The Career Of Actor Playing Smokey Robinson Began With Motown

DENVER (CBS4) - One of the major forces in the success of the Motown sound was singer and producer Smokey Robinson. And one of the major forces in "Motown: The Musical" is Jesse Nager, who plays Robinson.

Critic at Large Greg Moody chatted with the actor who calls Motown a key to his career.

"The music, right? It's always the music in the show," Nager said.

For Nager, his career -- his world -- began with Motown and what music became.

"Motown wasn't just music, it was the soul of America for so long," Nager said. "It was one of the first times that white America got to see black American culture, and it really sort of got everyone together."

And now, in "Motown: The Musical," he gets the chance to play Smokey Robinson -- just one of the people who helped build Motown from scratch and change the face of American music.

"I think it was the heart. I think that one of the most amazing things about Motown is not just the talent, but the people -- they're such amazing people, they're such wonderful people, lovely people," Nager said. "I think that that comes across in the music."

"Motown: The Musical" is on stage March 31 to April 19 at the Buell Theatre. For tickets call (303) 893-4100 or head to denvercenter.org.