J.B.Lenoir in Chicago - 1964 - original 16mm color

From the original 16mm footage with the original optical soundtrack shot in Chicago by Steve and Ronnog Seaberg and Peter Amft. One of the earliest films of a Chicago blues musician, especially in color, showing what J,B, looked like when he appeared on stahe and in clubs in either his gold, charteuse, black or zebra striped tuxes or tailcoats, his gold colored electric guiter, harmonica and mic holder and a long cord so that he could move around the club floor. All of this as opposed to the image promoters wanted him to have with an acoustic guitar and unasuminf clothes as seen in other film and video clips from this time. The idea was that he should appear as an unsophistacated folk-musican rather than the professional artist that he really was Some of this footage made by the Seabergs appears in Wim Wenders' film, The Soul of a Man, along with an interbiew with the Seabergs describing the bkues scene in Chicago at that time and their friendship with and admiration for J.B. Other clips on YouTube made from the Seabergs' original film and taken from The Soul of a Man have had a new soundtrack added by Wenders which include drums and vocal by Willie Dixon from another recording of the same songs and which were not present at the original filming.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• blues
• Chicago
• guitar
• archival
• film

[bananlodor]

Yes, such as in a performance he did at the "Saints and Sinners" (a women's social club) party in Chicago where he appeared in his zebra striped tailcoat with his 15 foot cord which let him move about the floor with his guitar and microphone. Another time, filling in for Howlin' Wolf at Sylvio's in his chartreuse tuxedo, S.S.

[bananlodor]

The person, Steve Seaberg, who answers these comments is not the same as the person in the profile. I am 78.

[bananlodor]

The mic may have been in the camera, I can't remember. The next year for the b/w film the mic stodd on the coffee table in front of the performers and is visible in most of the shots, therefore better sound than in the 1964 film. All sound was optically recorded on the film. The sound track in Wim Wenders enhanced version can be seen on the right side of the screen.

[bananlodor]

I own the original film. it is the one we made in 1965 in Chicago, parts of which were used by Wim Wenders in his Soul of a Man. See other parts of the original black and white from the following year in whicj I play with JB and my wife translates into swedish. Steve Seaberg

[snorrevonflake]

thanks for posting this, i was not happy to see this with added soundtrack on the dvd.

(how did you get that original recording?)

[bananlodor]

It is our film! My wife and I and Marshall Matson made it in 1964 in Chicago. Parts of it were later used by Wim Wenders in his film The Soul of a Man in the PBS Blues Series. Wenders thought the original sound track wasn't of good quality so he used the sound from another recording J.B. had made. The original optical sound tracj can be seen on the right of the DVD version.

Steve Seaberg, Atlanta 2009

[Marcrap]

Thanks you so much for sharing this great video.

[daddystovepipe]

Wonderful piece of history, thanks for sharing.

[barkwoodrecords]

Thank you for posting this. For that era, you and your wife must been unusually open and generous spirits. J.B. surely recognized this. What a great experience you had to have worked with him (and to have enjoyed him entertaining in your living room.) Its a shame that he didn't live longer with greater acclaim for his talent.

[frg8888]

Great footage. Is that a Kay guitar?

[daviemcf]

Fantastic footage!!

[GOLDBAND45]

Great voice and great storyteller.Knockout stuff J.B.!!

Never forgotten !

[chuckdee121]

This was very nice!

[thawthepast]

super

[BLacKCatB0ne]

I would have given anything to see JB perform, it must have been a real show. He was a great talent no doubt. Thanks for posting this video.

[SmurfBorder]

hooo yearrr =)