Vicki Sue Robinson for sure and the Originals most def.!
Printable View
I've decided that I'm going to die on this hill.
I'll grant the argument against the post Motown Four Tops.
Every artist that has been recording for decades has a "heyday" that the majority of the hits and fame came from.
Other than Standing on the Top, I couldn't tell you a single post 1980 Temptations song. But I don't think that 80s and beyond Temptations need an unsung episode. So I get excluding the tops. i'd like to see it but I get it
I think that the Supremes and Miracles are a different story.
When a group loses it's lead singer that is a line in the sand, a clear division between eras
There is a definite difference between Diana leaving the Supremes versus Flo
And as far as the general public is concerned at least 95% of the hits and fame and being "sung" comes from the Diana & Smokey eras
I'd love to find out more about the transitions. I think that Smokey wanted to leave the Miracles 2-3 years before he finally did
How was Jean Terrell chosen as the new lead?
I'd heard that's not who Berry Gordy wanted. If that's true who did he want?
Who else was in the running? Was Mary becoming the new lead not an option?
was there competition between new Supremes and Diana solo? both in and outside Motown?
the Miracles losing Smokey meant not just losing their lead singer but also their main writer and producer.
How did they decide what direction to move in?
Personally I would still like to see a deeper dive into that time period of both groups
Add
Jimmy Castor Bunch
Tyrone Davis
Black Ivory
Five Stairsteps
Commodores - to the public at large I think they are Brick House and the group Lionel Ritchie was in before he went solo
Lee Dorsey
Leon Ware
Albert King
Edwin Starr
Jerry Butler
Chuck Jackson
Billy Paul
Morris Day & the Time
Dionne Warwick [[I'd say Dee Dee too, but the Whitney allegations makes it unlikely)
For Hollywood Alfre Woodard - I always thought she was like the female Morgan Freeman: always classes up whatever project she's in
Berry Gordy's The Last Dragon
Scatman Crothers
Carl Weathers
I'm totally agree with "post - Smokey Robinson's MIRACLES". Since my teens, when I purchased "Love Crazy" I can't spend more than a month without re-heard this MONUMENTAL masterpiece of harmony vocal soul... and the falasetto of Billy Griffin on this album is, IMHO, his best on his career.
My humble list [[some one have been mentioned before):
- Incognito
- Light Of The World [[the UK fusion group "mother" or origin of Beggar & Co and Incognito)
- Roy Ayers
- Futures
- Mighty Clouds Of Joy
- Floaters
- Dramatics
- Sweet Sensation
- Melba Moore
- Sisters Love
- People's Choice
- Soul Survivors
- Double Exposure
- O.T. Sykes
- O. V. Wright
- Angelo Bond
- Sylvia Smith
- Freda Payne
- Sidney Joe Quails
- Natural Four
- Joe Tex
- Tyrone Davis
- Clarence Carter
- Frederic Knight
- Sharon Paige [[solo and with The Blue Notes on PIR and after in ABC and Source)
Melba Moore has been featured on "Unsung" already, as have The Dramatics. Here's the Dramatics link, which won't embed, for some reason. Hope you can see this in your country.
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6nsdy3
I didn't read the entire thread but if not mentioned, The Cornelius Brothers and Sister Rose would be a nice unsung episode. Here are some more:
Archie Bell & The Drells, The Intruders, Major Lance, Gene Chandler, The Five Stair Steps, Sonji Clay, Mel & Tim and Tavares.
How about-ray,goodman brown[aka]the moments?
I would nominate Joe Tex. My parents loved that guy when I was a youngster... I can hear "Skinny Legs and All" playing in my head now.
Isley Brothers
Allen Toussaint
Sade
James Carr
denise lasalle
clarence Reid "blowfly"
Roy Ayers
shuggie Otis
zZ Hill
Lattimore
anita Baker
Brothers Johnson
I’m disappointed in the picks for the new season
I’d rather see any of the great suggestions in this thread than what the network picked
I know his heyday predates most of those listed by Billy Eckstine?
I love Numero’s Eccentric Soul series and I’d love a documentary on any of the labels they featured
Mothers Finest
For Hollywood
Louis Gossett Jr
Levar Burton [[roots, reading rainbow and Star Trek, I always thought he should’ve been bigger than he was)
Eriq LaSalle best known for ER
Alphonso Riberio Silver spoons fresh prince and that michael Jackson Pepsi commercial
Esther Phillips.
Nona Hendryx
Roy Ayers
Patti Austin
Randy Crawford
Don Covay!!
Not an unsung episode but I just read that Robert Townsend finished a documentary on the Five Heartbeats
Can’t wait to see it
Is Chubby Checker worthy of an unsung?
I just know him for the twist
But I think he was a huge deal at the time and was a massive influence on that era
Chubby Checker is an American Music Icon even without a long list of hit records.
The artistics
James Jamerson & his influence on later bass players
Still hoping for one on Sam & Dave. I really, really, really want to know, in Sam Moore's words, his thoughts on Atlantic owning them all along over Stax, Stax splitting from them, and afterwards.
Here's my picks, guys:
Unsung -
Case
Unifics
G C Cameron
Jerry Butler [[The Iceman)
AWB
Rare Earth
Jesse Johnson
Alexander O'Neal
Billy Stewart
Rockwell
Musiq Soulchild
Calvin Richardson
Brainstorm
Grover Washington, Jr
Unsung Hollywood -
Tatiana Ali [[Fresh Prince of Bel Air)
Aries Spears ,[[comedian/actor/impressionist)
Jayne Kennedy
Enjoy!
Hey native, I believe Alexander O'Neal did have an "Unsung" ep a few years back. If memory serves, it was a joint program with Cherrelle.
Was there more to Rockwell than I think?
Which is he was Berry Gordy’s son who had one hit song that was only a hit because Thriller era Michael Jackson was on it
Did anyone say Ronnie Dyson? Would be a very compelling episode...
Add Miche'le and Diddy balladeer, Carl Thomas. Pearl Bailey too.
I have to agree with you. I would love to hear more about the post Diana Supremes and post Smokey Miracles, even the challenges they had in their attempt to move forward. They both seemed like completely different groups after their leads left. Unlike the other groups mentioned, these two groups not only lost the member but the name that defined the groups.