Page 60 - Blues Festival Guide Magazine 2022

“Boogie Chillen’” is what introduced Guy to the blues in the This documentary features 11 gospel singing groups
first place, and started him on his lifelong path to become one across eastern North Carolina, recorded in eight days,
of the greatest blues guitar players in the world. in a 100-year-old building in the small town of Fountain. It
You’ll see countless interviews with famous guitar illustrates the depth of emotion in gospel and explains the
players from Lightnin’ Hopkins to John Mayer, sharing their feelings and inspirations of the artists, as well as the unique
conceptions of the blues, as well as what contributions Guy sacred soul sound of the area. Their faith runs deep and their
made and the influence he had on the evolution of today’s music allows them to spread the Word to a vast audience of
blues guitar sound. music lovers of blues, rock ‘n roll and straight-up church music.
During one interview, Guy said that he thought he was As in blues, there are many styles of gospel. Tim Duffy,
never good enough to play music professionally, and at age co-founder of the Music Maker Foundation, said, “I realized
84, he still feels the same way. This documentary will dispute that the sacred soul, this gospel music of eastern Carolina, is
that notion and show Guy’s struggles and achievements along much different from the gospel music in Memphis, or what I
the way. We should all remember what Guy says: “You play had heard in New Orleans or Mississippi or anywhere else.”
the blues because you got them. But when you play the blues Give a listen and a watch to this inspiring documentary
you chase them away.” produced by Tim Duffy and Bruce Watson (executive and
To view, visit: pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/stream- record producer at Fat Possum Records/Big Legal Mess
buddy-guy-blues-chase-blues-away-documentary Records/Bible & Tire Recording Co.) that includes Alice Vines
and the Glorifying Vines Sisters, Bishop Albert Harrison and
the Gospel Tones, Little Willie and the Fantastic Spiritualaires
and others. Now available on Folkstreams and YouTube.
To view, visit:
folkstreams.net/films/sacred-soul-of-north-carolina
For more information: musicmaker.org/stories/at-long-last-
the-sacred-soul-documentary

SACRED SOUL OF NORTH CAROLINA

Blues grew out of the music of the churches in the old days.
When you look at the lives of a lot of the blues greats, you’ll
find many started out singing and playing in the church.
I have attended festivals where a gospel group is slated
to play in between blues acts. Unknowing members of the
audience didn’t know what to expect and were a little puzzled
about the selection. One of the great surprises for me was the
Campbell Brothers, a sacred steel gospel group. Five minutes
into their act at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival,
they had a circus tent full of rowdy, somewhat inebriated,
blues lovers on their feet – dancing, stomping and clapping.
They absolutely raised the roof! I defy you to sit still when a
good gospel group hits their stride. Artwork by Grego / mojohand.com

58 Blues Festival Guide 2022