TVOne’s documentary series “UnSung” is gearing up for season #6, and a 10-episode run is scheduled to begin right after we ring in 2012. If you are a fan of soul music, you need to be watching these excellently crafted documentaries, which concentrate on artist that haven’t really gotten their just due. Here’s a rundown of the latest group of subjects. Each episode promises to be filled with drama, tragedy and some fantastic music.
Vesta Williams (January 2)
A mainstay on the R&B charts in the late Eighties and Nineties, Vesta is best known to casual pop fans as the singer behind the power ballad “Congratulations” and for an astounding vocal similarity to Chaka Khan. She also achieved mainstream success going toe-to-toe with Sting on his 1987 hit “We’ll Be Together.” Vesta tragically passed on as this episode was being filmed, under somewhat mysterious circumstances.
Bobby Womack (January 9)
Bobby Womack is a Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Famer, best known for hits like “I’m In Love”, “Harry Hippie”, and “If You Think You’re Lonely Now.” His empotive, raspy voice was a direct influence on singers like Jodeci’s K-Ci Hailey. He’s also a celebrated guitarist and sideman, having worked with Sly & the Family Stone. His career has been sidelined several times due to addiction issues, and he’s infamous for having married the widow of Sam Cooke (the man who discovered him) less than six months after Cooke was murdered.
Atlantic Starr (January 16)
This lite-funk outfit from New York State had a ginormous #1 hit with 1987’s “Always.” They also had huge pop hits with the ballads “Masterpiece” and “Secret Lovers” over the course of nearly a decade and a half. In that time period, they also cycled through three lead singers, a topic I’m sure will be discussed in their episode.
Freddie Jackson (January 23)
This Harlemite was THE biggest non-crossover R&B star during the late Eighties. His second album, Just Like The First Time, spent six MONTHS at the top of the Soul Albums chart, and he peeled off six #1 singles in a row. However, much like his contemporary Luther Vandross (to whom he was often compared), Freddie spent most of the decade searching in vain for crossover success. While Luther obtained it at the beginning of the Nineties, Freddie gradually faded from view. Also like Luther, Freddie struggled with his weight, and also like Luther, there have been rumors about his sexuality almost from jump street. Will they be addressed on his episode of “Unsung”?
Full Force (January 30)
Coming from my neighborhood in Brooklyn, the 6-man crew of Full Force was the first hip-hop/R&B band. They found success as artists as well as writer/producers, discovering UTFO, Ex-Girlfriend and Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam, while also working with The Force MDs, Samantha Fox and La Toya Jackson. They are probably best remembered by the pop audience for playing the bullies in the “House Party” movie series. By the turn of the century, the Full Force team was most likely counting stacks upon stacks of dough after producing and writing songs on the debut albums by *NSYNC, Britney Spears and the Backstreet Boys.
Millie Jackson (February 6)
Before there was Lil Kim and Foxy Brown, there was Millie Jackson. In the Seventies and Eighties, Millie was the Queen of Tell-It-Like-It-Is soul, with music that was generally not played in the company of children. I got sent to my room on more than one occasion when a relative or family friend put on one of her records. Much more versatile than one would think, Millie was able to tackle blues, funk, disco, proto-rap, rock and roll (check out her cover of Bad Company’s “Feel Like Makin’ Love” for proof) and even country.
Ray Parker, Jr. (February 13)
Who you gonna call? The talented singer and musician charmed his way into the hearts of many ladies during a decade-long run at the top of the charts. Beginning as a guitarist for the likes of Stevie Wonder and Barry White, the Detroit native scored hits as a songwriter (“You Got The Love” by Rufus), as a producer (working with Diana Ross, New Edition, and the ubiquitous La Toya Jackson) and scoring hits including “You Can’t Change That”, “The Other Woman”, and the #1 smash “Ghostbusters.” Will Ray talk about the plagiarism lawsuit brought forth by Huey Lewis, claiming that “Ghostbusters” was a ripoff of his “I Want A New Drug”? Hmmm…
Sheila E. (and the E. family) (February 20)
Sheila Escovedo comes from a long line of percussion virtuosos. However, Sheila was handpicked by Prince (then at the height of his success) to become a star, and the two went on to have a lengthy professional and personal relationship; one that suspiciously went up in smoke earlier this year. Will we finally find out why she and the Purple one are on the outs?
David Ruffin (February 27)
Singer of seminal Temptations hits like “My Girl”, “Since I Lost My Baby” and “I Wish It Would Rain”, the bespectacled, wiry Ruffin was one of Motown’s first male stars. Ego problems led to his ouster from the group, at which point he embarked on an up-and-down solo career. As you may know from having watched the “Temptations” docu-drama, Ruffin was never able to shake a debilitating addiction to drugs, and he died under tragic circumstances in 1991.
