Mance Lipscomb

Mance Lipscomb and Lightnin' Hopkins play music and talk about their lives. Hosted by musician Taj Mahal.

Assorted performances collected by Stefan Grossman. Includes Albert Collins, Freddie King, Lightnin; Hopkins, and Mance Lipscomb

In 1963 German filmmaker Dietrich Wawzyn set out to shoot a series of films for German television that took him through the southern US in search of American jazz and roots music. He contacted Arhoolie Records founder Chris Strachwitz, who jumped at the chance to join him and share his enthusiasm for regional musical traditions. Wawzyn made three films dealing with blues, gospel, and hillbilly music. The negatives to those films were lost. This film recreates the journey from the best elements still available and includes much previously unreleased footage.

Mance Lipscomb In Concert

A musical portrait of Texas blues songster Mance Lipscomb.

A musical portrait of Texas bluesman 'Lightnin' Hopkins. The film includes interviews and a performance by Hopkins. Preserved by the Academy Film Archive in 2002.

Blurring the line between documentary and fiction, THE BLUES UNDER THE SKIN dramatizes the tumultuous relationship of a young couple (Onike Lee and Roland Sanchez) as they struggle to overcome the barriers of poverty and prejudice that keep them from finding happiness together.