What a magnificent piece of work. The film captures the true meaning of the blues in the Delta and the legacy it provides for the future generations who will carry the tradition forward.
–Dion Brown, Director, B. B. King Museum, Indianola, MS
TRUE DELTA is a cinematic snapshot of the Blues tradition that remains vibrant in and around Clarksdale, Mississippi–the renowned birthplace of the Blues. The film captures the excitement of festival audiences that come from all over the world and the sweaty bravado and skill of the Blues musicians and singers on stage. Additional interviews with church leaders, Blues historians, and local business owners show how intertwined the Blues is with the religious, economic, and cultural life of the Delta region. Most compelling are the interviews with musicians and singers from the ages of 10 to 90, showing their commitment, their struggles, and their deep passion for the Blues. James “Super Chikan” Johnson, James Lewis “T-Model” Ford, Grammy award-winner James “Jimbo” Mathus, Guitarist/Vocalist Bill “Howl-N-Madd” Perry and the late “Big Jack” Johnson are some of the musicians you will meet in TRUE DELTA. 37 minutes.
I think True Delta is extremely well done, focusing on the performers themselves and allowing them to tell their own stories. The Mississippi Delta is the birthplace of the Blues, and True Delta does an admirable job of showing how the Blues continues to flourish as it evolves in its hometown.
–Dr. Luther Brown, Delta Center for Learning and Culture, Delta State University; Member, Mississippi Blues Commission
The film captures the heart of today’s essential living Delta blues men, casting light on the future of America’s music.
–Dr. Alphonso Sanders, Chair, Fine Arts Department, Mississippi Valley State University; Director, B. B. King Recording Studio
True Delta (2012)
Produced by: Erickson Blakney and Lee Quinby
Written by: Lee Quinby
Edited by: Daniel Cowen
Director of Photography: Daniel Cowen
Directed by: Lee Quinby and Daniel Cowen
Still Photography: Michael Scanlan Photography
Production Intern: Mac Warren
Additional Editing: Nick Lerman