It was welcome news for the country star, multi-instrumentalist and Mississippi native who has been part of a big chunk of country music history, and built a huge collection of its memorabilia and artifacts. “They bring dignity, they bring an integrity, and they have a cache that I don’t think country music has ever known,” said Burns. “Country Music” is a documentary by Ken Burns. It airs on PBS and can be streamed on the PBS app starting September 15. Burns directs the episode. He is joined by long-time collaborators Dayton Duncan, Julie Dunfey and Duncan. Duncan also wrote the companion book. Duncan said that country music is a natural fit for the topics they love to explore. It brings the story of something unique American to the American people. “We’re storytellers. He tells Stuart, who is standing on the Ellis Theater stage, that what we do in 16 1/2 hours is the same as what you can do in three minutes. You’re telling stories. Because that’s what people remember.” Philadelphia and Meridian were the first stops on a roadshow of screenings and
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The film’s premiere will be preceded by discussions that began in Nashville. They will then travel to more than thirty markets across the country. Duncan and Stuart hosted a lively evening at the Ellis Theater, March. They showed excerpts about Jimmie Rodgers (“The Father of Country Music”) and Stuart, who has been performing in country music since his youth. The highlights were a mini concert by Marty Stuart, The Fabulous Superlatives, and a visit by Connie Smith (country star and Stuart’s wife). This program was also Marty Stuart’s first flagship event, which was also the launch of his Congress of Country Music. It will be a museum dedicated to country music and a performing arts center for Philadelphia. Stuart’s Warehouse is located just a few blocks away from the downtown location. Here, stars’ sparkling suits, colorful boots, storied guitarists, and vintage memorabilia are waiting to be seen again. The
has important stories about Mississippi’s roots in country music history and its role in it.
The documentary’s scope includes the first star, Jimmie Rodgers, from Meridian, as well as Charley Pride, from Sledge, and other important figures. Many people believe that rock ‘n roll was born out of blues and gospel. It’s blues, gospel, and hillbilly music that spawned rock ‘n roll,” Duncan says. “Many people think it was blues meets gospel.” Stuart first heard about the project.
Filmmakers, “Come See Me.” This is real. I am the deep end. My phone book is vast. He says that Duncan and his family became close friends in just 30 seconds when they arrived at their offices seven years ago. “You talk about an efficient machine — when that crew hits the subject, man it is like watching SWAT teams go after something.” Duncan says Duncan, who was a guide to Jimmie Rodgers’ music, Father of Bluegrass Bill Monroe and Johnny Cash. They meet Stuart in the 1970s, when Stuart is performing at a time where different genres were merged and mixed. It’s an art form. Duncan says that we are serious about this. What can we learn from looking at it and understanding it about our American identity? It’s not one type of music. It’s not just one music now. It has always been a complex mix of American culture and American music. Great artists have created it. Artists don’t want to repeat the same thing over and again. They are always pushing the boundaries. The 101 interviews with filmmakers were mostly with country musicians and a few historians and writers, but there were also interesting perspectives from musicians like Wynton Marsalis, Wynton Marsalis, Paul Simon, Jack White and Elvis Costello. Country music is a great way to deal with the most basic human issues. It deals with love, betrayal and death. Duncan states, “Those things transcend all genres.” We don’t want to overstate the point. But, we keep reminding you that this music doesn’t exist in a vacuum, and it can never be constrained into one tight definition.” A Mississippi Public Broadcasting-produced companion piece — a “Grassroots” TV special with host Bill Ellison — will accompany the documentary this fall. John Gibson, director for television at MPB, says that Bill has a large following on the ‘Grassroots radio show so we thought who better to host a country music TV special? Interviews with Stuart and Duncan will be featured. The program also features a preview of an original MPB documentary on Carl Jackson, a legendary Nashville musician and songwriter from Louisville, Mississippi. It will air next winter. “Country Music” begins its story in 1923, Atlanta, with country music’s birth. It also explores the roots of country music in Scots Irish ballads and hymns, African banjos, blues, minstrel performances, and many other sources. The film goes on through the 20th century until 1996 when Garth Brooks elevates country music to new heights and Johnny Cash’s death. They’re introducing country music to people who may not have ever heard of it before. It’s amazing when you consider all they have done, Ken and Dayton. Stuart speaks of their work on “The National Parks”, “The Civil War”, “Jazz” etc. It becomes a curriculum immediately. They are able to entertain and educate simultaneously. It’s a letter from home for old-timers who loved country music but thought they would never hear or see it again. It covers everything._x000D