If you’re a fan of soul music and you’re not watching TVone’s documentary series “Unsung”, you are missing out big time. The series, which concludes its’ third season this week, spotlights artists with compelling back stories who have not gotten their deserved props from the mainstream. The folks behind this show really do their research-almost every episode has been sit-in-front-of-the-TV-rapt good. They’ve covered everyone from Donny Hathaway and Phyllis Hyman to DeBarge and Stacy Lattisaw, and this season’s final episode looks at the long and storied history of The O’Jays.
Already in preparation for Season 4, the folks at TVone are asking who should be on the next season of Unsung. If you head on over to their site, you can vote on ten artists who just might get profiled in the next season. Just about all the choices they offer should have interesting stories to tell, whether it’s Angela Bofill discussing her time in the Arista Records dungeon or her health issues, Rakim discussing who REALLY produced those Eric B. & Rakim records, or Tevin Campbell maybe finally discussing the solicitation arrest that basically ended his career. There are also still quite a few artists who I think deserve the “Unsung” treatment that haven’t been profiled and also don’t appear on this list. Here are some of the artists that “Unsung” should consider for Season 5.
Teddy Riley/Guy/BLACKstreet- One of the preeminent producers of the past 25 years (and the founder of hip-hop soul) has quite a story to tell. From their shady business dealings with the Suge Knight-like Gene Griffin to Teddy’s working relationship with the King of Pop to the revolving door that was BLACKstreet, I’d say this would be one of the more interesting “Unsung” stories if they can get everyone involved in the saga to participate.
Terence Trent D’Arby-Much like Kanye West, TTD had a bigger mouth and a bigger ego. Much like Kanye West, TTD was and is a genius. Unlike Kanye, however, TTD’s mass recognition begins and ends with his debut, although he’s made four strong efforts in the years since. It would be interesting to discuss whether people think TTD’s mouth killed his career or if it was his ambition and refusal to fall into line with the rest of contemporary R&B.
Millie Jackson- Before there was Lil’ Kim or Foxy Brown, there was Millie Jackson-a singer who gave folks the real deal about relationships in her songs-colorful language and all. Millie’s albums in the late Seventies and early Eighties were huge sellers although she never got a sniff of pop airplay. History has certainly neglected her-I think an “Unsung” episode is owed to her, quite frankly. She practically defines the word.
Vanity 6- Denise Matthews, a biracial Canadian soft-porn star, fell under Prince’s wing in the early Eighties and became the frontwoman for one of the Purple Yoda’s most fondly remembered side projects, Vanity 6. They picked up the baton on frank sexual talk post-Millie and pre-Madonna. Vanity left Prince’s camp in the middle of filming “Purple Rain”, made a couple of solo albums, found modest success as an actress (“Action Jackson”), was dating Motley Crue’s Nikki Sixx when he overdosed, and nearly died herself as a complication of years of drug abuse. Now a born-again Christian, Vanity is probably reluctant to discuss her early days, but it would certainly be compelling television! Besides, who wouldn’t want the skinny on what was going down in MPLS back in the day?
The Force MD’s- Staten Island’s Force MDs bridged the gap between hip-hop and R&B before just about anyone else did it. They had the misfortune to be signed to an indie label (Tommy Boy), so they never got the chance to blow up like their contemporaries New Edition, despite scoring a handful of R&B chart hits (they also worked with Jam & Lewis before NE did). Tragedy has beset the band in the years since, with two members having passed away in untimely fashion. Shouldn’t some light be given to just about the only good thing to come out of the 5th borough that’s not Wu-Tang related?
Who else do you think deserves props from the “Unsung” folks? Leave a shout in the comment section and tell us!
115 comments
avis says:
Nov 10, 2010
I think you should feature Heavy D and the boys
joanie says:
Nov 14, 2010
I think that Dennis Edwards formerly of the Temptations deserves to have his story told on Unsung. He certainly was able to pick up the torch when David Ruffin left the group. I give Mr. Ruffin his props but Dennis was able to make his own mark and leadership style while he was with the group.
blerd says:
Nov 14, 2010
That would be a good one. It would be interesting to do one with all of the Temptations solo…maybe split up Ruffin, Kendricks and Edwards and do a half hour each or something like that.
sharon bradford says:
Nov 15, 2010
ron isely i would like to see that show.
sharon bradford says:
Nov 15, 2010
i would like to see ron isely
blerd says:
Nov 15, 2010
Me too, actually.
david evans says:
Nov 21, 2010
DAVID PORTER,the masquerade is over,i would love 2 see what happened after ball.
blerd says:
Nov 21, 2010
Hmmmm. That might be a little bit obscure for TVOne. Most of today’s generation (hell, most of the generation before today’s generation) doesn’t know who David Porter is.
