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Blind Lemon Blues (musical) (110-minute manuscript) |
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"BLUES LOVERS, BE GRATEFUL. BE VERY, VERY GRATEFUL."" —Variety
"The variety of the music is, in fact, the most surprising part of Blind Lemon's musical story. He didn't just write and sing the blues, he also wrote religious songs ("Lord, I Want to be Like Jesus in My Heart"), comedy numbers ("Fence Breakin' Yellin' Blues"), and protest songs ("'Lectric Chair Blues"). And some of his songs were personal and deeply moving, like "See That My Grave Is Kept Clean." And while they were written more than eight decades ago, most of these songs remain very compelling, as is Blind Lemon's mostly forgotten story." —Theatermania.com
"Babatunde creates a larger-than-life icon. He captures the pain, joy, and earthy humor of Jefferson's country style." —Backstage.com
"I listened to the music of Blind Lemon every day for five years," Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright August Wilson has said about the artist whose music resonates throughout his plays. "Blind Lemon Jefferson was the voice of black America at that moment." —Variety |
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Musical. Created by Alan Govenar and Akin Babatunde. Cast: 3m., 3w., extras as desired. Blind Lemon Blues celebrates the legacy of Blind Lemon Jefferson and his profound influence upon the development of American popular music. Jefferson was a blind street musician who played his guitar at the corner of Elm Street and Central Avenue in the Deep Ellum area of Dallas, Texas, until a Paramount Records scout discovered him. Between 1926 and his untimely death in 1929, Jefferson made more than 80 records and became the biggest-selling blues singer in America. Set in New York City in 1948 at the last recording session of the legendary Huddie Ledbetter, better known as Lead Belly, Blind Lemon Blues combines elements of traditional blues, gospel, rhythm and blues, soul, doo-wop and rap to evoke the enduring legacy of Blind Lemon and his contemporaries, Blind Willie Johnson, Lillian Glinn, Hattie Hudson, Bobbie Cadillac, Lillian Miller and Lead Belly himself. Simple sets. Optional accompaniment CD available. Approximate running time: 110 minutes.
Also Available:
50-minute Musical Playbook
Study Guide/CD
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| The manuscript can be photocopied for production. Just let us know how many copies you will be making, and we will issue a letter of permission.
The score available for this full version of Blind Lemon Blues does not accurately reflect the manuscript. Music adjustments are permitted for your production. |
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| Middle School | High School | College and Adult | Family (All Audiences) | | High Schools | College Theatre | Senior Theatre | Community Theatre | Stock & Lort | | Drama |
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|  | Akin Babatunde is an accomplished actor, director, writer and lecturer. His theatrical career spans the regional off-Broadway to international stages of the world, film and television. Babatunde's work has been commissioned by notable ensembles throughout the country and includes Shakespeare: Midnight Echoes, the one-man show Of Ebony Embers: Vignettes of the Harlem Renaissance and Before the Second Set: A Visit ...More | | Alan Govenar is a writer, folklorist, photographer and filmmaker. He is president of Documentary Arts, Inc., a nonprofit organization he founded in 1985 to present new perspectives on diverse cultures through innovative theatrical productions, exhibitions, publications, exhibitions, films, videos and interactive media. Govenar is a Guggenheim Fellow and the author of more than 20 books including Everyday Music, Texas Blues: ...More |
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This title can be licensed/sold throughout the world
* Please note that royalties quoted in our catalog are intended for K-12 schools with a standard curriculum only. All other producing groups must submit a completed
application.
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