Black on White / White and Black
Directed by Alan Govenar
(27 minutes)
Black on White/White and Black is an intimate and humorous look at the life and career of the legendary blues pianist Alex Moore, the first Black Texan to receive a National Heritage Fellowship. Born November 22, 1899 in the Freedman's Town area of Dallas, he died January 20, 1989 in his sleep on a city bus. The son of a candy maker, Alex Moore went to work "washing dishes and shining shoes" at the age of ten after his father died. He taught himself to play the piano by watching others and practicing whenever he got a chance.
Because he had no formal training, Moore developed a distinctive improvisatory piano style that included elements of blues, ragtime, barrelhouse, stride and boogie-woogie. His lyrics were both traditional and original, and were a response to the situation of the moment.
Black on White / White and Black shows his mastery of the piano at a tribute held in his honor at the famous Majestic Theater - his last public performance.
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