The Blues: Godfathers and Sons

2003 documentary film

Godfathers and Sons

Directed by| Marc Levin
Produced by| Daphne Pinkerson
Marc Levin
Starring| Marshall Chess
Chuck D
Cinematography| Mark Benjamin
Edited by| Bob Eisenhardt

Release date

* October 2, 2003 (2003-10-02)

Running time

| 133 minutes

Godfathers and Sons is a documentary directed by Marc Levin. The film is part of The Blues, a seven part PBS series, with Martin Scorsese as executive producer.[1]

## Synopsis

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Godfathers and Sons follows Producer Marshall Chess as he remembers his father Leonard Chess' contribution to Chicago blues history as the co-founder of Chess Records, and his own production of the controversial album Electric Mud.[2] Chess organizes a reunion of the musicians that made Electric Mud to record new versions of Muddy Waters's blues standard "Mannish Boy," with contributions by hip hop artists, including Chuck D of Public Enemy, Common & Kyle Jason.[3][4] The film includes never-before-seen archival footage of Howlin' Wolf, Muddy Waters and the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, and original performances by Koko Taylor, Otis Rush, Magic Slim, Ike Turner, and Sam Lay.

## Critical reception

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Variety (September 2, 2003): "Bonus is Levin’s technique — he adds a cinema verite take on the city’s contempo club scene to his blues ‘n’ rap story and adds a few B&W clips from the 1960s that make the blues appear regal, vital and thriving. For story and filmmaking technique alone, “Godfathers & Sons” is the crown jewel in the Scorsese series."[2]

## References

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1. ^ Goldberg, Michael Alan (September 25, 2003). "Blues All Around Me". Miami New Times. Archived from the original on December 10, 2019. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
2. ^ a b Gallo, Phil (September 3, 2003). "Godfathers & Sons". Variety. Archived from the original on December 10, 2019. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
3. ^ Harrington, Richard (August 29, 2003). "Blues on Television From ..." Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Archived from the original on May 29, 2024. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
4. ^ "The Blues A Musical Journey: Godfathers and Sons". Time Out New York. Archived from the original on 2019-12-10. Retrieved 2019-12-10.

## External links

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* PBS website for The Blues: Godfathers and Sons
* The Blues: Godfathers and Sons on IMDb