corneil madison says:
Dec 1, 2010
I think they should have the temptations , because they were very talented. They moved and danced with style . They were well groomed
blerd says:
Dec 1, 2010
I don’t think The Temptations really qualify as “unsung”, though. Having them there would sort of be beside the point of the whole show.
william jackson says:
Dec 4, 2010
i want to see the story of foxy the reddings dazz band and obryan
Mel says:
Dec 11, 2010
I THINK STEPHENIE MILLS WOULD BE A GREAT CANIDATE FOR UNSUNNG SHE WAS WEEL ON HER WAY TO SUPER STARDOM SHE HAS A VOICE THAT WAS COMPARED TO STREISAND PERSONALLY I THOUGHT SHE SOUNDED BETTER BUT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT HAPPEN TO STEPHENIE RISE TO FAME
blerd says:
Dec 11, 2010
I agree. A Stephanie Mills Unsung would be quite entertaining.
sheila says:
Dec 13, 2010
@blerd
i think stephenie would be nice
sheila says:
Dec 13, 2010
i would like to see betty wrightand tyrone davis sam and dave and i am old school that was the music
desmond glover says:
Dec 14, 2010
I would like to c the time
Debra Williams says:
Dec 14, 2010
Jackie Wilson should be featured on Unsung. He was the greatest entertainer in his day. The world should be able to remember this very talented man.
pearl says:
Feb 16, 2011
Rick James
BB King
Sam Cooke
Jerry Butler
Etta James
Easy E
blerd says:
Feb 16, 2011
Well, I think “Unsung” tries to spotlight artists who have never really gotten mainstream recognition. Most of the artists you mentioned (everyone except for Jerry Butler) wouldn’t really be considered “Unsung”.
ron walker says:
Jun 27, 2011
I think Jeffrey Osborne, Alicia Myers, One Way, Natalie Cole, Anita Baker, Vesta, Diana Ross, Aretha Franklin, The Dramatics, Enchantment all would be good choices for Un Sung
blerd says:
Jun 27, 2011
I don’t think anyone would really consider Diana Ross or Aretha Franklin an unsung artist. The purpose of the show is to shine a light on artists who haven’t really received mainstream recognition, so those two really wouldn’t qualify, and to a lot of people, neither would Natalie Cole or Anita Baker.
sabrina says:
Jul 13, 2011
Stephanie Mills
Shaun says:
Aug 23, 2011
I would like to see Barry,White Al B Sure, Lisa Stansfield
Dana says:
Aug 26, 2011
I think that you should have the Tavares brothers on the show because they have been putting it down for over 40 years and still are.This group deserves it.Plus they are all brothers and are all still alive.
Didi says:
Aug 26, 2011
How about Pebbles.
jeanene says:
Aug 30, 2011
i would like to know what happen to tracie spencer she had a song named “tender kiss” and the group troop
jeanene says:
Aug 30, 2011
pebbles would be good to
@jeanene
Rae Will says:
Sep 8, 2011
I think Maze should be on the upcoming season of Unsung
Dexter Anderson says:
Sep 23, 2011
I think Frankie Beverly featuring Maze will be a good feature for unsung.
Sharon Bell says:
Sep 27, 2011
I would like to see:
Keith Washington
Stephanie Mills
The Dramatics
The Manhattans
The Stylistics
Pebo Bryson
Stephanie says:
Oct 15, 2011
Where is Coffee Brown?
Diana says:
Nov 10, 2011
I think it should be Anita Baker and the Five Stairsteps
Carla says:
Nov 25, 2011
I want to see unsung season 5 R&B group Troop, Hi Five, Full Force, Lisa Lisa Cult Jam, UTFO, and Joe Simon.
Topkat says:
Nov 27, 2011
The Miracles. The MIRACLES THE MIRACLES.
..Y’know, Motown’s FIRST GROUP ? The group who’s success opened the doors and paved the way for EVERY MOTOWN ACT that followed them, from THE SUPREMES and TEMPTATIONS, to MARVIN GAYE, MICHAEL JACKSON,THE 4 TOPS, AND LIONEL RICHIE ?? The ONLY MOTOWN GROUP with FOUR SONGS in the GRAMMY HALL OF FAME ? The group with over 50 Billboard Chart Hits ? The group that has over 60 of their songs recorded by other artists…in EVERY MAJOR MUSICAL GENRE, from Country and Rock …to Jazz ,MOR ,Reggae, and Hip Hop? The ONLY Motown group in the Sixties that wrote and produced their own material (ALL of them….not just SMOKEY, although he tends to get most of the credit)….and a SOLO induction that he shouldn’t have gotten until THE GROUP was honored FIRST ? The group with no less than 3 SONGS in Rolling Stones’ listing of the 500 GREATEST SONGS OF ALL TIME….and one song (The Tracks Of My Tears) entered into the UNITED STATES LIBRARY OF CONGRESS ? Not inducted…while most of their Motown label mates are?
