Posted by | Ray Cornelius
You guys already know how much I love MOTOWN and it’s iconic artists! So I am super excited to announce that PBS will air an All-Star tribute to one of the record label’s most recognized artists—SMOKEY ROBINSON.
According to S&A, the tribute will air next month (February 10) as part of their Black History Month programming and will features performances by Robinson along with some of today’s biggest names in music including CeeLo Green, Ledisi, Corrine Bailey Rae, Esperanza Spalding, BeBe Winans and more.
Robinson is the recent recipient of the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song. It is an honor that is given to a living musical artist’s who used their voice as a vehicle of cultural understanding, entertainment and informing audiences as well as aspiring future generations. He received the award in November of 2016.
The show will also be hosted by Samuel L. Jackson with a special appearance by Motown founder and Robinson’s best friend—Berry Gordy.
“It gives me such joy and gratitude to be included among the past recipients of this most prestigious songwriting award,” Robinson said.
Robinson is one of the preeminent voices of our time and served as a Grammy winning singer-songwriter and producer for Motown. He has a string of hits as a member of Smokey Robinson and the Miracles and also as a solo artists including “Tracks of My Tears,” “Crusin,” “Being With You,” “Ooh Baby Baby,” “Just to See Her,” “Ebony Eyes” with the late Rick James and my personal favorite, “Tears of a Clown.”
I got a chance to see Robinson perform back in 2009 along with another Motown legend Gladys Knight at Atlanta’s Chastain Park Amphitheater. When I tell you “sangin and dancin” my media sister Rose Scott and I did that night. Mr. Robinson was in excellent voice and was just as magnetic on stage as he has been for all of these years. Definitely one of my top 10 concerts.
Make sure you watch the special on Friday, February 10 at 9 p.m. on PBS.
Photo Credit: RockSpeaks.com