For three decades, Earl Bryant lived a life most music fans only glimpse from the audience — moving quietly behind the scenes to make sure the show went on. From airport tarmacs and five-star hotels to backstage hallways and late-night bus rides, Bryant served as tour manager for music legend Smokey Robinson during the later chapters of Robinson’s storied career.
That journey was the focus of Bryant’s newly released book, “All Access: Touring the World with a Superstar.” During a book signing and conversation at the Withers Collection Museum & Gallery, Bryant reflected on his career, his faith and the man who gave us “The Tears of A Clown.”
Asked to describe what a tour manager does, Bryant smiled and summed it up in a single word: “Everything.” But as he explained, the job goes far beyond logistics. A tour manager is responsible for shepherding artists and their entire entourages from point A to point B — handling travel, hotels, ground transportation, schedules and the inevitable surprises that come with life on the road.
“Being prepared is everything,” Bryant said. “There’s a lot of stuff that happens unexpectedly.”
He shared a story from a winter tour when a snowstorm grounded their flight. With a show still scheduled, Bryant activated a backup plan he had arranged in advance — calling for a bus, loading the crew and driving through the night to ensure Robinson made it to the stage. “The audience doesn’t care why the plane was grounded,” he said. “They bought tickets. My job was to get us there.”
Bryant’s path to the music industry was anything but conventional. Raised without ambitions of entertainment or touring, he once planned a very different future. “I used to be a chef,” he said. “I wanted to open a restaurant, cook and ride off into the sunset.”
What changed, he believes, was what he refers to as “divine intervention” — a term he used repeatedly throughout his talk.
After serving in the U.S. Air Force, Bryant worked at a VA hospital, unsure of his next step. A recommendation from a supervisor led him unexpectedly to Motown founder Berry Gordy’s doorstep. That introduction turned into a series of roles at Motown Records — from security to director of security, to purchasing — working with artists including Rick James, Teena Marie, The Four Tops and the Commodores.
Eventually, that experience led him to Smokey Robinson.
Bryant recalled one of his earliest lessons working with Robinson, one that revealed the artist’s character. Running late for a flight, Bryant tried to move Robinson past a fan asking for a photo. Robinson stopped anyway, wrapped his arm around her, and took the picture.
“On the plane, he told me, ‘Without those people, neither one of us would be sitting here,’” Bryant said. “That told me everything I needed to know about who he was.”
Trust became the foundation of their relationship. Bryant titled his book “All Access” because, as Robinson’s tour manager, he often had the same access Robinson did — to executives, promoters, and even presidents. He recalled a visit to the White House during the Obama administration, when a credentialing issue delayed his entry. Robinson refused to proceed without him.
“He told them, ‘I’m not going in unless Earle goes in,’” Bryant said. “Again, that showed his character.”
Bryant repeatedly credited his grandmother for instilling the values that guided his career. She taught him to believe in himself, to be honest, and to do his best — lessons he carried into every role.
“She told me, ‘You can do anything,’” he said. “And I believed her.”
That belief eventually carried him to writing a book, something he never imagined doing. The most difficult chapter, Bryant shared, recounts the loss of his infant son, a tragedy he describes with unflinching honesty. Writing it forced him to stop for weeks before continuing.
But Bryant said the purpose of the book — and of sharing his story publicly — is to encourage young people to see possibilities beyond what they’re told is available to them.
“There’s a lot of money to be made in the music industry that doesn’t involve being on stage,” he said. “You can make a good living if you learn the business.”
Now retired since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Bryant spends his time writing, golfing and considering ways to mentor the next generation. Though no longer on the road, he remains in close contact with Robinson and reflects on his career with gratitude rather than nostalgia.
“I knew when it was time to walk away,” he said. “And when I did, I didn’t look back.”
If there is one message Bryant hopes readers take from “All Access,” it is the same one his grandmother gave him decades ago: believe in yourself.
“You don’t have to accept the world the way it is,” he told the audience. “You can shape it into what you want it to be.”
For a man who spent his life ensuring others reached the spotlight, Earle Bryant’s own story is finally having its moment — and it’s one worth hearing.
Copies of “All Access: Touring the World with a Superstar” are available at the Withers Collection Museum & Gallery, 333 Beale St.
