Rick James

Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever

Don Mischer

Adam Ant, Nick Ashford

Television special taped before a live studio audience at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena, California on March 25, 1983, and broadcast on NBC on May 16. Highlights include Michael Jackson's performance of "Billie Jean", a Temptations/Four Tops "battle of the bands", Marvin Gaye's inspired speech about black music history and his memorable performance of "What's Going On", and a Jackson 5 reunion.

Bitchin': The Sound and Fury of Rick James

Sacha Jenkins

Rick James, Oscar Alston

This profile of legendary funk/R&B icon Rick James captures the peaks and valleys of his storied career to reveal a complicated and rebellious soul, driven to share his talent with the world.

Life

Ted Demme

Eddie Murphy, Martin Lawrence

Two men in 1930s Mississippi become friends after being sentenced to life in prison together for a crime they did not commit.

The Midnight Special Legendary Performances 1979

Debbie Harry, Gloria Gaynor

The Midnight Special is an American late-night musical variety series that aired on NBC during the 1970s and early 1980s, created and produced by Burt Sugarman. It premiered as a special on August 19, 1972, then began its run as a regular series on February 2, 1973; its last episode was on May 1, 1981. The ninety-minute program followed the Friday night edition of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. The show typically featured guest hosts, except for a period from July 1975 through March 1976 when singer Helen Reddy served as the regular host. Wolfman Jack served as the announcer and frequent guest host. The program's theme song, a traditional folk song called "Midnight Special", was performed by Johnny Rivers.

I'm Rick James: The Definitive DVD

Rick James

Motown legend Rick James comes alive in this comprehensive retrospective of his funky and controversial career, featuring interviews, music videos and performances from television shows such as "Soul Alive" and "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve." Catch James gets his groove on in classic videos such as "Super Freak" and "Ebony Eyes" and in previously unreleased videos for "Throwdown," "She Blew My Mind (69 Times)" and "Hard to Get."

Rick James: Super Freak Live 1982

Rick James

R&B legend Rick James was one of the most influential black musicians of all time. As an artist, songwriter and producer, James provided the funky hits that resuscitated Motown Records in the late ‘70s. His Punk Funk sound updated the label’s style and saw it through the mid-’80s. By 1981, Rick was at the peak of his commercial success with the platinum selling Street Songs album and the hit singles "Super Freak" and "Give It to Me Baby." The following year, Rick James & the Stone City Band took the stage in Essen, Germany to open the 10th Rockpalast-Festival. This 1982 performance was the first time James played in Europe, bringing his brand of American Punk Funk to a whole new audience. Together with the Stone City Band, James did not disappoint, burning up the stage with his trademark sound and special effects.