AMERICAN MASTERS: Marvin Gaye: What’s Going On, airs Wednesday, May 7 at 9:00 p.m. on WPBT/Channel 2 in Miami. Watch a preview on uVu
His standing among the most enduring 20th-century American musical artists is without question, yet his story is rarely told beyond the tragic circumstances of his death. Enormously talented and equally complicated, Gaye created an intimate style — full of honesty, integrity, vulnerability — and, essentially, gave the world his autobiography in lyrics and melody. “The Wonderful One,” “The Trouble Man,” “The Prince of Soul” — he was the Motown star who challenged and changed the face of black music, embodying its evolution from roots in gospel, jazz and rhythm and blues to sophisticated pop and sexually, politically charged soul. Extensive performance footage and insight from Mary Wilson, Smokey Robinson, Gladys Knight, Mos Def, among many others, capture the tone and texture of a career that still leaves an indelible mark on the musical landscape. Actor Jesse L. Martin narrates.
Last evening, Larry Rosen and The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts unveiled the details of a six-part jazz series called Jazz Roots. It is hard to imagine anyone who hasn't heard of the prolific Mr. Rosen, he is the creator and producer of the PBS series Legends of Jazz with Ramsey Lewis and the co-founder of GRP Records. He's produced over 350 albums and 80 of those have received Grammy Nominations. his latest project is to bring Jazz on a large scale to Miami-Dade, combine this with a huge educational and community outreach component and deliver a live music program which delivers on this promise.
WPBT/Channel 2 is a proud media partner in the project and you can watch the entire press conference for the kick off on our video site, uVu, by clicking here.
You can also read about the series in the Miami Herald.
GREAT PERFORMANCES: “Martina McBride: Live in Concert” airs on Monday, March 31 at 10:00 p.m. – One From the Heart: Country Superstar Delights Fans, Viewers – (Watch a preview here on uVu)
The real appeal of country music comes from just one place — the heart — and no one knows that better than Martina McBride. “You can always look at a fresh way of doing a song,” she says, “but it always has to resonate with the truth.”
A crossover success widely known for her many albums and television appearances, McBride offers a lively encore of her many hits, including “How I Feel,” “Love’s the Only House,” “This One’s for the Girls” and her 2007 Country Music Awards Song of the Year-nominated “Anyway,” the fastest-selling single of her career. Each is a small world in itself: direct, honest, immediate. “I’ll be singing ‘Independence Day’ at concerts the rest of my life,” she says of her 1993 signature song told from the point of view of a child now grown up. “I love the story. I get closer to it every time I sing it.”
–“Osmond-mania” Reignited on a WPBT/Channel 2 Special airing Monday, March 10 at 8pm–
The Osmonds, a legendary music family, celebrate a historic 50th anniversary in entertainment with an all-star music special. THE OSMONDS 50TH ANNIVERSARY REUNION, starring the Osmond Brothers with special guests Donny, Marie and Jimmy.
The concert special, taped before an enthusiastic audience at the Orleans Hotel Showroom in Las Vegas, features all seven siblings — Alan, Wayne, Merrill, Jay, Donny, Marie and Jimmy — performing many of their chart-topping hit songs. THE OSMONDS 50TH ANNIVERSARY REUNION marks the first time in many years that the entire Osmond family performs together on the same stage. The special also includes cameo appearances by celebrity guests, including the renowned Andy Williams, video clips and photos, and a mix of musical numbers.
It’s “Osmond-mania” all over again as screaming fans from around the world celebrate this historic reunion concert. Included are some of the Osmond Brothers’ hit songs: “Lazy River,” “We’re Having a Party,” “Proud One,” “One Bad Apple,” “Double Lovin’” and “Yo-Yo.” Donny performs his hit singles “Puppy Love,” “Breeze on By” and “Soldier of Love”; sister Marie entertains with her hit single “Paper Roses” and a medley from her Broadway repertoire, including selections from The Sound of Music and The King and I.
Donny and Marie team up and perform a medley of their famous hits, including “I’m Leaving It All Up to You,” “Little Bit Country and Little Bit Rock & Roll,” “It Takes Two” and “Make the World Go Away,” while brother Jimmy performs one of his number one hit records, “Long Haired Lover From Liverpool.” Jimmy, Donny and Marie join their brothers in performing a medley of “Love Me for a Reason,” “Let Me In,” “Crazy Horses,” “He Ain’t Heavy” and “Through the Years.” They also pay tribute to their two older brothers, Virl and Tom, and to the Children’s Miracle Network (founded by their parents).
