His so underrated.... MY GOD I WISH I HAD THIS CHANNELL!!!! UGH

scriptgirl said:

How long ago was this?

prodigalfan said:

scriptgirl said:

How long ago was this?

dang! it was in the 90's. I will say 1993 - 1995. You are my Lady was no longer a hit. It was at least 2 years after that song was a hit. Najee's latest album had the song, Just an Illusion was a recent hit at that time. That album was released in 1992. So I would say December of 1993 or Jan Feb of 1994.

The end of his successful run pretty much.

DJK said:

Prodigal fan, when was that performance of Freddie's that you attended?

I am wondering because it sounds like it was after the peak periods of his career.

His music was extremely popular on Chicago radio, particularly on the quiet storm shows

and top 8 at 8 PM shows.

He did a classly job, similar to his classy music, when he was a co-anchor of

BET news.

Shango said:

prodigalfan said:

and what about those costumes?? that is what slayed me.

As phunkdaddy already mentioned about Lakeside. At that time the costume concept was still active. Lakeside did the genie-outfits around those years and kept on changing their themes with every new album after that (Mob/Gangsters, Raiders Of The Lost Ark, Patrol Army, etc). Flashy costumes with rhinestones and all that were still worn at 80's live shows from various artists. Prince was one that brought some change in the scene with the new-wave look, Vanity/Apollonia 6 exposed the burlesque theme and The Time rocked the zoot suits, stetsons and Stacy Adams.

[Edited 1/22/12 1:37am]

What I wanna know is how/why did Freddie fall off like he did in the early 1990's after scoring 18 top ten singles (15 top fives; 10 #1's)? Surely he had a strong fanbase and was making lots of money for someone. Was the music he was putting out just that bad or out of touch with the times?

yanowha said:

What I wanna know is how/why did Freddie fall off like he did in the early 1990's after scoring 18 top ten singles (15 top fives; 10 #1's)? Surely he had a strong fanbase and was making lots of money for someone. Was the music he was putting out just that bad or out of touch with the times?

I'm just guessing but I'll take out of touch with the times for $200, Alex. Seriously almost every "Unsung" subject that had some period of nothing but success run out of it due to changing times according to them. And it was obviously one reason but possibly not the only reason (like the Mary Wells one where her post-Motown records were pretty much ignored by both pop and R&B stations).

yanowha said:

What I wanna know is how/why did Freddie fall off like he did in the early 1990's after scoring 18 top ten singles (15 top fives; 10 #1's)? Surely he had a strong fanbase and was making lots of money for someone. Was the music he was putting out just that bad or out of touch with the times?

I see his dry spell started in '94 when started recording for independent labels. Did Capitol Records drop him? All he did was give them platinum & gold. The music industry is a HOT...ASS...MESS.

[Edited 1/22/12 13:20pm]

mjscarousal said:

His so underrated.... MY GOD I WISH I HAD THIS CHANNELL!!!! UGH

You can see it heah online

www.tvoneonline.com

What I wanna know is how/why did Freddie fall off like he did in the early 1990's after scoring 18 top ten singles (15 top fives; 10 #1's)? Surely he had a strong fanbase and was making lots of money for someone. Was the music he was putting out just that bad or out of touch with the times?

Since Melba Moore (as co-founder of Hush Productions with her then-husband) helped him achieve his breakthrough as a solo artist, Freddie probably got caught up in the mess that resulted from her divorce from her husband. How soon we forget. Remember the Unsung ep about her? The early 90's was about the time her career nosedived as well.

NewPowerSista said:

Freddie lost all that weight so long ago that I hadn't thought much about it lately. I admit my first thought back then was that he had been or was ill as well. Meanwhile, it didn't help his appearance at all! I know people who are overweight don't want to hear that they looked better when they were big, but Freddie......

Exactly! I think everyone should be healthy, but Freddie still looks rough. But I'll be watching tomorrow night.

UnderMySun said:

What I wanna know is how/why did Freddie fall off like he did in the early 1990's after scoring 18 top ten singles (15 top fives; 10 #1's)? Surely he had a strong fanbase and was making lots of money for someone. Was the music he was putting out just that bad or out of touch with the times?

Since Melba Moore (as co-founder of Hush Productions with her then-husband) helped him achieve his breakthrough as a solo artist, Freddie probably got caught up in the mess that resulted from her divorce from her husband. How soon we forget. Remember the Unsung ep about her? The early 90's was about the time her career nosedived as well.

Yeah and that was a hot ass mess. Freddie wasn't the only Hush Productions artist to suffer. So did Mel'isa Morgan and Kashif and 'em.

what is melba's hubby doing now?

scriptgirl said:

what is melba's hubby doing now?

I think from what I gather from Melba's Unsung, he's still doing music.

He sure doesn't look great, but it's as bad as I expected after reading some of these replies. But, I understand the shock. His full round head and baby-ish face was sort of iconic. He is 55, so beyond the weight loss, there is normal aging going on, so I'll give him a break. He looks a little harsh, but not "horrible" as some people have said.

