T-Mad's Music: Blog Area - Great Lineup For New Season Of TV One Unsung

Great Lineup For New Season Of TV One Unsung [Post a Comment]
It’s been an age since I’ve been able to post or do any updates here at T-Mad’s Music. Sorry about that — I moved and have had the worst kind of trouble getting DSL service working. Now I’m back in business and what better way to return to blogging than to talk about the new lineup for this season on TV One’s Unsung series, which starts Monday the 13th. It’s a doozy.

Starting things off is the late Teddy Pendergrass. Of course, we know that it will cover his days with Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes. Then the clash of egos between him and Melvin over who really fronted the group. Then his days as a sex symbol solo superstar, followed by his tragic car accident. However, I’m sure the show will have some sort of interesting nuggets and tidbits.

Now, the rest — eight more, in all — I do not know the order of so this list will not necessarily match the airing order:

George Clinton — Now, as a huge funkateer and fan of P-Funk, of course I am going to enjoy watching the George Clinton installment. However, I am surprised to see him featured on this show only because his story has been told numerous times in other documentary shows such as an old show on VH1 called Legends, which I am happy to say I have on VHS. In any case, it will be good to see another take on Mr. Clinton’s story.
Heatwave — The funk and soul band where songwriter Rod Temperton (you know, the guy who wrote that little ditty in 1982 called Thriller for a certain young man named Michael Jackson) came from. The band churned out some good hits such as The Groove Line, Boogie Nights, and the quiet storm classic Always and Forever. Sadly, they were derailed by various members getting into car accidents in an unbelievable twist of tragic coincidence.
Tammi Terrell — Best known for her classic sixties duets with Marvin Gaye, not many realize that the late Tammi Terrell had ties to James Brown. Hers will be an interesting and, of course ultimately, tragic story to see.
Miki Howard — She was once a vocalist with the group Side Effect before beginning her solo career in the quiet storm market with such hits as Love Under New Management. She had a rough start in the beginning. I remember seeing her in Philadelphia back in the eighties when she first came out. She was a last minute replacement for Teena Marie, who had suffered a fall prior to a performance, as part of the lineup for the Budweiser Superfest at the Spectrum. Teena Marie was supposed to be the closing act so, with then-unknown Miki Howard in her stead, she ended up being the closer and had people walking out on her until she reeled them in by having audience participation on her quiet storm numbers. From that point on, she established herself as a respected solo artist in the eighties.
Musical Youth — Best known for their eighties hit Pass The Dutchie and the song Unconditional Love with Donna Summer. They were primed as the reggae version of the Jackson Five. However, in later years, their tale took a tragic turn.
Angela Winbush — Formerly half of the singer-songwriter duo Renæ & Angela with Renæ Moore before crafting a successful solo career, following an extremely acrimonious breakup with Moore when Ronald Isley entered the picture. It will be very interesting to finally hear some of the story behind that drama.
The Fat Boys — A fun blast from the past during the early recorded days of what is now referred to as old school hip hop. These three chunky dudes were part of the Krush Groove phenomenon. Sadly, the Human Beatbox died young because of his immense weight.
The O’Jays — Ah, Eddie Levert and company. This will be a good one. Of course, this tale will also feature its share of tragedy with the death of an early member back in the seventies and the deaths of both of Levert’s sons.

Looks like a solid lineup this year with so many this time around. Who do you want to see featured on the series? I would like to The GAP Band, personally. How about you?