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The Blues is a 2003 documentary film series produced by Martin Scorsese, dedicated to the history of blues music. In each of the seven episodes, a different director explores a stage in the development of the blues. The series originally aired on PBS in the United States.

Feel Like Going Home

Director: Martin Scorsese.

The Soul of a Man

Directed by Wim Wenders the film explores the musical careers of blues musicians Skip James, Blind Willie Johnson and J. B. Lenoir.

The Road to Memphis

Director: Richard Pearce. This episode focuses on the Beale Street music scene, particularly three Memphis blues musicians with different levels of acclaim: B. B. King, Rosco Gordon and Bobby Rush.

Warming by the Devil's Fire

'Warming by the Devil's Fire'
Directed by	Charles Burnett
Produced by	Margaret Bodde Alex Gibney
Written by	Charles Burnett
Starring	Tommy Hicks Nathaniel Lee Jr.
Music by	Stephen James Taylor
Cinematography	John N. Demps
Editing by	Edwin Santiago

Directed by Charles Burnett, this film presets the tale of a young boy traveling to Mississippi to visit relatives. He is caught between the pressures of his religious mother and gospel music, and the eagerness of his blues loving uncle. Performances in The Warming by the Devil's Fire Big Bill Broonzy * Elizabeth Cotten * Reverend Gary Davis * Ida Cox * Willie Dixon * Lightnin' Hopkins * Son House * Mississippi John Hurt * Vasti Jackson Bessie Smith * Mamie Smith * Victoria Spivey * Sister Rosetta Tharpe * Dinah Washington * Muddy Waters * Sonny Boy Williamson * Jesse Fuller

Godfathers and Sons

Director Marc Levin follows Marshall Chess as he remembers his fathers contribution to Blues history as the co-founder of Chess Records, his production of the controversial album "Electric Mud" and as he organizes a re-union of the musicians that made "Electric Mud" to record new versions of Muddy Waters' blues-standard Mannish Boy with contributions by rap artists like Chuck D of Public Enemy.

Red, White and Blues

Director: Mike Figgis. This episode is dedicated to blues culture in Britain and to the effect of the British Invasion on American blues culture. The episode contains footage from a special jam and interview session with such blues greats as Jeff Beck and Van Morrison.

Piano Blues

'Piano Blues'
Directed by	Clint Eastwood
Produced by	Clint Eastwood Bruce Ricker
Written by	Peter Guralnick
Starring	Marcia Ball Dave Brubeck Ray Charles Pinetop Perkins,...
Cinematography	Vic Losick
Editing by	Joel Cox, Gary Roach

Director: Clint Eastwood. This episode is dedicated to blues music played on the piano. Eastwood, a piano player and accomplished composer, interviews such key figures as Dr. John, Ray Charles and Pinetop Perkins.

External links

• "The Blues" - official site
• "The Blues" at the Internet Movie Database