BLUESMAN BILL "HOWL-N-MADD" PERRY SET TO JUKE IT UP IN TELLURIDE, COLORADO MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND! TRUE DELTA is a cinematic snapshot of the Blues tradition that remains vibrant in and around Clarksdale, Mississippi--the renowned birthplace of the Blues. Produced by Lucky Find Productions, 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. Guitarist/Vocalist Bill "Howl-n-Madd" Perry, James "Super Chikan" Johnson, James Lewis "T-Model" Ford, Grammy award-winner James "Jimbo" Mathus and the late "Big Jack" Johnson are some of the musicians you will meet in TRUE DELTA. The film, written by Lee Quinby and directed by both Ms. Quinby and Daniel Cowen is based on an original concept by CBS News writer/reporter Erickson Blakney and Rich Maloof. Blakney, based in New York, also produced the film. To view the film trailer, photos and support this project, please visit Kickstarter at: The film is off to a great start. It will premiere at Mountainfilm Festival in Telluride, Colorado, over Memorial Day Weekend http://www.mountainfilm.org/festival. In August it will be featured in Clarksdale at the 25th Annual Sunflower River Blues & Gospel Festival http://www.sunflowerfest.org/, where singer/songwriter Robert Plant will be headlining. With his raw, emotive guitar-playing, and his gutsy, gravelly vocals, Mississippi Bluesman Bill "Howl-n-Madd" Perry will be joining the Lucky Find team in Telluride and will "rock- the-juke" following the screenings and will participate in audience forums with the filmmakers. TRUE DELTA will be accompanied by a book of photography. Michael Scanlan so far has captured nearly 5000 arresting images, which tell a beautiful story that partly mirrors the film. In keeping with the film's themes, a percentage of the proceeds from book sales will be donated to the Delta Blues Museum's Arts and Education Fund and the Mississippi Blues Foundation's Musicians' Aid Fund. A selection of Scanlan's photos will be on exhibit at Kamruz Gallery http://kamruz.com/ in Telluride during the Mountainfilm Festival. Started in 1979, Mountainfilm Festival is dedicated to educating and inspiring audiences about issues that matter, cultures worth exploring, environments worth preserving and conversations worth sustaining. In addition to screening leading independent documentary films from around the world, the festival includes a full-day symposium on a critical contemporary issue, art and photography exhibits, early morning coffee talks, a book signing party, an ice cream social, student programs and a closing picnic/awards ceremony. Lucky Find Productions: Lee Quinby is a Distinguished Lecturer at Macaulay Honors College, CUNY and an interdisciplinary scholar and author or editor of seven books and numerous articles on subjects ranging from issues of sexuality, technology, and power to doomsday scenarios in history and popular culture. The founder of Lucky Find, she directed and co-produced the short documentary, "Facing the Waves," with Daniel Cowen. http://vimeo.com/11730683 Michael Scanlan is a New York/New Jersey based photographer, who has served a wide range of private and commercial clients. His work has appeared in the Newark Star Ledger as well as numerous non-profit publications in the New York Metropolitan Area. Although primarily self-taught, the Georgetown University graduate has studied at the School of Visual Arts in New York and the Maine Photographic Workshops. After a ten-year career with MBNA America Bank, Michael joined St. Benedict's Preparatory School in Newark, New Jersey where he currently serves as Assistant Headmaster. The school has a national reputation for its service to a primarily inner city population. www.scanmanphotos.com. The Artist: CONTACT: |
