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New
series of music documentaries for BBC FOUR
The
BBC's award-winning Music Entertainment department has been commissioned
to produce a series of music documentaries for BBC FOUR to be shown
over the coming months.
The
subjects of the films are: Emmylou Harris, Gram Parsons,
Gil Scott Heron, John Mayall and John Martyn.
Mark
Cooper, Creative Head of Music Entertainment, BBC, says: "Building
on last year's successful series of profiles of some of the key
architects of contemporary music, BBC Music Entertainment are making
and commissioning a second batch of profiles of the Godfathers (and
Mothers) of popular music.
"John
Mayall (Focus, director Peter Gibson), Emmylou Harris (director
Paul Bernays), Gil Scott Heron (Somethin' Else, director Don Letts),
Gram Parsons (a BBC co-production, director Gandulf Hennig) and
John Martyn (director Serena Cross) are all currently in production
for transmission in the next six months."
The
first four programmes already delivered in this series were profiles
of Stan Tracey (Smoking Dogs, director John Akomfrah), Richard
Thompson (director Paul Bernays), Martin Carthy (director
Greg Bailey) and Robert Wyatt (Somethin' Else, director Mark
Kidel).
Roly
Keating, Controller, BBC FOUR, says: "BBC FOUR has established
itself as a channel with a range of music performance and documentaries
from folk and world music to classical and jazz.
"I'm
really pleased that we are able to commission stories on such influential
artists, made by film-makers passionate about music.
"I'm
also delighted that the film on Stan Tracey has been nominated for
a prestigious Grierson award."
Programme
Information
John
Mayall – Godfather of the Blues (24 October 2003) looks
at the artist who created the "most influential blues band
in the Western World".
Mayall
and his Bluesbreakers band (featuring Eric Clapton) released the
Bluesbreakers album in 1966 which ushered in a blues-rock revolution.
This
film probes beneath the surface looking at where Mayall came from,
his influences, how he managed to attract so many top musicians
to his band and what led to his "wilderness years".
The
film features rare archive film, personal photographs, early recordings
and original interviews with a host of musicians, critics, friends
and family members.
Gil
Scott Heron: The Revolution Will Not Be Televised (5 December
2003) focuses on "the Godfather of rap" - one of the most
important figures in the history of Black music.
The
film features interviews with Gil and his collaborators and disciples
such as Chuck D and Mos Def alongside classic archive.
Gil
was a key figure in the Seventies civil rights movement and yet
his message is still relevant today.
His
confrontational, no-nonsense street poetry and intelligent song
writing skills have inspired the modern Hip-Hop generation.
In
more than 20 albums Gil has documented and in many cases anticipated,
the dark underbelly of United States politics, racism and the self-destruction
of the Afro-American working class.
The
film is directed by the legendary Don Letts who won a Grammy for
his documentary about The Clash.
Made
with her full co-operation, the Emmylou Harris documentary
(19 December 2003, 9.00pm) is a portrait of one of America's most
respected musical artists.
For
more than 30 years Emmylou has been a jewel in the crown of American
music, boasting a breadth of work and commanding the respect of
a disparate group of peers.
Discovered
in folk-singing-single-parent obscurity by the legendary Gram Parsons,
Emmylou went on with her renowned Hot Band to re-interpret country
music for a whole new generation.
Years
before the O Brother Where Art Thou phenomenon - of which she was
a vital part - Emmylou reached into country past to bring bluegrass
into the present and then swung out of country music entirely with
1994's Wrecking Ball.
With
a new album released this year, Harris still remains a powerful
creative force and an inspiration to countless younger musicians.
Fallen
Angel - Gram Parsons (January 2004) looks at the life of the
musical legend 30 years after his untimely death.
In
1973 the musician and heir to a million dollar fortune died, under
the influence of drugs and alcohol, near his favourite place - the
Joshua Tree National Monument in the Californian desert.
As
the founder of the Flying Burrito Brothers, a member of the legendary
Byrds, an important influence on the Rolling Stones and the man
who discovered Emmylou Harris, Gram Parsons wrote music history
in only a few years.
The
film was made on location with director and musician Gandulf Hennig
interviewing Parsons' friends and contemporaries and those who followed
in his footsteps.
It
also features rare footage of his performances.
The
John Martyn documentary (March 2004) looks at the life and
genius of the singer-songwriter.
John
is the consummate musician's musician - his songs feature highly
in any audiophile's collection yet he has never quite crossed over
into the mainstream, gaining a cult following in the process.
In
profiling his journey the film looks at his traumatic and often
dramatic life.
When
filming began, John was facing one of those life-changing moments
that seems to have pervaded his career.
A seemingly
mundane leg injury led to a gross infection and the only prognosis
was to have the leg amputated below the knee.
The
film follows him pre and post-amputation, observing the effect it
has on his life and those around him.
Contributors
include Phil Collins and the late Robert Palmer as well as a host
of John's closest musician friends.
It
also features classic Old Grey Whistle Test archive and other performances
caught over the years.
Notes
to Editors
BBC
FOUR website
All the
BBC's digital services are now available on Freeview,
the new free-to-view digital terrestrial television service, as well
as on satellite and cable.
Freeview
offers the BBC's eight television channels, interactive services
from BBCi, as well as 11 national BBC radio networks.
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