TV One’s award-winning documentary series UNSUNG highlights the journey of songwriter and dance music icon Crystal Waters at 9 p.m. ET/8C. UNCENSORED follows at 10 p.m. ET/9C and dives into the life of famed actress and director Tasha Smith.
UNSUNG
With 12 number one hits, six ASCAP Songwriting Awards and four Billboard Music Awards, Crystal Waters is one of the most influential voices in dance music. Hailing from a musical family that includes her legendary aunt Ethel Waters, Crystal initially embarked on a career in government before landing a songwriting and recording deal with famed production team The Basement Boys in the late ’80s. Waters became a global star in the ’90s with the international chart-topping dance hits “Gypsy Woman,” “Makin Happy” and “100% Pure Love.” Her songs were more than infectious beats and catchy hooks, they offered thought provoking social commentary and poetic love stories. When dance music phased out in the late ’90s, Waters was left to revive her musical reputation and career.
TV One’s critically acclaimed and award-winning UNSUNG uncovers the personal triumphs and struggles of musical legends. Through first-hand accounts, interviews with family and friends, and archival footage, each episode of TV One’s signature series UNSUNG sheds much-deserved light on some of the most influential and talented R&B, soul, funk, hip hop, disco, and gospel artists of the last 30 years. Upcoming episodes will feature R&B crooner Glenn Jones, vocalist Kenny Lattimore and contemporary gospel musician Tasha Cobbs Leonard. Previously featured artists on this season of UNSUNG include Lloyd, Adina Howard, The Jets and Shirley Murdock.
UNSUNG is narrated by actor Gary Anthony Williams and is Executive Produced by Arthur Smith and Frank Sinton of A. Smith & Co. Productions. Mark Rowland is Executive Producer. For TV One, Jason Ryan is Executive Producer in Charge of Production, Donyell McCullough is Senior Director of Talent & Casting and Robyn Greene Arrington is Vice President of Original Programming and Production.
UNCENSORED
An identical twin, Tasha Smith was born to a 15-year-old single mom in Camden, New Jersey and narrowly escaped a life of drugs, violence and alcohol. Tasha dropped out of high school at 14-years-old but the passing of her grandfather strengthened her faith and relationship with God. She moved to L.A. to break into stand-up comedy while moonlighting as a stripper before getting her first big break. The desire to step behind the camera led Tasha to self-produce and direct her first short film. She has since established herself as a well-respected director in the entertainment industry, directing numerous episodic and feature length projects.
UNCENSORED dives deep into the lives of your favorite personalities as they reveal secrets to their success, obstacles they’ve faced, and how they manage this new world of social media that has helped but sometimes haunted their careers. UNCENSORED resumes for its second season and explores the private lives of some of today’s most notable personalities including actress /singer Naturi Naughton, Grammy Award-Winning R&B artist Ne-Yo and the reigning king of urban gospel Kirk Franklin. Viewers will get a glimpse into the lives of celebrities as they personally reveal their own stories, in their own words. Previously featured artists on this season of UNCENSORED include Fantasia, Tami Roman, DL Hughley and Jermaine Dupri.
UNCENSORED is produced for TV One by Eric Tomosunas (Executive Producer), Keith Neal (Executive Producer), Paul Hall (Showrunner) and Jay Allen (Supervising Producer) of Swirl Films. Radio One Atlanta Personality Ryan Cameron directed Jermaine Dupri’s episode. For TV One, Jason Ryan is Executive Producer in Charge of Production, Donyell McCullough is Senior Director of Talent & Casting and Robyn Greene Arrington is Vice President of Original Programming and Production.
