Director Martin Scorsese wends his way from the banks of the Niger River in Mali to the cotton fields and juke joints of the Mississippi Delta to trace the origins of the blues in a lyrical combination of original performances (including Corey Harris, Willie King, Taj Mahal, Keb'Mo', Otha Turner, Habib Koite, Salif Keita, Ali Farka Toure) and rare archival footage.

Director Martin Scorsese wends his way from the banks of the Niger River in Mali to the cotton fields and juke joints of the Mississippi Delta to trace the origins of the blues in a lyrical combination of original performances (including Corey Harris, Willie King, Taj Mahal, Keb'Mo', Otha Turner, Habib Koita, Salif Keita, Ali Farka Toure) and rare archival footage.

Says Scorsese, "I've always felt an affinity for blues music  - the culture of storytelling through music is incredibly fascinating and appealing to me. The blues have great emotional resonance
and are the foundation for American popular music."

Film Credits
Directed by: Martin Scorsese
Produced by: Sam Pollard
Written by: Peter Guralnick
Edited by: David Tedeschi
Additional Editing: Sam Pollard
Director of Photography: Arthur Jafa
Additional Photography: Lisa Rinzler
Line Producers: Mikaela Beardsley and Daphne A. McWilliams
Creative Consultant: Kent Jones
Interviews: Corey Harris, Sam Carr, Willie King, Dick Waterman, Taj Mahal, Johnny Shines, Otha Turner, Ali Farka Toure, Habib Koite, Salif Keita, Toumani Diabate

Featured Performers: Corey Harris, Willie King, Taj Mahal, Keb'Mo', Otha Turner & The Rising Star Fife and Drum Band, Sharde Thomas, Ali Farka Toure, Habib Koite, Salif Keita, Toumani Diabate

Archival Performances: Son House, Muddy Waters, Johnny Shines, John Lee Hooker