Y'all are right about The Time (and most other Prince proteges). Outside of Prince fandoms and/or being a certain age, they were pretty unknown to the mainstream. That was pretty much limited to RnBdom back then.

How 'bout The Mary Jane Girls for an Unsung?

For super obscure, but huge long range influence...look no further than Little Willie John. James Brown OPENED for this guy, he's the baby brother of Mable John..a recording artist in her own right (Motown/Stax), he was as big as Sam Cooke on the Chitlin Circuit, and has one of the most unique voices I've ever heard. His ORIGINAL version of "Fever" is outta sight. Talk about unsung...this is the guy JB looked up to. Before Peggy Lee, Elvis, Madonna, or Beyonce...here's Willie:


[Edited 6/8/09 21:33pm]

brooksie said:

Perfect, I recently ordered a disc of his.

^^^ Which one did you get, "Fever"? I have that one and I plan to get a couple more comps w/ him and other King artists (my hometown label to boot! ). That guy's voice and phrasing are so amazing, they actually tired me out just listening to half the disc! I had to turn it off and just chill before hearing the rest cuz he's so intense. Funny thing, he's not gut bucket in the usual sense, but he knocks my socks off. His phrasing is on a whole 'nother level.

They better hurry to do a piece on Willie cuz so many who knew him/worked w/ him are already gone. His sister Mable is still alive, Berry Gordy, Bobby Womack...but time is not on anyone's side here.

If anybosy cares to check his other YT clips, check the comments. Amazing.

"Little" Willie John DEFINITELY needs to be on "Unsung"!

The Pointer Sisters
Cheryl Lynn
Evelyn Champagne King
Gwen Gutherie
Andre Cymone
Zapp
Klymaxx
Guy
Al B. Sure
[Edited 6/8/09 22:19pm]

Al B Sure? that's a joke, right? what talent does he have and who has he influence. He can't sing.

scriptgirl said:

Ouch. Al might not be the world's best singer (neither is Morris Day for that matter), but he's not the world's worst either. He was HUGE back then and dropped off kinda suddenly, so maybe some wanna know why and what happened. If he influenced anything, it was bringing in the New Jack style of RnB.

You're not convincing me. He was not influential in anyway and while Morris isn't a great singer, he has charisma and along with Jerome, created an unforgettable character and persona. Al doesn't have those skills, musical or otherwise.

brooksie said:

i couldn't agree more! plus he's the narrator of the show so it would be easy for him to do.

scriptgirl said:

So what if I didn't convince you, that wasn't my intention. Your list wasn't so great and frankly that you think The Time is so well known makes me wonder how much you actually know. Al DID usher in NJS while Morris knocked off August Darnell. He's the one w/ a great persona and great voice to boot...a product of the New York underground. The fact is, Al was a huge star and his cover of "Killing Me Softly" helped bring Roberta Flack back front and center.
[Edited 6/9/09 10:50am]

dancerella said:

LOL...I somehow didn't notice that he was the narrator of the show.

So far, this show seems focused more on the 60s upwards, but we should go back in time to see where the major influences came from. In addition to Little Willie John here's a few more:

Robert Johnson self-explanatory
Muddy Waters can you imagine a mag or group w/o Mr. Rolling Stone himself?
Son House blues master...mentor of Muddy

and my fav female singer Etta James
[Edited 6/9/09 11:11am]

I stand by my comments re AL. He is not talented nor can he sing. Just because he was huge, doesn't make him a singer. New Kids were huge and they are not singers.

scriptgirl said:

Actually Jordan Knight and Joey McIntyre aren't half bad singers, IMHO. Whether you think they are talented or not, they ARE singers (which Gil Scott Heron/Sugar Hill Gang (your list) are emphatically not). As far as I understand the purpose of this show, it's to show certain (Black) artists who somehow didn't live up to the full promise of where their talents and fame could have logically lead. So who says that must be only artists who are "talented" (which is a highly subjective yardstick)?

You do know the Sugar Hill Gang used someone else's stuff, right?
[Edited 6/9/09 11:09am]

Gil Scott Heron is not a singer, but he is a legendary musician, who indeed did not live up to his potential. Nowhere does it say that Unsung eps feature singers only-they say musicians

scriptgirl said:

If this is so, why whine about someone recommending Al B Sure? Can't have it both ways.

Certainly Gil should get an epi, but instead of wack ass Sugar Hill for NYC hip hop, there's always Fab 5 Freddy. You've heard of him?

I know who Fab 5 Freddy is. Al B Sure is not talented, end of story. He doesn't deserve an unsung.

brooksie said:

They may do Etta but the others I don't think so. I just can't see them doing them for some reason.

scriptgirl said:

LOL...you're funny kiddo. Ok you win, Al's NOT talented. The Time are major stars and Suga Hill was the tightest rhymers eva.


I'm a bit surprised you've heard of Fab tho, I must admit.

Timmy84 said:

Why not?

Beacause the show seems o be focused solely on stars from the 60s through the 80s. Also, there is a target demographic for the show and those musicians would not really hit that demo

brooksie said:

28 Big one is what it's called. IS there any foorage of WIllie? None is floating around on youtube.

Also, the Five Stairsteps