Most interesting season in a while. Will Downing and Regina Belle are excellent choices.

TV One's upcoming new episodes of Unsung are outlined below.

MTUME Premiere: Sunday, May 20 at 9 p.m. ET/8C James Mtume rose to musical prominence crafting albums with the iconic Miles Davis before starting his own group, named simply after him - Mtume. With a lineup that included his partner Reggie Lucas, Hubert Eaves III and vocalist Tawatha Agee, Mtumecombined the styles of jazz, funk and R&B. The group broke into the mainstream in the 1980's with the hit song "Juicy Fruit," most notably sampled by Notorious B.I.G; and Top 10 hits like "You, Me and He" and "Breathless." In this episode of Unsung, James Mtumeand members of his group, discuss his decades-long career in jazz and R&B, the story behind their music and the challenges they faced in the music industry.

SPECIAL ED Premiere: Sunday, May 27 at 9 p.m. ET/8C Brooklyn native Special Ed exploded onto the rap scene in the late 1980's with his hit song "I Got It Made." His follow-up chart toppers "Think About It" and "The Mission" seemed to pave the way for a long career. Still in high school, his unique flow and good looks made him a standout. However, when disputes with his record label led to lawsuits and halted the release of his music, Special Ed's momentum took a devastating blow. Considered as one of the most respected lyricists of all time, "The Magnificent" will share with Unsung how his music continues to influence a new generation of performers.

DIGABLE PLANETS Premiere: Sunday, June 3 at 9 p.m. ET/8C Digable Planets changed rap in the mid-90s, with distinct flows backed by jazz-infused beats. The trio's breakout hit, "Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat)," took its members to the top of hip hop and brought them worldwide acclaim. However, beyond catchy beats and cool metaphors, the group's music covered provocative social themes. With gold album sales, a Grammy win and irresistible radio hits, the group appeared primed for a long run. With pressure to commercialize their sound and internal struggles among the members, the group disbanded after only two albums. In this episode of Unsung, the three members of Digable Planets come together, along with friends and family, to tell their story of their brief but intoxicating journey.

REGINA BELLE Premiere: Sunday, June 10 at 9 p.m. ET/8C Regina Belle was a college kid out of New Jersey when she burst on the R&B scene as a vocalist with the Manhattans on the hit "Where Did We Go Wrong." She was eventually signed by Columbia Records and skyrocketed to fame with number one singles, including "Make It Like It Was" and "Baby Come to Me." She crossed over to a mainstream audience with the Grammy Award-winning mega-hit, "A Whole New World," a duet with Peabo Bryson for the Disney film "Aladdin." Blessed with a soulful, pitch-perfect voice, she lived near the top of the charts for ten years until she was abruptly dropped by her label. Misfortune continued when she was diagnosed with a life-threatening brain tumor. How she bounced back with a renewed faith to record her first gospel album, is the inspiring story of a strong woman who overcame professional disappointment and personal tragedy to spread a message of love, family and faith.

702 Premiere: Sunday, June 17 at 9 p.m. ET/8C Hailing from the city of Las Vegas, 702 shot to stardom in the mid 1990's with a handful of top ten hits and platinum album success. Originally signed as a quartet, the group debuted in 1995 with a hit duet with label mates Subway titled "This Little Game We Play." The following year, their record label decided to re-debut 702 as a trio, teaming original members Misha and Irish Grinstead with new addition Meelah Williams. Under the production of Missy Elliott, 702 went on to earn gold certification in 1996 with the hip-hop infused single "Steelo," followed by platinum success on a female empowerment anthem titled "Where My Girls At" in 1999. However, as 702's music was bonding women around the world, the band was plagued by infighting, ultimately leading to their disbanding in 2003. After years of silence, the members of 702 share their long and winding journey with Unsung.

B.B. KING Premiere: Sunday, June 24 at 9 p.m. ET/8C Coming from a life of poverty on the cotton fields of Mississippi where he was born, the iconic B.B. King rose to become the "King of the Blues" and along with his beloved guitar Lucille, an international ambassador for the music he loved. In a career that spanned six decades, fifteen Grammys and dozens of hits, including the enduring classic "The Thrill Is Gone," King brought the blues out of the delta and into the mainstream. However, despite his professional triumphs, he endured two failed marriages, an addiction to gambling, and the hardships of racial discrimination in America. CHERYL PEPSII RILEY Premiere: Sunday, July 1 at 9 p.m. ET/8C

Cheryl Pepsii Riley burst on the scene in 1988 with her #1 hit single "Thanks for My Child," a ballad that paid tribute to the love of single mothers for their children. Under the songwriting and production umbrella of the Full Force family she seemed destined to keep rising as a star. However, after a series of singles about provocative subjects, her label struggled with how to market her, and Cheryl's career foundered. Determined to support her family by any means necessary, she took musical back roads from session work to back-up singing, while raising several children with the help of her husband and family. She eventually reinvented herself as a musical stage actress in plays by Tyler Perry and continues to stay true to her musical roots.

