8.4 /10 1 Votes
7.7/10 TV Running time 60 minutes First episode date 27 November 2008 | 8.9/10 IMDb Country of origin United States Original network TV One Language English | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Original release November 27, 2008 (2008-11-27) – present Awards NAACP Image Award for Outstanding News/Information – Series or Special Genres Documentary film, History, Biographical film Similar Behind the Music, Soul Train, Foo Fighters: Sonic Hig, All You Need Is Love: The, R&B Divas: Atlanta Profiles | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Unsung is an hour-long music documentary program that airs on TV One. The series, which premiered November 27, 2008, uncovers the stories behind once well-known R&B and soul music artists, bands, or groups who exploded onto the Billboard music charts with a string of hits, only to have their career derailed by a major crisis that caused them to be essentially unappreciated by later generations of contemporary R&B and soul music listeners.
Contents
- The truth about teddy pendergrass car accident where are they now oprah winfrey network
- Format
- Reception
- Unsung Hollywood
- Unsung Films
- References
The truth about teddy pendergrass car accident where are they now oprah winfrey network
Format
Unsung has tailored this formula, depending on the show's subject, to portray artists whose "turning point" occurred for more business or personal reasons, and who may have recovered from it to continue a far less famous, but rewarding, career. An example includes The Spinners, a legendary R&B group with 17 Billboard Top 40 hits (7 of which were in the top 10) between 1961 and 1980, yet they have never received a Grammy Award nor been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. These facts qualify the group for an episode of Unsung....
Reception
As of 2010, Unsung has enjoyed steady growth, particularly in African-American households, as each season has aired.
After four seasons, Unsung won an NAACP Image Award in the "Outstanding Information Series or Special" category. Others nominated in this category for 2011 were Anderson Cooper 360° and Washington Watch with Roland Martin.
One aspect of note to the Unsung series is the sense of closure given to both the series' fans and the families of the artists who have died, as in the case of Roger Troutman of Zapp. Troutman's brother stated that the public was finally on the same page as the family with regard to realizing that no one really knows what happened between Roger and Larry Troutman the fatal morning of the incident (in 1999).
Recording artist Stephanie Mills has gone on record as not being a fan of the show. She admits that she has been approached by producers of the series to either be a commentator or the star of an episode, and has denied them access of her personal life; she does not believe she is "unsung".
Unsung Hollywood
In October 2013, TV One announced Unsung would receive a spin-off titled Unsung Hollywood, to premiere on February 26, 2014. Unsung Hollywood focuses on actors and comedians, as well as prominent films and TV shows influential in the African American community. The second season of Unsung Hollywood premiered on February 11, 2015. Subjects of Unsung Hollywood have included episodes on: Pam Grier, Robin Harris, What's Happening!!, Dick Gregory, Redd Foxx, A Different World, Sheryl Underwood, Vivica A. Fox, Richard Roundtree and others.
Unsung Films
In October 2015, TV One announced another spin-off under the Unsung franchise. Unsung Films will feature made-for-TV movies/biopics addressing some of Unsung's most intriguing artists.