James Brown

A look at the music career of musician James Brown beginning with his first hit song, "Please, Please, Please," in 1956.

A look at the music career of musician James Brown beginning with his first hit song, "Please, Please, Please," in 1956.

A look at the music career of musician James Brown beginning with his first hit song, "Please, Please, Please," in 1956.

This foot-stomping six-part series - made by the BBC team who produced the critically-acclaimed "Lost Highway", "Walk on By" and "Dancing in the Streets" series - charts the evolution of soul music, with a fascinating combination of rare archive footage and over 100 contemporary interviews.

Carleen Anderson narrates a three-part series telling the story of how soul music emerged from the world of gospel in the early 1960s to deliver an assertive, integrated vision of black America during the civil rights era, presided over by its own king and queen, Otis Redding and Aretha Franklin.

Inspired by Daniel James Brown's critically acclaimed nonfiction book The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, The Boys of '36 is the thrilling story of the American Olympic rowing team that triumphed against all odds in Nazi Germany.

Inspired by Daniel James Brown's critically acclaimed nonfiction book The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, The Boys of '36 is the thrilling story of the American Olympic rowing team that triumphed against all odds in Nazi Germany.

From the legendary Ronnie Scott's venue, Maya Jama presents a one-off celebration for Black History Month, with some of the UK's finest gifted young jazz musicians. Zara McFarlane, Ashley Henry, Poppy Ajudha, Reuben James and Ayanna Witter-Johnson all take to stage to perform their own interpretations of iconic black protest anthems from Nina Simone, Stevie Wonder, Billie Holiday, Marvin Gaye and James Brown.

Actor Don Cheadle narrates the story of America's first shock-jock, Washington D.C. radio personality Ralph "Petey" Greene.

In the 1970s, America was one nation under a groove as an irresistible new style of music took hold of the country - funk. The music burst out of the black community at a time of self-discovery, struggle and social change. Funk reflected all of that. It has produced some of the most famous, eccentric and best-loved acts in the world - James Brown, Sly & the Family Stone, George Clinton's Funkadelic and Parliament, Kool & the Gang and Earth, Wind & Fire. During the 1970s this fun, futuristic and freaky music changed the streets of America with its outrageous fashion, space-age vision and streetwise slang.