Whodini (March 5)
Along with Run-DMC, LL Cool J and the Fat Boys, part of hip-hop’s first wave of Gold and Platinum sellers. However, they’re also the least-heralded. Unlike the Fat Boys, they weren’t a novelty. Unlike Run-DMC, they didn’t take part in a rock-rap fusion that resulted in worldwide acceptance for the genre, and unlike LL, they didn’t go on to a lengthy and successful career. However, that’s not to say they aren’t worthy of props. With a list of hits that includes “Friends”, “Five Minutes of Funk” and “One Love”, it’s about time someone paid tribute to these hip-hop pioneers.
I know I’ll be logging plenty of time in front of the tube, tuned into TVOne when these episodes air. You should too!
21 comments
Loretta says:
Dec 21, 2011
Great line up ..can,t wait for tha first episod to air. Maybe next season they can add Tevin Camball, LoseEnd and Jeffery Osborn. I love these three act big fan of there music. Keep it coomeing TV one great job!!!
ida says:
Jan 28, 2012
maybe add Joe Simon Jerry Butler Al Green Betty Wright
blerd says:
Jan 28, 2012
Betty Wright for sure. I don’t know that anyone would say Al Green is unsung…other than maybe Al Green.
George David says:
Feb 4, 2012
I would love to see a feature on Peabo Bryson.
Kathy Cooper says:
Feb 11, 2012
This is great, I have been watching since the ‘Unsung’ inception(even though I have to pay cable extra) its been all worth it. Please add to your wonderful list; Peabo Bryson, Joe Simon, The Impressions, Stylistics, Jerry Butler and don’t forget our ‘Blues’ artists (Johnny Taylor, Dorothy Moore etc,(just for starters). Thank You TV ONE for remembering.
Valencia says:
Feb 23, 2012
I think yall should add (Tyrone Davis).
Deanna says:
Feb 28, 2012
How about Ready For The World, Cheryl Lynn & Andre Cymone?
blerd says:
Feb 28, 2012
I hope we get all three!!
Donnell Jordon says:
Mar 6, 2012
Gladys Knight & the Pips; Jackie Wilson; The Tavares; The Intruders; The Manhattans; Barbara Mason; The Four Tops; The Marvelettes; Junior Walker & the All Stars; Tevin Campbell; Cuba Gooding & the Main Ingredients; the Soul Children; the Dramatics
brenda powell says:
Mar 13, 2012
i think you should add the following artist, the dramatics,the marvelettes,martha and the vandellas,tavares,the four tops,jackie wilson,the supremes,jermaine jackson,al green,the stylistics,barry white, stevie wonder,the jacksons,aretha franklin,the manhattans,betty wright,luther vandross,marvin gaye,gladys knight and the pips,whitney houston,new edition,l.t.d,michael henderson,tony,toni,tone.troop,just to name a few.
Ethel Battles says:
Apr 2, 2012
I love Unsung. It brings back wonderful memories and has answered some questions I had regarding some of the artist that have been featured e.g. DeBarge, The Sylvers, and Freddie Jackson. I would love to have a group named “Black Ivory” featured some day. What do you think? Although they are not as well known as some of the others but I think they definitely fit the bill of being “Unsung”.
barb says:
May 9, 2012
I would love to see Ali woodson. He was very interesting as well as extremely talented.
Joann Hunter says:
Jul 3, 2012
I would like to see what happened to: Cameo, and The New Birth.
blerd says:
Jul 4, 2012
I agree. Cameo would be a great one!!
Traceya. says:
Mar 10, 2013
What ever happen to Blue Magic
Ethel Battles says:
Mar 11, 2013
I agree with Traceya about Blue Magic and you can add to the list (in my humble opinion) Jerry Butler, Black Ivory (although I think they were a one hit wonder), Junior (Mama used to say), Hall and Oats.
Big Money says:
Mar 11, 2013
Black Ivory had a few hits. I wouldn’t mind an unplugged on them. I think VH1 might have done a Behind the Music on Hall & Oates a few years ago.
Ethel says:
Mar 11, 2013
Thank you BIG MONEY for the insight 🙂
SHAWN says:
Jan 30, 2016
IM GLAD JT HAS ONE ONE NOW BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE ARTISTS LIKE TYRONE DAVIS MARVIN SEASE ZZ HILL BETTY WRIGHT DENIECE LaSALLE CLARENCE CARTER!!!!
James E. Bush III says:
Feb 27, 2016
I say Johnnie Taylor and Tyrone Davis are definitely UnSung
James Bush says:
Feb 27, 2016
Show Southern Soul artists in the Southern states some love