"Follow your heart and not others, and you will find your place. If they go that way, simply go left..." - Eric Roberson
Sit right back and you'll hear a story; the true story of a man. This is no ordinary story, but one about the journey of a man who never followed the crowd to fit in; instead, he followed his heart. He went ...left. He would develop into a leader in the independent soul music movement and become an innovator of his time. Who is this man, you ask? He's none other than Blue Erro Soul Entertainment (B.E.S.) recording artist, songwriter, producer and champion of independent music, Eric Roberson. "I know I was put in this place to take this stand." For over 13 years, Eric, also known as Erro, has stood out amongst fellow singers, songwriters, and producers with what he calls "honest music." Now, with the release of his fifth CD, ...LEFT, on his own label, Eric is proving why he is the forerunner for independent soul music. With God as his base, Eric Roberson, has developed the full package. His lyrics are beautiful and relatable, often uncanny to his fans, set to music that is harmonious and refreshing. Add in his smooth, melodic vocal, engaging theatrics and contagious energy on stage, and the determination to follow what his heart says, and you've got yourself a highly successful independent recording artist! Of course, it's not quite that easy, but Roberson's humility and natural gift for making everyone feel at ease makes it seem so. As an acclaimed songwriter, Eric thinks outside the box on every man's (and yes, even wo-men's) issues. He writes for the man in love, the woman in love, the couple in love. He speaks of the ups and the downs. He verbalizes the emotions of his heart. "I feel that independent can be equal..." from "For Da Luv of Da Game" – Erro Live: Vol. DC Showcasing Roberson's uniqueness with music, ...LEFT is an eclectic masterpiece. From the opening note of the jazzy melody that is "Music," you know that this is going to be one of those rare gooood listens! "Evening" is next, a seductive, body-moving tune that will command you to the dance flow, followed by "Been in Love...," a telling story of how a man and woman can easily go from friends to lovers. Blending in some of Eric's love for Hip-Hop, you'll instantly be taken back to the glory days of De La Soul and A Tribe Called Quest. Not one to clutter his CDs with typical guest appearances, Roberson did call in friend and colleague, Phonte of the pivotal underground rap group Little Brother, who flows like water telling his life's lesson, as Eric grooves his voice along the chords. Later, there's "Pretty Girl" and "Too Soon," unintentional complements for the other. Produced by James Poyser (Erykah Badu, Jill Scott) and the late producer, rapper, and singer (yes singer) J Dilla, who is one of Eric's more influential muses, "Pretty Girl" is a gentleman's invitation to young women to know that she doesn't have to use herself up to get love. "Too Soon" is a sobering yet realistic song about making friendship the foundation for any relationship, produced by husband-and-wife musical duo, Mark and Nicole Hamilton of H2O Productions. "When I gave you my love..." from "ILuvU2Much" featuring Algebra Blessett - ...LEFT Now, when two power vocalists team up, the result is often captivating. And when two singing music lovers team up, they can bring out the subtle nuances that make good songs great. That's exactly what you get on "ILuvU2Much," Roberson's duet with good friend and Kedar Entertainment artist, Algebra. "Couldn't Hear Her," a reversed-perspective sequel to Eric's previous hit single "Couldn't Hear Me," exemplifies the phrase "there are two sides to every story!" Hitting an already great song into the stratosphere with a mesmerizing guitar solo is Roberson's musical director and rising star in his own right, Curt Chambers. Equally as compelling is the bonus song, entitled "Man Who Had It All," which musically exemplifies Roberson's philosophy on art in general – be open, be free, and be daring! Roberson and his band mates/producers "completely rock out" while conveying an important message about society and life. Rock out is exactly what Roberson does in his live shows. Now, rocking out isn't just about the music; it's about his high energy, passion and sentiment. Eric and his band of brothers give you a bit of House; he'll obviously do some Soul, even some Hip-Hop and yes, a little bit of Rock & Roll. Each person in the audience feels Roberson's energy as soon as he steps on stage. One minute you'll two-step around the dance floor, and the next you are standing and swaying side to side with your eyes closed. A long-time favorite segment of Roberson's shows is his infamous freestyle session – often, Roberson will randomly solicit topics from the audience and make a song up on the spot; genuinely earning his title of "Undisputed R&B Freestyle King!" As the anticipatory buzz builds to just this side of impatience, the headliner takes the stage. From the moment he does, he has the audience eating out of his hand. Women shout his name and toss out song requests. Males and females sing along word for word as the tight six-piece backing combo feeds off the audience's vibe. Judging by this scenario, you might think a superstar was getting busy onstage. But the performer is singer/songwriter Eric Roberson. For fans of the independent soul scene, Roberson – who has four releases out through his Blue Erro Soul label -- is every bit a high-profile crowd pleaser as a Prince, Usher or Mary J. Blige. --Gail Mitchell, Billboard Magazine - Cover Story, July 1, 2006 Yet, with any career there are highs and lows. While a student at Howard University in Washington, DC, he landed a recording deal with Warner Bros. Records, which yielded the Top Billboard Magazine chart hit, "The Moon." A full length album never came to fruition due to routine industry executive turnover and Roberson went on to more label deals that never worked out – the typical experience of most aspiring recording artists. Those many dreams deferred led to his current path – trusting in his talent, business savvy, and fan loyalty, and taking his destiny into his own hands with faith in a higher power to guide his every move - independence. Roberson has stood the test of time; not once conforming to "mainstream standards." He's been a constant inspiration to thousands of others; proving that with perseverance and determination, anything is possible. Of course, there were naysayers who said he couldn't and wouldn't be successful. And there are still those who think that independent artists can't be as successful as their major label counterparts. But alas, Eric and a number of other successful indie recording artists have continued to prove these critics wrong; and they are dwindling in number every day. With feats like headlining to packed (and in many cases, sold out) audiences in popular metropolis hotspots internationally; winning fan-based and industry awards worldwide; and winning over mainstreamers in media, retail, entertainment and corporate arenas, that myth will continue to be dispelled. He never intended to lead a movement. He only desired to stay true to himself and his craft of creating honest music. But with innate openness and selfless friendship to other artists – simply being the man whom James and Charlotte Roberson raised him to be – Eric has naturally ascended into the position. Through it all, Eric Roberson has always been a refreshingly talented artist who can be played in your car, home, office, or iPod; whenever your toddler or your grandparent is around. While, the official definition of the word "left" is defined as going somewhere or leaving something behind, by standing out from the industry, Erro proves that going ...LEFT can indeed be right!
