrieved January 26, 2022.
18. "2007 SoulTracks Readers' Choice Award Winners!". SoulTracks. November 16, 2007. Retrieved January 26, 2022.
19. "2009 SoulTracks Readers' Choice Awards Winners!". SoulTracks. December 7, 2009. Retrieved January 26, 2022.
20. "2012 SoulTracks Readers' Choice Awards Show Tonight!". SoulTracks. December 3, 2012. Retrieved January 26, 2022.
21. "See the Top 5 Finalists! The 2014 SoulTracks Readers' Choice Awards". SoulTracks. November 3, 2014. Retrieved January 26, 2022.
22. "See the Top Five! 2017 SoulTracks Readers' Choice Awards". SoulTracks. November 23, 2017. Retrieved January 26, 2022.
23. "See the Winners! 2021 SoulTracks Readers' Choice Awards". SoulTracks. December 6, 2021. Retrieved January 26, 2022.
24. Hourtane, Camille (January 16, 2022). "Welcome to the POP AWARDS 2022, the fifth annual Pop Awards". Pop Magazine. Retrieved January 26, 2022.
25. "See the Winners! 2022 SoulTracks Readers' Choice Awards". SoulTracks. December 5, 2022. Retrieved December 6, 2022.

External links

• Official website
• 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