Living Texas Blues
Directed by Alan Govenar
(35 minutes)
"Deep Ellum Blues" explores the 1920's and 1930's night life of Dallas through the music of Bill Neely. In the 1930's Neely hitchhiked to the Deep Ellum area of Dallas from his home in McKinney to perform at Ma's Place, a local bar, before audiences that included Pretty Boy Floyd and Bonnie and Clyde. In counterpoint to the live performance of Bill Neely are advertisements for the records of the legendary Dallas street singer, Blind Lemon Jefferson, rare photographs of Deep Ellum in the 30's, a 1932 painting by Otis Dozier, and a reunion of black musicians who recall the heyday of Deep Ellium when it was the heart of black Dallas culture and society.
"Cigarette Blues" features Sonny Rhodes and the Texas Twisters performing at Eli's Mile High Club in Oakland, California. Interwoven with the performance of the song "Cigarette Blues" are the fantasies of the singer and the contradictory realities of his audience.
"Battle of the Guitars" examines the influence of Aaron "T-Bone" Walker, who introduced the electric guitar to the Blues. Pete Mayes and Joe Hughes perform "T-Bone Shuffle" and "Stormy Monday Blues" at the Doll House Club in Houston. The songs are intercut with memories of T-Bone Walker by musicians who worked with him and by his fans. Scenes from Houston's Fourth Ward, archival photographs and the tap dancing of Robert Orr round out the film.
These three short films are available on one videotape.
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