In their 50 historic years in entertainment, the Osmonds, collectively and individually, have recorded 142 albums, selling 100 million copies worldwide with 51 gold or platinum recordings. They have set concert attendance records around the world and continue their successful recording, television and performing careers, still breaking records across the globe.
HOLLYWOOD SINGING AND DANCING: A MUSICAL TREASURE – Program Presents Grand Historical Look at the Magic of Musical Hollywood –
HOLLYWOOD SINGING AND DANCING: A MUSICAL TREASURE is a celebration of song and dance, beginning with the Busby Berkeley films that lifted the spirits of audiences during the Great Depression, continuing through the patriotic musicals of the 1940s and ending with the collapse of the studio system in the 1950s. Hosted by Academy Award-winning stage, screen and television icon Shirley Jones, this “docutainment” film is a grand historical look at the magic of musical Hollywood. The program premieres Saturday, March 1 at 9pm on WPBT/Channel 2.
Highlighted are amazing songs and dance numbers, little-known facts, and luminaries such as Fred Astaire, Mickey Rooney, Judy Garland, Shirley Temple, Betty Grable, Bill ”Bojangles” Robinson, James Cagney, Vincente Minnelli, Stanley Donen, Frank Sinatra, Leslie Caron, Debbie Reynolds, Donald O’Connor, Marilyn Monroe, Jane Russell, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Renee Zellweger, who made the magic possible.
Mesmerizing sequences are interspersed with fresh new commentary from Liza Minnelli, Leslie Caron, Debbie Reynolds, Mickey Rooney, Jane Russell, Rita Moreno, Pat Boone, Rob Marshall, Bill Condon, Shirley MacLaine, Tommy Tune, Joel Grey, Smokey Robinson, Patti Page, Tab Hunter, George Chakiris, Rhonda Fleming, Betty Garrett, Marge Champion, Joan Leslie, Robert Osborne, Stella Stevens, Gloria Stuart and others.
Celebrate the life and music of America’s greatest gospel artists in SAY AMEN, SOMEBODY airing Wednesday, February 27 at 10:30pm on WPBT/Channel 2 in Miami.
“SAY AMEN, SOMEBODY is one of the most joyful movies I’ve ever seen. It is also one of the best musicals and one of the most interesting documentaries.” - Roger Ebert, CHICAGO SUN-TRIBUNE film critic
The sound and spirit of American gospel music is captured in vivid detail in the American Public Television-distributed special SAY AMEN, SOMEBODY, a celebratory film that chronicles the lives and works of some of the greatest gospel artists.
SAY AMEN, SOMEBODY, directed and produced by acclaimed filmmaker George T. Nierenberg (No Maps on My Taps and That Rhythm…Those Blues), has been described by Pulitzer Prize-winning film critic Roger Ebert as “a terrific good time” and as a “rousing documentary” by the New York Times. Beginning at the 1982 Gospel Music Convention in St. Louis, the film explores the history and celebrates the sprit of American gospel music, a unique art form blending religion and entertainment, with a remarkable power to move audiences. SAY AMEN, SOMEBODY features interviews with some of the greats of gospel, including Thomas A. Dorsey, Willie Mae Ford Smith and her long-time rival Sallie Martin, The Barrett Sisters, Jackie Jackson, The O’Neal Twins, and Zella Jackson Price. Stirring performances from these and other gospel legends, as well as rare archival footage, are also included in the documentary. SAY AMEN, SOMEBODY also serves as a loving tribute to several of these artists who have passed away since the film first aired—including Martin, Jackson and Dorsey.
AMERICAN MASTERS “Pete Seeger: The Power of Song” airs Wednesday, February 27 at 9:00 p.m. on WPBT/Channel 2 in Miami. (Watch preview clips here)
– Features Joan Baez, Arlo Guthrie, Natalie Maines, Tom Paxton, Bonnie Raitt, Toshi Seeger, Tommy Smothers, Bruce Springsteen, Mary Travers and Peter Yarrow; Rarely Seen Clips and Personal Footage From a 1960s World Tour; and Classic Songs –
As early as August 18, 1955, folk singer Pete Seeger set himself apart as a “true American” when he appeared before the House Un-American Activities Committee and refused to name names, stating, “I am not going to answer any questions as to my association, my philosophical or religious beliefs or my political beliefs, or how I voted in any election, or any of these private affairs. I think these are very improper questions for any American to be asked, especially under such compulsion as this.” As a target of the communist witch hunt of the 1950s, Seeger was picketed, protested, blacklisted and, in spite of his enormous popularity, banned from American commercial television for more than 17 years. Throughout his ordeal, and his life, he never stopped singing out — and speaking up. “I look upon myself as a planter of seeds,” the legendary artist and political activist says in AMERICAN MASTERS “Pete Seeger: The Power of Song.”
