The First Tuesday SMTX Film Series presents, “When Houston Had the Blues,” Feb. 4 at the Price Center in San Marcos. The 2023 film, directed by Alan Swyer, focuses on the rich, but unheralded, spawning ground of great African- American music.
Rotten Tomatoes, the movie and television review site writes, “Houston’s early and indelible mark on American music and the blues — often overlooked despite its rich history — is celebrated in this soulful, feature-length documentary. While Houston may not come to most people’s minds as a major music city like Memphis, Chicago or New Orleans, it has a legacy that few other cities can match. Years before Elvis hit the charts with “Hound Dog,” it was originally recorded by Houston’s Big Mama Thornton. And long before Motown, Houston was home to one of the most successful Black music empires in the country.”
No other city but Houston can claim such giants as Lightnin’ Hopkins, Big Mama Thornton, Clifton Chenier, Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown, Bobby “Blue” Bland, Albert King, Freddie King, and Albert Collins, or great, pre-Motown Black-owned labels like Duke and Peacock.
The film features interviews with Billy Gibbons, C. J. Chenier, Marcia Ball, Augie Meyers, Grady Gaines and many other performers.
Following the film, there will be a question- and-answer session with its Executive Producer Drew Barnett-Hamilton and Interim Director, Texas State University School of Social Work, Dr. Raphael Travis Jr.
Tickets are $8 and available by following the ticket link on firsttuesdaysmtx. com. The film begins at 7 p.m. Doors open at 6:15 p.m. and complimentary refreshments from Pie Society and Middleton Brewing begin at 6:30 p.m. The Price Center is located at 222 W. San An-tonio in San Marcos.
The film is presented in partnership with The Dunbar Heritage Association and Center for Texas Music History at Texas State University.
