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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.Through his publishing deal with EMI Music, Roberson has had his songs covered by Dwele, Musiq, Vivian Green and Will Downing. Like many of his indie peers, he also operates his own recording studio.Reached through a mailing list that numbers in the thousands, Roberson's ERF (Eric Roberson Family) Web devotees are known to travel substantial distances to see him in concert. At his Little Temple Bar show, a female fan came in from Chicago. Another drove from South Carolina to attend a D.C. show."I pretty much stay on the road doing between eight and 11 shows a month," says Roberson. "You do the best show you can, and then you stay out there, sign CDs, hug everyone you can and thank them."--Billboard Magazine '06Press inquiries for Eric Roberson,please contact:Elsa Lathan FootPrints Communications, Inc. [email protected] [email protected]