PBS in conjunction with Wildheart Entertainment announced today the greenlighting of a major new television series, ON RECORD: THE SOUNDTRACK OF OUR LIVES, an eight-hour series that traces the history of recorded music and its impact on popular culture. Featuring hundreds of artists from all genres of
music, ON RECORD: THE SOUNDTRACK OF OUR LIVES is slated to air nationally as a primetime series in the Fall of 2010 on PBS; Sir George Martin, legendary producer of the Beatles, will host. Two-time Academy Award-winning actor Kevin Spacey will narrate.
The television series and an extensive educational outreach initiative, including the companion Web site on pbs.org, will be the centerpiece of an ambitious multi-pronged project expected to include a companion CD box-set and branded CD series, 12-hour DVD/home video series, accompanying books, a multi-genre worldwide radio show and broadcasting through internet portals globally.
“ON RECORD: THE SOUNDTRACK OF OUR LIVES is a project intrinsically dear to my heart and one that I have been developing with Wildheart Entertainment for over five years,” said Sir George Martin, legendary Beatles producer, recipient of the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and producer of more than 50 number-one hit records. “I am just thrilled that PBS has joined us as our primetime broadcaster. ON RECORD affords me the opportunity to work again with so many of the artists I have worked with throughout my life and to tell a story that has never been told in such a comprehensive way. Music is the only common thread and universal language that binds us together, regardless of race, nationality, age or income. And recorded music is how we experience it and what makes it accessible.”
“Marley was a pioneer not only because he single-handedly brought reggae to the world, but because his passionate, socially observant music has become a yardstick against which all reggae will forever be measured.”
–The Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll (Simon and Schuster, 2001)
Celebrate the 30th anniversary of Bob Marley’s historic Rainbow Room performance with a hit-filled, digitally re-mastered public television special airing on WPBT/Channel 2 in Miami on Sunday, December 9 at 10:30 p.m. BOB MARLEY AND THE WAILERS LIVE! was recorded on June 2, 1977, soon after the release of his explosive hit album Exodus, and features the legendary reggae performer and his sensational band at the height of their powers. The program, features some of the group’s most enduring hits, including “I Shot the Sheriff,” “Lively Up Yourself,” “No Woman No Cry” and “Jammin.”
This Program Features a Collection of Exquisitely Filmed Performances Drawn From Three Seminal Years in Bob Dylan’s Ever-Evolving Career
A long-awaited event for Bob Dylan aficionados occurs on WPBT/Channel 2 in Miami, BOB DYLAN: LIVE IN NEWPORT 1963-1965, airing Sunday, December 9 at 9 p.m., brings together for the first time, a collection of exquisitely filmed performances drawn from three seminal years in the artist’s ever-evolving career. The picture and audio have been restored, including digitally re-mastered audio, using the latest technology.
The program captures full performances of some of Dylan’s greatest songs, including “Mr. Tambourine Man,” “Blowin’ in the Wind,” “It Ain’t Me, Babe” and “Like a Rolling Stone.” The Newport Folk Festival, which takes place annually in Newport, Rhode Island, is best known for introducing a number of performers who went on to become major stars. Dylan’s first Newport appearance in 1963 is generally considered his premiere national performance. His 1963 and 1964 performances made him popular with the Newport crowd, but in 1965, while headlining the music festival, he decided to “plug in,” resulting in a mixed response of cheers and boos. Dylan left the stage after three songs, only to re-emerge and sing two solo acoustic numbers. Many of Dylan’s folk fans felt he was abandoning his folk roots. The shift marked his changing artistic direction, his move from leading contemporary songwriter of the folk scene to rock ‘n’ roll star.
