In fact, I wouldn't really call this a Gospel album, I call it

In the sacred space where music meets the soul, where the heart is both the instrument and the audience, there lies a profound truth—a truth whispered by the great Smokey Robinson. "In fact, I wouldn't really call this a Gospel album, I call it more an inspirational album." These words, spoken with the quiet strength of a man who has touched the divine through melody and rhythm, hold within them a lesson of great depth. For music, in its purest form, is not confined to a single genre, a single purpose, or a single expression. It is the breath of life, the stirring of the spirit, and the voice of the human experience.

The term "Gospel," a word imbued with the sacredness of religious devotion, has long been used to describe music that praises and lifts the spirit toward the divine. Yet Smokey Robinson, wise in his understanding of the power of music, sought to transcend such labels. He saw, perhaps, as the great composers of old saw, that the role of music was not limited to religious devotion or solemnity alone, but was instead the very soul's expression of hope, joy, and renewal. He chose, instead, to call his work "inspirational," for that is the true calling of music—not merely to teach or preach, but to inspire. To stir the hearts of those who hear it, lifting them from the depths of despair to the heights of possibility.

Consider, if you will, the legend of the ancient bard Orpheus, whose music was so powerful that it could charm even the gods. It was not simply a talent for melody that Orpheus possessed, but an understanding of the human condition—the ability to express the pains, the hopes, and the dreams of humanity through song. His music was not confined to the temples, nor to the solemn prayers of the devout; it was the very heartbeat of life itself. In this way, Smokey Robinson’s work echoes that same ancient truth. It transcends the narrow confines of religious categorization, for it seeks not just to instruct, but to touch the heart in ways that go beyond dogma and creed.

Inspirational music, like the songs of Orpheus, lifts the soul, much as the rising sun lifts the world from the darkness of night. It is not bound by doctrine or tradition, but by the simple and profound desire to uplift. Smokey Robinson understood this deeply—that music, at its finest, is not just a religious tool, nor merely a vehicle for entertainment, but a sacred channel for transformation. Through his melodies, through his lyrics, he offers not just a message of faith, but a message of hope, of empowerment, and of healing. It is an invitation to see the world not as it is, but as it could be if we allow the light of inspiration to guide our way.

In this world, where darkness often clouds the mind and soul, the inspirational voice of an artist is a light in the wilderness. Just as the ancient prophets and seers offered wisdom to their people, so too does the artist offer a message of possibility, a vision of a future brighter than today. Robinson’s acknowledgment that his album was not simply a Gospel work but an inspirational one reminds us of this universal truth—that art’s highest calling is to reach beyond the limits of what we see, to bring forth what we might become.

And so, future generations, take this lesson to heart. When you seek to create, when you seek to share your voice with the world, remember that inspiration is the highest form of offering. Seek not only to preach, not only to entertain, but to uplift. Let your work, like the music of Smokey Robinson, reach beyond the boundaries of any one genre or label. Let it speak to the heart of every person, no matter their station or belief. For the true power of art lies in its ability to inspire, to transform, and to illuminate the path to a better tomorrow.

Thus, take your passions, your crafts, your gifts, and let them be a source of inspiration—for this is the legacy of those who walk in the light of true artistry. As Smokey Robinson has shown, let your work be more than just a message; let it be a spark that ignites the hearts of others, so that together, you may build a world filled with hope, light, and endless possibility.