Brownie McGhee, Sonny Terry

Red River Blues

This video career retrospective begins with two pieces filmed for the Library of Congress in 1948, including a rendition of John Henry with Woody Guthrie. Pete Seeger appears as appreciative host to the duo for two songs from his Rainbow Quest. A wonderful medley filmed in 1970 of Red River Blues/Crow Jane offers two of the oldest known pieces in the Piedmont blues repertoire. Sonny's signature harmonica showpiece, Whoppin' the blues is heard in a 1973 BBC performance, and a tour de force Rock Island line closes this exciting survey of a duo who, more than anyone else, introduced a generation to the power and glory of country blues.