Unsung premiered on TV1 on November 27, 2008. This series profiles some of the most influential, talented yet forgotten R&B, Soul and Gospel artists of the 1970s, '80s and '90s. While Aretha, Whitney, Diana, Stevie, Marvin and the Winans have been recognized over and over again-there are several artists like Phyllis Hyman and The Clark Sisters who haven't been as honored. UnSung shows that the true story of Black music in America runs much deeper than the acknowledged superstars. Many of R&B and gospel's greatest musical pioneers have remained unsung in one way or another. Where are the 'hall of fame' achievement awards for late great Donny Hathaway - who influenced a generation of today's male singers? What about the accolades for pioneering family group Debarge who merged Jackson 5-like teen idol presentation with romantic writing and production, creating music that has been unexpectedly sampled by many of hip-hop's biggest stars? Though many of these artists managed to build a dedicated Black fanbase, they were not able to make the transition to superstardom. Why did these artists remain mostly "unsung" to the world at large? This new and exciting season will reveal the business and personal struggles that kept these artists from achieving the iconic commercial status they deserved.
