Memphis '69
Synopsis
Itâs the Summer of 1969. The temperature hovers around 105 degrees on a humid weekend in Memphis, Tennessee. Itâs only been a year since the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. But on this particular weekend, everyone in town, all races, creeds and colors have come out for the Fourth Annual Memphis Country Blues Festival. The lineup is the most ambitious in years, welcoming blues masters like Bukka White, Sleepy John Estes, Furry Lewis and the 106 year-old Nathan Beauregard, coupled with more notable headliners like Rufus Thomas & The Bar-Kays, John Fahey and rocker Johnny Winter. One attendee that year was Gene Rosenthal, who brought along a couple of cameras, a small crew and left with 40,000 feet of color film that was left untouched for nearly 50 yearsâŚ.until now. âMemphis 69â is a time capsule. If youâre a blues enthusiast, watching this film feels like youâve opened up a treasure chest and discovered that youâve hit the motherload.
Where to watch
Not currently available to stream in United States.
