Meeting Smokey

[tjl]

Hi everyone:

Just wanted to share we have a new national special [[more of a documentary style format) called "Doo Wop Discoveries", the show will premiere Saturday, November 24th at 7pm on PBS [[check local listings).

This show is very special as we've asked R&B legends and different dj's around the country about their influences from the days of classic R&B vocal groups. Aaron Neville, George Clinton, and Smokey Robinson are all in the show. In a way....all of this from the start was building up to meet my hero and legend in this life, William "Smokey" Robinson.

Over the years - I've been blessed and honored to meet so many of the legends that I love, all super wonderful people - Claudette Robinson, Bobby Rogers, Pete Moore, Aretha Franklin, Martha Reeves, Mary Wilson, The Tempts, The Tops, Isaac Hayes, The Stylistics, The Chi-Lites, The Tymes, Sam Moore, The Spinners, The Isley Brothers, The Impressions, Jerry Butler...and so many others.

I need to share here, spending some time with Smokey for this new show was [[unlike any other experience) I've ever had in life - it was magical, if not miraculous.

After doing so many shows in so many genres of the years - - I have never had an emotional experience like that of meeting Mr. Robinson. He was and is everything I'd always imagined he'd be - and so deep on so many levels from his early childhood memories, to poetry, spirituality, and also how groups including Harvey & The Moonglows, Nolan Strong and The Diablos, The Flamingos and so many more made for the music of his time in The Five Chimes. He has some great stories on the show about Harvey & The Moonglows harmonies and those early days of vocal groups.

There would have been no Doo wop 50, [[or any of the other shows I've made) if not for my love and admiration of The Miracles - they were and will always remain my inspiration for making all the tv shows that have followed in the past 20 years through PBS.

"After all" the shows, all the genres, and all the efforts to preserve the music of the 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s - - this generous time he shared with me for the project was beyond inspirational, beyond miraculous - - and I'm so grateful to all of you that have supported this vision over the years to have made this meeting possible.

Doo Wop Discoveries and Motown: Big Hits & More premiere November 24th at 7pm and 9pm on PBS in America.

[msjoys]

Can't wait to see this, TJ - Thanks for letting us know. Glad you finally got to meet Smokey! Should be an awesome show! God bless you for ALL you do!