WILL DOWNING Premiere: Sunday, July 8 at 9 p.m. ET/8C As the "Prince of Sophisticated Soul," Will Downing is in the midst of a remarkable 30-year career that includes twenty solo albums, with chart topping singles in Dance, R&B, and Jazz. However, his road to success was long and winding, as he struggled to grow his reputation abroad despite slight recognition at home. At the height of his career, a paralyzing bout with an auto-immune disease threatened his life. Now Will Downingreveals to Unsung the hard earned achievements - and costs - of a soul survivor.


MICHEL'LE Premiere: Sunday, July 15 at 9 p.m. ET/8C Raised in the tough streets of South Central L.A., Michel'le stormed the music scene with a voice - really two voices - like no other, as her child-like speaking voice marked a startling contrast to her strong and soulful musical delivery. As mentored by power house rapper/producer, Dr. Dre from NWA, her debut album reached number five on the charts in 1989, thanks to hits like "No More Lies," "Nicety," and "Something In My Heart." Michel'le had it made - or so it seemed. However, her mentorship and romantic attachments proved costly in deeply personal ways. After years of silence, Michel'le opens up to Unsung about life as an accomplished singer, and as a survivor of domestic violence.

The only one I'm really interested in is Digable Planets. I already know about B.B. King, read his autobiography and other books about him and seen a lot of interviews he did. He also has a documentary. Didn't Michel'le have a biopic?

MotownSubdivision said:

Still no S.O.S. Band?

Maybe they're one of those acts who was asked but turned it down. I've heard Stephanie Mills and Cameo did that. I'm not really interested in SOS Band anyway. They're one of those anonymous groups to me like Stars On 45, Fatback Band, & Supertramp. Don't know who they are or what they look like. I just heard some of their songs on the radio.

Johnny Guitar Watson/Joe Tex/New Birth/Jesse Johnson/Ready For The World

C'mon, TV ONE!!!

MickyDolenz said:

MotownSubdivision said:

Still no S.O.S. Band?

Maybe they're one of those acts who was asked but turned it down. I've heard Stephanie Mills and Cameo did that. I'm not really interested in SOS Band anyway. They're one of those anonymous groups to me like Stars On 45, Fatback Band, & Supertramp. Don't know who they are or what they look like. I just heard some of their songs on the radio.

S.O.S Band are hardly anonymous among R&B fans. Everyone knows the female lead Mary

Davis. The band and their songs are a staple on R&B radio.

Take Your Time

Just Be Good To Me

Tell Me(If You Still Care)

Weekend Girl

No One's Gonna Love You

The Finest

They still tour regularly for the past 20 years and are performing at every Soul Music festival

imaginable.

Only interested in Mtume, 702, and BB King

I would be interested in Starpoint, Slave, Johnny Guitar Watson, Brothers Johnson

[Edited 5/24/18 21:55pm]

phunkdaddy said:

S.O.S Band are hardly anonymous among R&B fans. Everyone knows the female lead Mary

Davis. The band and their songs are a staple on R&B radio.

Take Your Time

Just Be Good To Me

Tell Me(If You Still Care)

Weekend Girl

No One's Gonna Love You

The Finest

They still tour regularly for the past 20 years and are performing at every Soul Music festival

imaginable.

I know some of the songs and said I heard them on the radio. The one I like the best is called SOS. I guess that is the title. I know Jam & Lewis produced some of their hits. I have Take Your Time on a compilation of remixes/extended versions of CBS Records hits. There's no pictures of anybody that's on the compilation. SOS Band is the type of act I'd buy a greatest hits on, but have no interest in them other than that. If someone gave me one of their albums, I'd listen to it, but wouldn't buy it myself.

MickyDolenz said:

MickyDolenz said:

All of these look good, especially Mtume and Digable Planets. I see ya, TVOne!

phunkdaddy said:

woogiebear said:

Johnny Guitar Watson/Joe Tex/New Birth/Jesse Johnson/Ready For The World

C'mon, TV ONE!!!

kitbradley said:

phunkdaddy said:

Only interested in Mtume, 702, and BB King

I would be interested in Starpoint, Slave, Johnny Guitar Watson, Brothers Johnson

[Edited 5/24/18 21:55pm]

I believe they did a Starpoint episode some years ago.

Nope not yet. They have done Atlantic Starr and Midnight Star but not

Starpoint as of yet. It may be a little tougher to do one on Starpoint as Renee Diggs

passed away in 2006 and one of the Phillips brothers who sang lead too passed away

a year earlier. The remaining brothers would have to do the segment.

phunkdaddy said:

kitbradley said:

phunkdaddy said: I believe they did a Starpoint episode some years ago.

