Overview: One of the most popular rockers of the 1950s and early 60s, Fats Domino and his record sales were rivaled then only by Elvis Presley. With his boogie-woogie piano playing rooted in blues, rhythm & blues, and jazz, he became one of the inventors, along with Presley, Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis and Little Richard, of rock ‘n’ roll, a revolutionary genre that united young black and white audiences.
Bayou Maharajah: The Tragic Genius of James Booker
Overview: Bayou Maharajah explores the life and music of New Orleans piano legend James Booker, the man Dr. John described as "the best black, gay, one-eyed junkie piano genius New Orleans has ever produced." A brilliant pianist, his eccentricities and showmanship belied a life of struggle, prejudice, and isolation. Illustrated with never-before-seen concert footage, rare personal photos and exclusive interviews, the film paints a portrait of this overlooked genius.
Overview: Meet the voices and characters of Louisiana's radio waves-people like New Orleans Rhythm and Blues disc jockeys "Dr. Daddy-O" and "Poppa Stoppa," and country greats Frank Page and Hank Williams from the popular radio program The Louisiana Hayride. Listen and learn about WWL's big band sounds from the Roosevelt Hotel's Blue Room with Leon Kelner and His Orchestra and The Dawnbusters with radio star Margie O'Dair. From Acadiana comes the sounds of Rendezvous Acadienne from The Liberty Theater in Eunice and Revon Reed's broadcasts from Fred's Lounge in Mamou. Visit the studios of public radio's American Routes with producer and host Nick Spitzer plus many more. Making Waves: Louisiana's Radio Story combines rarely seen photographs and archival recordings with powerful videography and interviews with veteran announcers, radio program producers and listeners and lovers of that ever-lasting and growing medium we call radio.
The Legends of New Orleans : The music of Fats Domino
Overview: The hits come fast and furious in this 2001 performance by Antoine "Fats" Domino at the Jazz and Heritage Festival in his hometown of New Orleans. Well, maybe not that fast; Fats's style was never what you'd call exactly frenetic, and he was well into his seventies at the time of this show. But there are a whole lot of hits--"I'm Walkin'," "Blueberry Hill," "Walking to New Orleans," "My Blue Heaven," etc.--and they're just as irresistible as ever, with Domino and band (including a full horn section) in top form as they deliver their brew of R&B, rock & roll, and country music with its distinctively rollicking New Orleans vibe. Aside from the 60-minute concert, the DVD features interviews with Fats, Allen Toussaint (himself a legendary New Orleans musician and producer), author/music journalist Mikal Gilmore, and others, plus a minute or two of Domino and Toussaint jamming at the piano