As for the "big reveal" gay/straight question, it's clear from the preview clip that he's going to completely talk around it and not give a definitive answer. I guess even not out right denying that he's gay (if he indeed is) would be "something", more than a lot of black artists would be willing to communicate, but still, I don't think the episode is going to be nearly as dramatic as is being hinted at.

Freddie's definitely a good Unsung subject. Looking forward to it.

[Edited 1/23/12 0:45am]

prodigalfan said:

Timmy84 said:

scriptgirl said:

what is melba's hubby doing now?

I think from what I gather from Melba's Unsung, he's still doing music.

He produced Meli'sa Morgan's last CD a few years ago. And Melba was talking about reuniting with him for an upcoming CD.

Jboogiee said:

I caught this tour in Rochester NY.,it was a very good show. Freddie's band played for Melisa &'Najee so there was only like a 10 min. wait in between groups which was nice. 1992.

Do you remember the year? Not important... but now I am wracking my brain trying to remember the year.

^^ another sign of getting old.

(speaking of a hot topic in the general topic forum...)

I'm gonna watch it online after Monday Night RAW tonight.

Dammmnnnn the show hasn't even aired yet and we on the 3rd page.

missfee said:

Dammmnnnn the show hasn't even aired yet and we on the 3rd page.

I'm guessing people get more animated about someone like Freddie. I remember when that Najee person was here and I think he and Andy got into it about him and that lasted like three, four, five pages.

Timmy84 said:

missfee said:

Dammmnnnn the show hasn't even aired yet and we on the 3rd page.

I'm guessing people get more animated about someone like Freddie. I remember when that Najee person was here and I think he and Andy got into it about him and that lasted like three, four, five pages.

kitbradley said:

Timmy84 said:

Brother please. I got a problem when a woman lose more weight than she should. Jennifer Hudson and Janet (sometimes) scare me when they lose weight. So it ain't no double standard with me.

And I don't get why people are down on Jennifer. I've seen her on several shows over the past couple of weeks and she looks absolutely BEAUTIFUL and HEALTHY!!! She is in no way skinny. She's at a healthy, normal weight.

But, my point is, even though a lot of people have been down on Jennifer for losing weight, no one has accused her of being sick or being ill. But, when a man loses alot of weight, often times, people will say there must be something wrong with him.

[Edited 1/17/12 16:40pm]

i remember seeing freddie outside of WWF new york at the time after not seeing him in the public light for a while and his weight loss was astonishing. and from his manerisms it did seem he might be gay but so what? the man has a voice and richness that is so lacking in todays music

should be a good episode

prodigalfan said:

^ I didn't forget. I wondered if it had any bearing. But I think Freddie was victim to hip hop/rap R Kelly, Aaliyah, Janet Jackson, Brandy, Boys II Men, Jodeci, Xscape, Tevin Campbell, TLC the only one who was from "old school" was Barry White... practice what you preach.

There needs to be an Unsung on Tevin. He is definitely Unsung. I'm a big fan I need the truth.....

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

prodigalfan said:

^ I didn't forget. I wondered if it had any bearing. But I think Freddie was victim to hip hop/rap R Kelly, Aaliyah, Janet Jackson, Brandy, Boys II Men, Jodeci, Xscape, Tevin Campbell, TLC the only one who was from "old school" was Barry White... practice what you preach.

There needs to be an Unsung on Tevin. He is definitely Unsung. I'm a big fan I need the truth.....

Truth about what?

No shade but Freddie and Vesta seem like a waste of film and time..... they are "unsung" for a reason. Freddie was nothing more than an imitation of Luther Vandross and a poor man's Peabo Bryson. Peabo & Luther would wipe the floor with Freddie in a singing competition so he has always been useless to me. His music is bland and white washed as well like a black Barry Manilow. He had his time and success and thats IT. He is nobody's legend.

Vesta was nothing more than an overglorified back up singer. I will NEVER get the small hype about her since her death. Her songs were lame and her singing was awful most of the time. She should have been smart like Lisa Fischer & Cissy Houston and just made a career out of background singing and make a killing. SMH

I love the initial idea of Unsung but they need better artists to cover and give us true insight into like Cameo, Etta James, Bill Withers, LaBelle etc.

PlayboyOriginal said:

No shade but Freddie and Vesta seem like a waste of film and time..... they are "unsung" for a reason. Freddie was nothing more than an imitation of Luther Vandross and a poor man's Peabo Bryson. Peabo & Luther would wipe the floor with Freddie in a singing competition so he has always been useless to me. His music is bland and white washed as well like a black Barry Manilow. He had his time and success and thats IT. He is nobody's legend.

Vesta was nothing more than an overglorified back up singer. I will NEVER get the small hype about her since her death. Her songs were lame and her singing was awful most of the time. She should have been smart like Lisa Fischer & Cissy Houston and just made a career out of background singing and make a killing. SMH

I love the initial idea of Unsung but they need better artists to cover and give us true insight into like Cameo, Etta James, Bill Withers, LaBelle etc.