A Life in Blues both celebrates and explores the personal and musical life of one of Mississippi's most treasured sons. Having travelled the world sharing his own unique brand of blues music, James 'Super Chikan' Johnson, at the age of 73, still strives to balance a musical career while providing for his family. This film endeavours to not only lay bare Chikan's own story, but also examines how the culture and setting of the south has ultimately influenced his journey.
Little Richard can stake a claim on having invented rock 'n' roll. A black artist who grew up in the segregated south of the United States, Richard Penniman broke down barriers and took 1950s America by storm. The Beatles and The Rolling Stones supported him and drew inspiration from his musicianship and stagecraft. He went on to influence artists as diverse as David Bowie, Elton John, Michael Jackson and Prince. Yet Little Richard spent years feeling his contribution to music had been overlooked in favour of white rock 'n' roll stars like Elvis Presley and Pat Boone. On top of that, the inner conflict between his religious beliefs and the music style he pioneered – as well as his battles with his own sexuality – led him to quit rock 'n' roll not just once, but twice.
The story of James Cotton, harmonica powerhouse, whose music shaped blues and rock. Orphaned at 9, Cotton’s life tracks America’s history—from the post-depression cotton fields of the Mississippi Delta to being mentored by the original Delta bluesmen, to Chicagoland’s artistic reinvention to the live music scene in Austin, Texas.
Bobby Rush is the greatest bluesman currently performing. He appeared "The Road to Memphis" which is part of the series The Blues, produced by Martin Scorsese, In Blues Road Movie (2002, directed by Louis Mouchet) and in "I am the Blues" (2015).