Eric Roberson
Eric Roberson 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, "The Moon", was released through Warner Bros. Records in 1994 and he recorded an album for that label which remains unreleased.
Career
Raised in Rahway, New Jersey, Roberson attended Rahway High School.He subsequently returned to Howard University to complete his studies in Musical Theatre. 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.
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. 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. 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.
In 2013, he was a member of the band, United Tenors together with Dave Hollister, Fred Hammond and Brian Courtney Wilson.
Roberson's 2014 album, The Box, peaked at No. 8 on the Billboard Top R&B Albums chart. It was on the chart for three weeks. The album reached No. 104 on the Billboard 200. The album cover and promotional material featured speakers by BoomCase.
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.
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", a cover of the 1978 Robert Palmer single.
Selected discography
- 112 – Room 112, "Funny Feelings"
- Wild Wild West, Tra-Knox "Lucky Day", Kel Spencer featuring Richie Sambora "I'm Wanted", Neutral "Chocolate Form"
- Gina Thompson – If You Only Knew, "Ya Di Ya", "Take My Number Down"
- Will Smith – Willennium, "I'm Comin'"
- Jill Scott – Who Is Jill Scott? Words and Sounds Vol. 1, "Getting In The Way"
- Musiq Soulchild – Aijuswanaseing, "Mary Go Round"
- Will Downing – All the Man You Need, "Thinkin' About You"
- Case – Open Letter, "Driving", "Love Of My Life", "Wishful Thinking"
- Vivian Green – A Love Story, "What Is Love?", "Emotional Rollercoaster", "Ain't Nothing But Love"
- Musiq Soulchild – Juslisen, "Previouscats"
- Cam'ron – Come Home with Me, "Tomorrow"
- Dwele – Subject, "Hold On"
- Carl Thomas – Let's Talk About It, "Rebound"
- Charlie Wilson – Charlie, Last Name Wilson, "Thru It All"
- Phonte – Charity Starts at Home, "Who Loves You More"
- The Foreign Exchange – Love in Flying Colors, "Better"
- Robert Glasper – Black Radio 2, "Big Girl Body"
- Algebra Blessett – Recovery, "Mystery"
- Lil' John Roberts – The Heartbeat, "Space"
- AverySunshine – Twenty Sixty Four, "Heaven Is Right Here", "Twenty Sixty Four"
- Phonte – No News Is Good News, "Find That Love Again"
- Brandon Williams – The Love Factor "Don't Give Up on Love"
- Zo! – FourFront – "Love Up"
- Nao Yoshioka – Undeniable – "Invest in Me feat. Carolyn Malachi"
Compilations
- "Couldn't Hear Me" appears on the compilation Gilles Peterson Worldwide Exclusives 3 Talking Loud.
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Artist/work | Category | Result | |
| 2006 | SoulTracks Readers' Choice Awards | The Appetizer | Album of the Year | Won | |
| 2006 | SoulTracks Readers' Choice Awards | Eric Roberson | Male Vocalist of the Year | Won | |
| 2007 | BET Awards | Eric Roberson | BET Cool Like That Award | Nomitated | |
| 2007 | SoulTracks Readers' Choice Awards | Left | Album of the Year | Nomitated | |
| 2007 | SoulTracks Readers' Choice Awards | "Pretty Girl" | Song of the Year | Nomitated | |
| 2007 | SoulTracks Readers' Choice Awards | Eric Roberson | Male Vocalist of the Year | Nomitated | |
| 2009 | Soul Train Music Awards | Eric Roberson | CENTRIC Award | Nomitated | |
| 2009 | SoulTracks Readers' Choice Awards | Music Fan First | Album of the Year | Won | |
| 2009 | SoulTracks Readers' Choice Awards | "Dealing" with Lalah Hathaway | Song of the Year | Won | |
| 2009 | SoulTracks Readers' Choice Awards | "The Power that Kisses Hold" | Song of the Year | Nomitated | |
| 2009 | SoulTracks Readers' Choice Awards | 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 | Nomitated | |
| 2011 | Grammy Awards | "Still" | Best Urban/Alternative Performance | Nomitated | |
| 2012 | SoulTracks Readers' Choice Awards | Mr. Nice Guy | Album of the Year | Nomitated | |
| 2012 | SoulTracks Readers' Choice Awards | "At the Same Time" | Song of the Year | Nomitated | |
| 2012 | SoulTracks Readers' Choice Awards | Eric Roberson | Male Vocalist of the Year | Nomitated | |
| 2014 | SoulTracks Readers' Choice Awards | The Box | Album of the Year | Nomitated | |
| 2014 | SoulTracks Readers' Choice Awards | "Mark on Me" | Song of the Year | Nomitated | |
| 2014 | SoulTracks Readers' Choice Awards | Eric Roberson | Male Vocalist of the Year | Nomitated | |
| 2017 | SoulTracks Readers' Choice Awards | Wind | Album of the Year | Nomitated | |
| 2017 | SoulTracks Readers' Choice Awards | Eric Roberson | Male Vocalist of the Year | Nomitated | |
| 2021 | SoulTracks Readers' Choice Awards | "Lessons" | Song of the Year | Won | |
| 2022 | Pop Awards | "Lessons" | Song of the Year | Nomitated | |
| 2022 | SoulTracks Readers' Choice Awards | Lessons | Album of the Year | Won | |
| 2022 | SoulTracks Readers' Choice Awards | Eric Roberson | Male Vocalist of the Year | Won |