Steve was right: last night's episode of Martin Scorsese Presents The Blues, "The Road to Memphis," was fun, powerful and very moving.
Director Richard Pearce followed blues superstar B.B. King and mid-level blues veteran Bobby Rush in their respective tour buses as they and other performers converged on Memphis for the annual Handy Awards in 2002.
We trace King's career, admire his artistry, immense talent and the tenacity that has afforded him acclaim and luxury 50 years into his career. Though he is treated, and appears to perceive himself, as a Great Man, his desperately poor rural origins - and 250 shows each year - keeps his perspective keen, and prevent him from taking anything for granted.
After being rejected by the young black audience in the late-'50s, King persevered until the white rock 'n' roll audience - brought to the blues by rockers like Clapton, Rolling Stones, Hendrix, Fleetwood Mac, and via the folk circuit - embraced him in the late-'60s with an enthusiasm he claims he NEVER received from black audiences. King was brought nearly to tears describing a night at the Fillmore West in '68 where a primarily white crowd - his first - packed the club, stood up for his entrance, gave him numerous standing ovations throughout his performance, and made him feel appreciated. This wasn't a multimillionaire icon talking - this was a very vulnerable human being - we were transfixed.
But as appealing as King was, Bobby Rush - a figure not blessed with King's talent or luck - lit up the screen with his humanity, his enthusiasm, his charisma, his perspective, his practicality, his joie de vivre. This 66-year-old man, a professional performer for 49 years, is remarkably lean, strong and youthful. He dresses with the, um, flash of an earlier age, moves like a young man, and projects both peace and impishness from his unlined, handsome face.
Article comments
1 - Taloran
Well written! Thanks.
2 - Eric Olsen
Thank YOU!
3 - Johno
Eric, you beat me to a Blogcritics posting on Bobby Rush, so I shall merely link to my own agoggery (hey! that's not a word!) here.
Un-frigging-believable.
I like the blues best when it's a little tacky and scary.
4 - Eric Olsen
Johno, we need all the review we can get! We'd love to have your review here, too. There's no such thing as "beat me to it"- the more the merrier. Thanks!
5 - Rodney Welch
I think the back-up singer's ass deserves some kind of award.
6 - Eric Olsen
That thing had a mind of its own
7 - Dawn
That butt was the most spectacular display of showmanship that I have seen in years.
Despite my own ass rivaling that young woman's in size and expanse, I have been practicing her moves in the mirror all morning and it just doesn't have the same UMPH!
I will forever be jealous.
Excellent post Eric, Bobby Rush is truly a great new find.
8 - Eric Olsen
Thanks Dawn, and yours is just visiting, hers moved in to stay long ago.
9 - Dawn
"and yours is just visiting"
So you hope!