DESCRIPTION:
Video open letter from singer/songwriter Eric Roberson to Smokey Robinson.

Motown was like the soundtrack of my household. that's pretty much all we played, so I was enormously familiar with Smokey Robinson, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, as well as all the Motown stuff that Smokey wrote.

He was my first example of a songwriter. Period. Not only was he an artist that wrote for himself, but he wrote for all these other artists. And there were all these hits, and it was like, man, this guy is like really working towards the betterment of music, and the betterment of like lyrics.

So as I grew and got into poetry, got into music, I was very much a student of Smokey Robinson, very much a big fan of a lot of his songs that he created, and just all the things he was doing.

It really helped me when I got into the industry and became a songwriter and was pretty well-known and was trying to become an artist as well, most of the labels were going "What are you talking about? You're Eric Roberson the songwriter. You can't do both."

Smokey Robinson was very much the gasoline that pushed me through that journey of amplifying my goals past my naysayers, so for that I thank you, Smokey, man. I wouldn't be where I'm at if it wasn't for you.

Just the other aspect is that his pen game was so crazy, so poetic. I'm a person that's in love with the art of combining words, and he's like the president of that club. Can anyone put together words better than Smokey Robinson? My favorite song of his has to be "The Tracks of My Tears."

Why couldn't you just say, "if you look closely, it look like I was crying!" Man, why you gotta be so good, man? Why you gotta force all of us to write better?

So, man, I appreciate you for not only your artistry, not only your amazing records that's helped me out through the years, but also making me respect that pen, and making me go back, and make sure every lyric counts. God bless you, Smokey. Thank you.