The group that just got a STAR on the HOLLYWOOD WALK OF FAME ? and are winners of multiple BMI Songwriters Awards? Not Inducted ….and NOT EVEN NOMINATED, EVEN ONCE in over 25 years ? WHY?
BLACKLISTED from the ROCK and ROLL HALL of FAME for NO GOOD REASON, while all of their fellow Motown artists, and all of their comtemporaries get inducted… sitting on the sidelines , while their lead singer, SMOKEY ROBINSON , gets inducted solo….THE MIRACLES TRULY ARE “UNSUNG” !!!
Melanie says:
Dec 4, 2011
Definitely Stephanie Mills and Peabo Bryson! I also think Jackie Wilson, The Dramatics, Enchantment, The Emotions, The Jones Girls, and Al B. Sure would all be good
blerd says:
Dec 4, 2011
I agree on all counts!
Blase' Michael Lizzmore says:
Jan 12, 2012
JACKIE WILSON! BAR NONE! Jackie was and will forever go down on the books as the baddest, most feared and revered singer and entertainer EVER! When Mr. Excitement came to town other entertainers started trembling. Just ask Elvis, james brown, sinatra, Sammy Davis, Michael Jackson. The list goes on read their books. This virtuoso never got his props. UNSUNG? that’s an understatement. My name is Blase’ Michael Lizzmore, former capitol records recording artist. he was a colleague and friend of mine, and i have a lot to contribute to the story, including a tribute song that i recorded entitled, Jackie Wilson, the master! So please do me, yourself, and the world a favor and feature this phenomenal talent on “UNSUNG” let’s finally give him his overdue props. one love. Blase’
Blase' Michael Lizzmore says:
Jan 12, 2012
LINDA JONES! A UNIQUE STYLE OF HER OWN! HYPNOTIZED! her voice reached beyond the skies! I am Blase’ Michael Lizzmore. I also did a tribute song to linda entitled, HYPNOTIZED. PLEASE! PLEASE! PLEASE! feature this unbelievably talented artist on UNSUNG and let the world hear what i cannot express with mere words. thank you so much. Blase’
ladysage says:
Jan 21, 2012
I would love to see Kool and the Gang, Wilson Pickett & Harvey Fuqua
Nathaniel says:
Jan 30, 2012
I would love to see Angela Bofil, Dinah Washington, Barbara Mason, Michael Henderson, Tevin Campbell, and Sister Sledge on Unsung in the near future.
blerd says:
Jan 30, 2012
I would be very happy if they did a Tevin Campbell episode.
Nathaniel says:
Jan 30, 2012
Yeah Tevin Campbell is truly unsung
stacy says:
Feb 1, 2012
I would like to see Kool & the Gang, Stephanie Mills, Tevin Campbell, Heavy D & the Boyz, Michael Henderson, Don Corneius, Karyn White, Maze featuring Fankie Beverly, Jeffrey Osborne, Kurtis Blow and Nick Ashord & Valerie Simpson.
blerd says:
Feb 1, 2012
All good choices. I’d have to imagine Maze is coming up soon.
Nathaniel says:
Feb 6, 2012
I feel personally that Vanity (Denise Matthews) should consent to do an episode of Unsung because really would like to know what happen to her and how her ministry is doing today also. Vanity would be nice, Pebbles,Madame X,Troop, Michel’le, Colonel Abrams, Grace Jones and Candi Staton would also be nice to see on Unsung.
TIMO says:
Feb 12, 2012
NEW BIRTH … PERIOD !!!! they were R&B gods in the 70s, then suddenly, the music stopped. WHY?
CA Ingram says:
Feb 25, 2012
I would like to see Gene Chandler, Billy Stewart,Linda Jones, Brenda & The Tabulations, Brenda Holloway, Wilson Pickett, Al Wilson Eddie Holman,Ronnie Dyson,Glenn Jones, and there are so many more I could think of
Rita Bryant says:
Feb 28, 2012
How about ConFunkShun they are UNSUNG and SUN!!
HotMixBK says:
Mar 4, 2012
The Dramatics, truly UNSUNG… A Legendary vocal group from Detroit, that was NOT on Motown and managed to crack the Billboard R&B top 50 for 3 Decades. They reached the Billboard Pop top 100 ’11 times’ in the 1970’s.
HOTMIXBK says:
Mar 4, 2012
Narada Michael Walden Award winning writer, producer, not to mention phenomenal DRUMMER. His works have given hits to the likes of Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Aretha Franklin, Regina Belle, Lisa Fischer etc… He was also named as one of the “Top Ten Producers With the Most Number One Hits” by Billboard Magazine.