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Memphis

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Memphis

Take Me to the River is about the memory and lineage of this unique place of origin, Memphis, and how it has inspired
and influenced the world's popular music of today

The Award Winning First Film in the Series

AVAILABLE to STREAM, RENT, or OWN NOW

Take Me To The River” is a feature documentary and record celebrating the intergenerational, cross-cultural and gender inclusive musical influence of Memphis musical influence of Memphis in the face of pervasive discrimination and segregation. The film brings multiple generations of award-winning Memphis and Mississippi Delta musicians together, following them through the creative process of recording a new album, to re-imagine the utopia of racial, gender, and generational collaboration of Memphis in its heyday. Hip-hop artists such as Snoop Dogg, PNut, Hustle & Flow’s Oscar-winning Frayser Boy, Al Kapone and Yo Gotti are paired with Grammy-winning legends of Memphis soul and R&B, including Mavis Staples, Bobby “Blue” Bland, Booker T. Jones, Charlie Musselwhite, Bobby Rush, WIlliam Bell, Otis Clay, and the incomparable session musicians of Stax and Hi Records. Oscar nominee Terrence Howard is our “MC” through the story as well as one of our recording artists.

“Take Me To The River” brings us inside these creative collaborations to share the struggles, the joy, and inspiration of some of America’s most talented master musicians, who have influenced and inspired the world’s popular music. The film reveals the story of America’s music and how it is undoubtedly one of the most original and finest gifts to the world.

“Take Me To The River” is a cinema-verite documentary. It is about the memory and lineage of this unique place of origin, Memphis, and how it has inspired and influenced the world’s popular music of today. The film is not only about music, the musicians and the unique place of origin, but about inviting the viewer into the process of making and creating a dynamic collaboration. This powerful style of documentary filmmaking invented by the French, often lost in today’s world, is influence by the work of French masters (Jean Rouch and Jean-Luc Godard). In “Take Me To The River,” the camera disappears and performances are natural and unique. Shot with as many as eight cameras at a time, no other music film has ever been made like this before.

Performers

BOBBY BLUE BLAND 350x184 350x499

BOBBY “BLUE” BLAND

OTIS CLAY 350x237 350x500

OTIS CLAY

BOBBY RUSH 333x500 350x500

BOBBY RUSH

Charlie Musselwhite 350x228 350x499

CHARLIE MUSSELWHITE

Producer
HUBERT SUMLIN 350x498

HUBERT SUMLIN

BOOKER T. JONES 350x500

BOOKER T. JONES

WILLIAM BELL 350x500

WILLIAM BELL

MAVIS STAPLES 350x500

MAVIS STAPLES

SNOOP DOGG 350x500

SNOOP DOGG

frayser boy 350x500

FRAYSER BOY

YO GOTTI 350x500

YO GOTTI

AL KAPONE 350x499

AL KAPONE

LIL P NUT 350x500

LIL P-NUT

AL BELL 350x498

AL BELL

WILLA DEAN DEANIE PARKER 350x500

WILLA DEAN “DEANIE” PARKER

CHARLES SKIP PITTS 350x500

CHARLES “SKIP” PITTS

DAVID DIXON PORTER 350x500

DAVID DIXON PORTER

THE STAX MUSIC ACADEMY

THE STAX MUSIC ACADEMY

NORTH MISSISSIPPI ALL STARS 350x500

NORTH MISSISSIPPI ALL-STARS

THE CITY CHAMPS 350x500

THE CITY CHAMPS

Producer
ERIC GALES 350x500

ERIC GALES

TERRENCE HOWARD 350x500

TERRENCE HOWARD

IAN SIEGAL 350x500

IAN SIEGAL

Filmmakers

Music

1. Bobby “Blue” Bland featuring Yo Gotti – “Ain’t No Sunshine”

2. Mavis Staples with North Mississippi All-Stars – “Wish I Had Answered”

3. Bar Kays featuring 8Ball and MJG – “Be Like Me”

4. Bobby Rush* featuring Frayser Boy – “Push and Pull”

5. Booker T. with North Mississippi All-Stars featuring Al Kapone – “Supposed to Be”

6. Otis Clay* featuring P-Nut – “Trying to Live My Life Without You”

7. Mavis Staples with North Mississippi All-Stars – “I’ve Been Buked”

8. William Bell with Stax Music Academy featuring Snoop Dogg – “I Forgot to Be Your Lover”

9. Charlie Musselwhite with the City Champs – “If I Should Have Bad Luck”

10. William Bell with Stax Music Academy – “Knock On Wood”

11. Bobby Rush* featuring Frayser Boy – “Henpecked”

12. Terrence Howard with Hi Rhythm Section – “Walk Away”

* also with Hi Rhythm Section

album poster

Videos

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Bobby “Blue” Bland featuring Yo Gotti – “Ain’t No Sunshine”

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Otis Clay featuring Lil’ P-Nut – “Trying to Live My Life Without You”

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Take Me To the River: Music From the Motion Picture

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William Bell and Snoop Dogg, STAX Music Academy, “I Forgot to Be Your Lover”

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Behind the scenes with Bobby “Blue” Bland and Yo Gotti

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Take Me to the River Official Trailer

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    “Hercules” from Grammy Award Winning @aaronneville & @dirtydozenbrassband is now available to listen on all platforms!

A brand new version of the Aaron Neville R&B/Soul classic written by legendary New Orleans songwriter Allen Toussaint and originally released in 1973, making this year its 50TH ANNIVERSARY! 

This version is a brand new recording from the Take Me to the River New Orleans soundtrack sessions. Featuring the same lineup and personnel as the track “Stompin’ Ground”, which was featured in the documentary / soundtrack and which, this year, won the GRAMMY for Best American Roots Performance.

Thank you to all the New Orleans artists involved: Aaron Neville, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, @ivanneville, @georgeporterjr, @ianneville504, @erickrasno, @terencehigginsdrummer, @funkybigsam, Fancy Clemons, @getchasumjelly, @ericafalls. Producers @themartinshore, @boomitchellmemphis, @codydickinson, and @petalumarecords.
    We’re teaming up with @neworleansandco & @propeller.la to give 1 lucky winner and a friend the chance to explore New Orleans and its rich culture, culinary and musical highlights this fall during New Orleans Music Month! 

You and a friend could win a trip to New Orleans, LA that includes...

Enjoy a 2-night hotel stay at @kimpton Fontenot

Have a VIP Experience at @jam.nola 

Enjoy a unique musical experience at @preservationhall 

Dine at @ninacompton’s @comperelapin 

Explore @vueorleansnola 

Round trip ground transportation between hotel & airport 

Receive an $800 travel stipend, $150 ride share credit & more!

Visit the link in our bio to enter! 🎶
    We're delighted to be visiting the UK and performing at the @redroosterfestivals in June! 

Join Take Me to the River All Stars the @hi_rhythm_section, @fifemastor, @marcusdscott, @boomitchellmemphis, @themartinshore and more!🎶

Tickets are available at the link in our stories 🎟️
    © take me to the river

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