BOB DYLAN: LIVE IN NEWPORT 1963-1965 was assembled from The Other Side of the Mirror – Bob Dylan Live at the Newport Folk Festival 1963-1965 and was produced and directed by Academy Award winner Murray Lerner (From Mao to Mozart: Isaac Stern in China). The film opens a window onto a critical epoch in American cultural history as reflected in the musical transformations of Bob Dylan’s watershed performances at the Newport Folk Festival in 1963, 1964 and 1965.
GREAT PERFORMANCES “Vivere: Andrea Bocelli Live in Tuscany” – Tenor Andrea Bocelli Returns Home to Lajatico, Italy, for a Starry Evening of Song – Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli grew up in Lajatico, a rural village in Tuscany, where his family still farms nearby. Last July, on the slopes of his ancient hill town, a special theater was constructed for a one-night-only concert of his greatest popular hits, along with new songs performed to honor the occasion. Some famous musical friends dropped by, and the magical result is “Vivere: Andrea Bocelli Live in Tuscany,” airing on GREAT PERFORMANCES on WPBT/Channel 2 in Miami on Sunday, December 2 at 8 p.m.
Joining him for the new songs are “grandissimo sassofonista” Kenny G, trumpeter Chris Botti, piano virtuoso Lang Lang, Italian pop star Eliza and legendary musician, songwriter and producer David Foster. Helping with the hits: favorite divas Sarah Brightman, Heather Headley and Laura Pausini. “Vivere: Andrea Bocelli Live in Tuscany” was recorded July 5, 2007.
Barry Manilow’s music is synonymous with the 70s. The legendary singer and songwriter revisits that era — which his songs helped define — in BARRY MANILOW: SONGS FROM THE SEVENTIES, airing on WPBT/Channel 2 in Miami on Monday, December 3 at 7:30 p.m. Inspired by his highly anticipated CD, The Greatest Songs of the Seventies, the television event features Manilow performing his own hits, as well as some of his favorites of the decade, and sharing his personal experiences with the audience at the Steiner Studios in Brooklyn, New York, the city where he was born and raised.
Manilow, whose previous PBS special, BARRY MANILOW: MUSIC AND PASSION, earned an Emmy, opens the show with “Mandy,” his first hit single, then launches into “New York City Rhythm” and “I Am Your Child.” His first medley is a novelty: jingles from commercials for Band-Aids, State Farm, McDonalds and Vicks. He returns to his own hits with “Could It Be Magic?” and “Copacabana (At the Copa),” followed by “My Eyes Adored You” and “Looks Like We Made It.” Two poignant songs of the era, “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother” and “The Way We Were,” get the Manilow treatment, as does “It Never Rains in Southern California.”
“The Old Songs” prefaces a medley of Manilow hits that includes “Can’t Smile Without You,” “Even Now,” “It’s a Miracle,” “I Made It Through the Rain,” “Daybreak,” “This One’s for You” and “I Write the Songs.” BARRY MANILOW: SONGS FROM THE SEVENTIES concludes with “One Voice.”
In 2006, Manilow celebrated one of the most successful years of his career. The Greatest Songs of the Fifties entered the Billboard charts at #1, BARRY MANILOW: MUSIC AND PASSION won an Emmy for “Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program” and The Greatest Songs of the Sixties hit the charts at number two.
Industry charts have ranked Barry Manilow as the undisputed number-one adult contemporary artist of all time with record sales exceeding 70 million worldwide. He has written hundreds of songs and performed around the globe, thrilling millions of fans and winning a Grammy, two Emmys, several Tony Awards and an Oscar nomination for the song “Ready to Take a Chance Again” from 1978’s Foul Play.
Legendary Entertainer Sammy Davis Jr. Sings and Swings Through a Night of Classic Hits
This magnetic special captures the amazing voice, impressions and dance moves of one of America’s greatest performers
The incredible talents of Sammy Davis Jr. are on display in SAMMY DAVIS JR. LIVE IN GERMANY, airing on WPBT/Channel 2 in Miami on Thursday, December 6 at 8 p.m. The program, features the legendary Davis performing a night of spectacular entertainment—from spot-on impressions to mesmerizing tap-dancing, and, of course, a sterling set list of Rat Pack classics, filmed live before a packed audience in Germany’s famed Hohensyberg Casino.
