Ne-Yo Fan.com

Source *Some of the biggest names in show business were on hand last
September at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium to witness Smokey Robinson being presented with the United Negro College Fund’s Award of Excellence at the “An Evening of Stars” taping. The vent will air this weekend.

In accepting the award Robinson was classy and humble as ever. The Motown great has touched many hearts and minds of millions of fans. Some of those fans have gone on to become great fans of his. Anita Baker, Joss Stone, Ne-Yo, John Legend and Yolonda Adams to name but a few.

EURweb was one the scene that evening and we found another star, among the many, who was influenced by Robinson. Pop sensation Ne-Yo was so inspired that he felt emboldened enough to sing Smokey’s “Cruisin’” with the legend on hand.

“It’s hard to put it into words,” Ne-Yo told our reporter. “I just hope and pray that I lived up to his standards. That I didn’t get up there and disrespect his song.”

Show business moves at a lightening fast pace. In fact, the night moved along so quickly for Ne-Yo after the performance that he didn’t even get a chance to meet the one who he says he wishes to model his career after. Ne-Yo told our reporter that he would have simply asked Smokey for the secret to his career longevity, that’s all.

“How do you do it,” said Ne-Yo. “How do you keep making number one hits? How do you keep making classic records over and over and over again? I think that is the question any songwriter would ask.”

“If I could do that,” he continued “They’ll probably be having one of these events for me some day.”

We would dare tell Ne-Yo not to fear about his maintaining his own great success. Some think it’s only a matter of time, but Ne-Yo knows it’s not as easy as he sometimes makes it look.

“Let us pray,” he joked.

Early on Ne-Yo has proven himself to be a triple threat in the entertainment industry. When asked to choose his between acting, singing and songwriting, he chose his original love.

“Mine would probably be songwriting,” he responded.

Motown has always been the inspiring engine for Ne-Yo. He tells EURweb he was introduced to it in much the same way all children who were not of the 60s were. Their mothers listened to the music while cleaning the house every Saturday afternoon. The artist says if he even comes close with his interpretation of that era’s sound then he knows he’s on the right track.

“Then I’m doing what I’m supposed to be doing. That was the whole idea towards what (I am doing). That’s the kind of music that I grew up listening to. From Smokey, to Stevie, to the Temptations. That whole era was my mother’s era. My mother was and still is my hero. Whatever she was in to, I was in to.”

The positive and soulful influence of one generation’s idea manifested in physical form for future generations to behold. Is there anything blacker than that than Ne-Yo’s relationship with his mother? We doubt that. But we do know this. The United Negro College Fund is definitely a body for positive change influencing the future generations with positive works and intentions. UNCF is currently supporting over 65,000 students in 900 colleges and universities across the nation.

As we said, the “An Evening of Stars” affair was taped in late September and is slated to air the weekend of January 26-27. Keep an eye on your local listings for details or visit www.uncf.org for more info.

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