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What's Going On - Music That Defined A Decade

Smokey Robinson explores the social and political impact of Marvin Gaye's classic album - What's Going On - and explains why Marvin's masterpiece still has resonance today.

To mark the 40th anniversary of one of the most influential albums ever released, Marvin Gaye's What's Going On - which was released in May 1971 - Smokey Robinson explores the social and political impact of this classic album and explains why Marvin's masterpiece still has resonance today.

What's Going On was the first album to feature songs about social injustice, suffering, hatred, drug abuse, war, loss and poverty and inspired a new generation of performers to use their music for social commentary.

Guests in the programme include Stevie Wonder, Mary Wilson, Lamont Dozier, Harry Belafonte, John Legend, Beverly Knight, David Gray and three of the surviving Funk Brothers who played with Marvin on the album - Bob Babbitt, Joe Messina and Jack Ashford.

Available now

25 minutes

Last on

Mon 23 May 201101:05GMT

Broadcasts

  • Sat 21 May 201113:05GMT
  • Sat 21 May 201118:05GMT
  • Sun 22 May 201109:05GMT
  • Sun 22 May 201121:05GMT
  • Mon 23 May 201101:05GMT