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THE UNITED NEGRO COLLEGE FUND SALUTES SMOKEY ROBINSON: The 'Poet of Motown' is honored on annual TV fund drive.
Since 1979, the program celebrating historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), has become one of longest running and most successful televised events in U.S. history.
This year, the show will honor legendary artist Smokey Robinson for his career and his support of UNCF, and give the Founders Award to Nancy Wilson, all while showcasing achievements in minority education.
“UNCF has always been my favorite charity and to be honored by them is truly an honor,” Robinson told EUR’s Lee Bailey. “I’m truly overwhelmed. I’ve been to several of the programs where they’ve honored other people; Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, and I just feel honored to be in that company.”
The star-studded show features some of the most legendary artist and some of the hottest new stars performing Smokey Robinson hits, as well as some inspiring stories.
“The program enables us to brand UNCF every year for millions of Americans,” said UNCF President/CEO Dr. Michael Lomax. “We want to tell the story of higher education; why it’s important for African Americans to go to college; and what impact these African Americans have on the larger society. That’s a complicated story and an important story, but the entertainment allows us to tell that story in a way that we can reach very large audiences and reels them in with the music. We’re not in the entertainment business, but the great thing is that artists that make their living in the entertainment business are very excited to tell the education story.”
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UNCF's Michael Lomax
Lomax added that the “Evening of Stars” has been a staple with black audiences for quite some time and has a growing reach, thanks very much to the legendary Lou Rawls.
“Lou Rawls was the face of ‘The Evening of Stars’ for a quarter of a century,” Lomax reminded. “It started off as ‘The Lou Rawls Parade of Stars’ and then it turned into a tribute to an individual artist, and Lou was the first artist we recognized. I still have people come up to me and ask ‘When is the Lou Rawls Parade of Stars?’ but I think it’s a dynamic program as UNCF is a dynamic organization and people really do like this tribute format that we have.”
Lomax said that when the show aired last year, in tribute to the Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin, it had a significant increase in ratings.
“This is one of the most popular annual shows for African American audiences, and we get a wide general audience as well,” he said.
Coverage points aside, Smokey talked about the true focus of the show and the reason that it’s important the viewer-ship continues to increase.
“The kids are our future leaders and we need to instill them with education and positive thoughts and positive ideas. Let them realize that they can be themselves and be somebody that is great,” he said.
The singer even continues his support of shaping the lives of young adults through his new venture Smokey Robinson Foods (www.smokeyrobinsonfoods.com).
“The idea of starting the food company was brought to me by (a) friend and we had always talked about doing something that had absolutely nothing to do with show business. With the proceeds of what we’re doing, we’re having forums and seminars to promote entrepreneurship and other ideas to our young people, especially inner-city kids to make them know that they don’t have to be sports figures and entertainers to make a good living.”
“They think that show business or sports is the way out,” he continued. “They don’t realize that for every person in show business or sports who is successful, there are millions – and I’m not exaggerating – who are not. They have just as good a chance by being themselves. You may really want to be a senator, you may really want to be a doctor, you may really want to be a seamstress. Go for it. Somebody has to say, ‘Hey, you can do this.’ You can be a role model. You can do something great with your life.”
So to add to his own repertoire of great things, Robinson has his Soul in the Bowl line of dinners. Meanwhile, his current disc of standards, titled “Timeless Love” has become a fan favorite, and he has another album already in post production.
The United Negro College Fund’s “An Evening of Stars” airs Saturday, January 26th and Sunday, January 27th. Check local listings for channels and air times or check out www.uncf.org/aeos.
“The work that the United Negro College Fund does today is as important as it was 63 years ago,” Lomax concluded. “It relies on great teachers teaching great students and it relies on great contributors making generous donations.”
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