Davis was renowned for his all-around talents as an entertainer. As a member of the “Rat Pack,” along with Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Peter Lawford, he scored dozens of top-10 singles and unforgettable albums. His 1963 album “Live at the Cocoanut Grove” is still considered one of the greatest live albums of the crooner era. He was acclaimed for his performances in films like Porgy and Bess, Sweet Charity with Shirley MacLaine and Ocean’s Eleven with the rest of the “Rat Pack” members, as well as for his Tony-nominated Broadway turn in Golden Boy.
The Voice and Guitar of Pink Floyd, David Gilmour, Comes to Public Television
David Bowie, Graham Nash and David Crosby join rock legend David Gilmour on stage for a night of Pink Floyd classics and chart-topping new material
David Gilmour brings his master musicianship to a new television special, DAVID GILMOUR – LIVE AT THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL: REMEMBER THAT NIGHT, airing on WPBT/Channel 2 in Miami on Saturday, December 1 at 11 p.m. The program, features a collection of Gilmour’s songs from his No.1 European chart-topping album, "On an Island," released in March 2006, as well as many classic hits from his Pink Floyd days. Legendary musicians Graham Nash, David Crosby and David Bowie join Gilmour on stage at various points, making this performance an unforgettable night of timeless music.
Filmed live before a packed house in London’s Royal Albert Hall in May, 2006, Gilmour takes to the stage and begins the concert with the hauntingly beautiful “On an Island,” showcasing his signature ethereal vocals and dramatic guitar riffs. David Crosby and Graham Nash add their incomparable harmonies to the song. The vocal legends also accompany Gilmour on several other songs, including “The Blue” and “Shine on You Crazy Diamond.” It is the threesome’s rendition of “Find the Cost of Freedom,” however, that is a true highlight of the program. Stripped of all instrumental, the three singers perfectly perform this poignant anthem from the 1970s.
David Bowie’s guest stint adds another giant bolt of energy to the production. He performs a rockin’ rendition of “Arnold Layne,” a Syd Barrett original and the first single ever released by Pink Floyd. Other highlights of the program include Gilmour’s “Smile” and the Pink Floyd classic, “Wish You Were Here”, featuring the amazing laser work of Pink Floyd Lighting Director Marc Brickman.
This program, filmed by award-winning director David Mallet, gives Pink Floyd and David Gilmour fans everywhere a front-row seat to one of the hottest concert tickets ever. Experience the dramatic lighting, the crowd’s anticipation, and the thrilling music of Guitarist magazine’s “Best Fender Guitar Player Ever” as if you were there in person.
From stunning surprises to old favorites, next week on WPBT/Channel 2 in Miami you can find something for every taste and even a few things you might not expect.
WPBT presents the broadcast premiere of Colombian superstar Shakira in Concert on Thursday, November 29 at 9:00 p.m. Recorded in Miami in 2006 as the wrap-up performance to her sold out worldwide Oral Fixation Tour, Shakira fans are fully absorbed by her electrifying, hip-swaying performance. The fascinating and bold singer transforms herself from song to song, moving from high energy pop performer to ballad soloist to rock and roll superstar, bringing audiences to their feet. This spectacular Shakira concert includes her greatest hits, including "La Tortura," with special guest Alejandro Sanz, "Hips Don’t Lie" featuring the effervescent Wyclef Jean, "Whenever, Wherever," and other classics for hard core Shakira fans. Shakira has sold over 31 million albums. Her hit song “Hips Don’t Lie” was one of the biggest selling records of all time. Shakira is also founder of Pies Descalzos, a non profit organization aimed at helping Colombian children who are victims of violence. She is also co-founder of the ALAS foundation, the largest humanitarian organization dedicated to improving the quality of life of children in Latin America. She continues to touch people through her music and through her sincere dedication to helping others.
Make this CD and DVD part of your library and support Channel 2, click here.
Founded in 1936 by Polish violinist and Zionist Bronislaw Huberman, the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra — known at that time as the Palestine Orchestra — was established to save Jewish musicians in Europe from the imminent Holocaust. Consistently ranked among the world's leading orchestras, the Israel Philharmonic boasts a long list of accomplished composers, conductors and guest soloists who have contributed to its rich history and critical acclaim. In celebration of the 70th anniversary of the orchestra's founding, GREAT PERFORMANCES travels to Tel Aviv, Israel, to take part in a gala concert paying tribute to the social significance and musical pedigree of this esteemed organization. Under the baton of Maestro Zubin Mehta — given the title Music Director for Life in 1981 — the IPO gala features Maurice Ravel's “La Valse,” Max Bruch's Violin Concerto No. 1 with guest soloist and longtime friend of the IPO Pinchas Zukerman and Brahms' D Minor Piano Concerto No. 1 with pianist Daniel Barenboim. GREAT PERFORMANCES: The Israel Philharmonic 70th Anniversary Gala Concert airs Wednesday, November 21 at 9:00 p.m.