Nope not yet. They have done Atlantic Starr and Midnight Star but not

Starpoint as of yet. It may be a little tougher to do one on Starpoint as Renee Diggs

passed away in 2006 and one of the Phillips brothers who sang lead too passed away

a year earlier. The remaining brothers would have to do the segment.

Must have been a different show. I definately remember seeing a documentary about Starpoint a few years ago.

Yeah, you know, when I think of artists who are unsung, overlooked under-known, and underappreciated, hidden gems/diamonds in the rough as it were, DEFINITELY B.B. King pops right into my mind. It's not as though he has a very asuccessful chain of nightclubs named after him or anything like that. And it's not like he's regarded as the greatest bluesman that ever lived by a factor of 1000. And too I am certain that he doesn't have a museum named in his honor. And there cannot possibly be any truth whatsoever, I am sure, to the rumor that not only did the United States Post Office issue an official postage stamp with B.B. King's name and likeness on it, but so did the FORMER SOVIET UNION 30 YEARS AGO. Yep, B.B. King - man it's about time somebody FINALLY gave that guy just a little smidgeon of the respect and recognition he's been denied his whole life.

[Edited 5/25/18 18:10pm]

[Edited 5/25/18 18:11pm]

hardwork said:

They should do one on Fishbone. You can't get no more unsung than that. They had to stand by and watch bands with a similar alt-rock/funk sound, be way more successful than them.

PurpleBlackmon said:

They should do one on Fishbone.

They have a documentary called Everyday Sunshine. I saw it on PBS a few years ago. It might have been on their documentary series that comes on every so often Independent Lens. It's not music only, but they do show music documentaries.

I don't recall Unsung doing anybody mainly known for rock music. Mostly R&B/soul/rap acts and a few gospel and a longer episode on disco as a genre.

MickyDolenz said:

PurpleBlackmon said:

They should do one on Fishbone.

They have a documentary called Everyday Sunshine. I saw it on PBS a few years ago. It might have been on their documentary series that comes on every so often Independent Lens. It's not music only, but they do show music documentaries.

I don't recall Unsung doing anybody mainly known for rock music. Mostly R&B/soul/rap acts and a few gospel and a longer episode on disco as a genre.

https://www.pbs.org/video...-fishbone/

[Edited 5/28/18 5:21am]

^^If Unsung was going to go down that route, then here's some acts that could be profiled:

Bus Boys

Maxayn/Mandre

Mother's Finest

Shuggie Otis

Jon Butcher Axis

Robert Cray

Tracy Chapman

I missed the MTUME one and need to watch it because I don't know much about that group but I did catch the Special Ed one, that was pretty good. Brought back a lot of memories, especially the Crooklyn Dodgers All Stars song with Masta Ace and Buckshot....mannnnnn I had forgotten all about that one! 1995 was a classic year for hip hop!

I'll be tuning in to see the Digable Planets one next week. I do know that Ladybug Mecca dated one of the guys in the group and it turned out to be a bit messy...so this episode should be interesting.

Haven't viewed unsung for awhile. Wow, season 13, where does it play ?

*

I caught the Mtume episode on demand at my mother's house. James Mtume was a very

deep brother. Didn't know dude was a jazz musician and collaborated with some of the best

before he got into songwriting and formed his own group. For years I searched for a song that

i used to hear in middle school but didn't know the name. All I knew was the chorus line Mother Hubbard in the cupboard how does your garden grow. It took nearly 40 years to catch up to this song on Spotify. The name of the song was Just Funnin. When I found out it was Mtume I freaked out. I was one of those guys who thought Mtume's first album was Juicy Fruit. I knew about his production work with Stephanie and others but didn't know his band existed prior to Juicy Fruit. James fought very hard to preserve the legacy of r&b. Interesting story on the beef and misunderstanding between him and the rap group Stetsasonic.

phunkdaddy said:

MickyDolenz said:

I finally saw the Mtume episode.....watched it online.Really enjoyed that one.

hardwork said:

Yeah, you know, when I think of artists who are unsung, overlooked under-known, and underappreciated, hidden gems/diamonds in the rough as it were, DEFINITELY B.B. King pops right into my mind. It's not as though he has a very asuccessful chain of nightclubs named after him or anything like that. And it's not like he's regarded as the greatest bluesman that ever lived by a factor of 1000. And too I am certain that he doesn't have a museum named in his honor. And there cannot possibly be any truth whatsoever, I am sure, to the rumor that not only did the United States Post Office issue an official postage stamp with B.B. King's name and likeness on it, but so did the FORMER SOVIET UNION 30 YEARS AGO. Yep, B.B. King - man it's about time somebody FINALLY gave that guy just a little smidgeon of the respect and recognition he's been denied his whole life.

seriously,this show needs to change its name.Many of the artists they spotlight are not "unsung" at all.