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GRAMMY Museum® Mississippi presents “Sidemen: Long Road to Glory”

By August 30, 2017GRAMMY, Uncategorized
May 24, 2008 - Santa Cruz, California, USA - 16th annual Santa Cruz Blues Festival. (Credit Image: © Jerome Brunet/ZUMA Press)

GRAMMY Museum® Mississippi presents a screening of “Sidemen: Long Road to Glory,” a film directed by Scott Rosenbaum and narrated by Marc Maron, that provides an intimate look into the lives of three of the last Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf sidemen — piano player Pinetop Perkins, drummer Willie ‘Big Eyes’ Smith and guitarist Hubert Sumlin.

The screening will begin at 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 14 in the Sanders Soundstage at the museum. To purchase tickets and for more information, visit www.grammymuseumms.org/events/detail/sidemen.

Immediately following the screening, there will be a conversation with special guests Rosenbaum, film producer Tony Grazia and Andrew Sullivan. Also known as “Six String Andrew,” Sullivan was the youngest child to ever attend the Pinetop Perkins Masterclass Workshop at just eight years old.

These legendary bluesmen, who performed and recorded into their 80s and 90s, played a significant role in shaping modern popular music. The film features some of the last interviews conducted with all three men, as well as their final live performance together.

“It was truly an honor to get to know these legendary musicians,” said Grazia. “It is amazing how many artists and music genres they influenced. It is time everyone knows who they are and learns of their incredible talent. Their story needs to be shared with the world and I’m honored to have played a part in doing that.”

“Sidemen” takes viewers on the road with Pinetop, Willie and Hubert, three of the last direct links to the origins of the blues, as they share the incredible stories about each of their personal histories.

“I couldn’t be any more thrilled to have the honor of showing this film at GRAMMY Museum Mississippi,” said Rosenbaum. “The story of Pinetop and Willie’s historic 2011 GRAMMY® win — which made Pinetop the oldest ever recipient — is such an integral part of the narrative for ‘Sidemen: Long Road To Glory.’ I’m certain they will be smiling down on us.”

Screening the film in the Mississippi Delta holds special significance. Two of the legendary bluesmen featured were born in the Delta: Perkins of Belzoni, Mississippi and Sumlin of Greenville, Mississippi. Smith was born just across the Mississippi River in nearby Helena, Arkansas. Additionally, the Pinetop Perkins Masterclass Workshop is held in Clarksdale, Mississippi every year.

Learn more about GRAMMY Museum Mississippi at www.grammymuseumms.org.