The Pearl Las Vegas

Smokey Robinson, PBS team up for Motown TV special

Los Angeles

The Motown Sound is boundless.

Music legend Smokey Robinson and his proteges, Australian pop group Human Nature, proved the latter Saturday. The band, which is best known for its highly successful show at the Imperial Palace in Las Vegas, performed a stirring A cappella version of "Ooo Baby Baby" for journalists attending a Television Critics Associations' press tour panel.

"It's one of the best versions I've heard in my life," Robinson, 71, said. "I don't think the Motown Sound is ever in danger of extinction because people like them all over the world are carrying it on."

Robinson and the band were on hand to promote the upcoming PBS special, "Smokey Robinson Presents: Human Nature The Ultimate Celebration of the Motown Sound." The latter is slated to air on public television sometime next year.

"The support of PBS has been wonderful," said lead singer Andrew Tierney. He and his brother Michael Tierney are members of Human Nature along with Toby Allen and Phil Burton. "PBS has long been a supporter of the arts and to be a part of a network like this is amazing."

"Smokey Robinson Presents: Human Nature" is just one of the marquee music specials coming up on PBS. The list includes "Great Performances: Hugh Laurie - Let Them Talk, A Celebration of New Orleans Blues" and "American Masters 25th Anniversary Season: Pearl Jam Twenty." The Laurie special (yes, the guy who stars on TV's "House") is slated to air in September and the Pearl Jam tribute will premiere in October.

"I'm really happy the Pearl Jam film is part of our arts initiative because I am interested in showing the broad spectrum of the arts, and that's what our commitment is moving forward," said Paula Kerger, president and CEO of PBS. "For many artists, there is not the opportunity to have a place for their work, and I want public broadcasting to be that place."

While Human Nature has a devoted following in Australia and Las Vegas, their eye is on the city where the Motown Sound was born.

The quartet has visited Hitsville to get closer to their idols and Martha Reeves even gave the Aussies their tour, they said. But the ultimate experience will be performing in Detroit someday.

"We would love to perform at the Fox to promote the special," Andrew Tierney said. "That would be as magical for us as it would be for them. I don't think this music is ever going to die. It's going to be a thrill when we get to Detroit next year.

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