GREAT PERFORMANCES' Eric Clapton Crossroads Guitar Festival Chicago premieres Wednesday, November 28 at 8 p.m. on WPBT/Channel 2 in Miami
Credited throughout his career with creating super sounds in super groups, Eric Clapton offers his ultimate collaboration with an all-star lineup of B.B. King, Willie Nelson, Sheryl Crow, John Mayer, Jeff Beck, Buddy Guy and more. Bill Murray hosts.
A follow-up to his groundbreaking, Crossroads Guitar Festival in 2004 at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, the event drew nearly 28,000 fans to Chicago's Toyota Park on July 28. Like its predecessor, the festival was a benefit for Clapton's Crossroads Centre in Antigua, a drug and alcohol education and treatment facility. "The Crossroads Festival is the realization of a dream for me, to gather a group of amazingly talented musicians to perform on one stage," says Clapton, who remains onstage virtually throughout the entire concert. "The Crossroads performers are all musicians I admire and respect."
GREAT PERFORMANCES airs Wednesday, August 1 at 10pm on WPBT/Channel2 in Miami Respect Yourself: The Stax Records Story Between 1959 and 1975, Stax Records in Memphis, Tennessee, released international chart-topping hits such as “Soul Man,” “Dock of the Bay,” “Green Onions,” “Midnight Hour,” “Respect Yourself” and the theme from Shaft.
– County Music Legend Roy Clark Hosts a Reunion Featuring Glenn Campbell, Crystal Gayle, Hank Locklin, BJ Thomas and More –
Country pop legends unite to perform their biggest and most-loved hit recordings from the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s in an all-new entry in the MY MUSIC series of specials. MY MUSIC: COUNTRY POP LEGENDS airs Thursday, June 14 at 8pm on WPBT/Channel 2 in Miami
County music legend Roy Clark hosts this emotional trip down three decades of memory lane. New performances from Glenn Campbell, Crystal Gayle, Hank Locklin, Bill Anderson, BJ Thomas, the Bellamy Brothers, the Browns and more are intermixed with classic full-length vintage archival gems from the vaults.
“This is about respect, and preserving the legacy of so many classic country performers that defined the soundtrack of generations,” says TJ Lubinsky, the executive producer and creator of the MY MUSIC series. “In our MY MUSIC specials, we’ve gone from doo wop to disco, folk rock to movie songs; now it’s time for music straight from the heartland.”
COUNTRY POP LEGENDS features:
• “Southern Nights”/“Rhinestone Cowboy” – Glenn Campbell • “Please Send Me the Pillow You Dream On”/“Please Help Me I’m Falling” – Hank Locklin • Gene Autry – archival tribute • “The Old Lamplighter”/“The Three Bells” – The Browns (reunited) • “Tennessee Waltz” – Patti Page • Eddy Arnold – archival tribute • “Still”/“City Lights” – Bill Anderson • Tammy Wynette – archival tribute • “Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue” – Crystal Gayle • Johnny Cash and Buck Owens – archival tribute • “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry”/“Hooked on a Feeling” – BJ Thomas • “I Can Help” – Billy Swan • “Let Your Love Flow” – Bellamy Brothers
His standing among the most enduring 20th-century American musical artists is without question, yet his story is rarely told beyond the tragic circumstances of his death. Enormously talented and equally complicated, Gaye created an intimate style — full of honesty, integrity, vulnerability — and, essentially, gave the world his autobiography in lyrics and melody. “The Wonderful One,” “The Trouble Man,” “The Prince of Soul” — he was the Motown star who challenged and changed the face of black music, embodying its evolution from roots in gospel, jazz and rhythm and blues to sophisticated pop and sexually, politically charged soul. Extensive performance footage and insight from Mary Wilson, Smokey Robinson, Gladys Knight, Mos Def, among many others, capture the tone and texture of a career that still leaves an indelible mark on the musical landscape. Actor Jesse L. Martin narrates.
Subscribe to this blog's feed