Blues Disciples interviews Ms. Augusta Palmer on her film “The Blues Society,” exploring the Memphis Blues Festivals’ legacy and rare 1969 footage.
Blues Disciples, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to promoting and preserving blues music, interviews Ms. Augusta Palmer, director and co-producer of The Blues Society, a documentary that highlights the rich history of the Memphis Blues Festivals from 1966 to 1969. Palmer, daughter of legendary musicologist Robert Palmer and Mary Branton, shared insights into the creation of the film and its cultural significance.
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In the interview conducted by Jamie Anthony, Augusta reflects on her discovery of rare footage from the 1969 Memphis Country Blues Festival, shot by Gene Rosenthal of Adelphi Records. The footage had been stored away for decades before it was unearthed for The Blues Society. Augustar also reveals that her mother, who had a lesser-known role in organizing the festivals, inspired her to explore this extraordinary era of blues music.
“The footage really struck me, especially when I heard my mother’s voice giving a speech at the festival,” Palmer explained. “It was amazing to discover the depth of her involvement, which she had never really talked about.”
Augusta Palmer’s documentary takes a fresh approach by blending historical context with contemporary commentary, providing audiences with a deeper understanding of the social and cultural significance of the blues revival. While the 2019 film Memphis '69 focused more on the performances themselves, The Blues Society offers a more nuanced look at the people behind the music and the lasting impact of the festival on today’s blues scene.
“A lot of documentaries about this period are overly romantic and lack the perspectives of Black voices,” Palmer said. “In The Blues Society, I wanted to foreground the voices of the musicians themselves—people like Furry Lewis, Bukka White, and Robert Wilkins, and also present modern-day reflections from artists like Dom Flemons and scholars like Xandria Robinson.”
Blues Disciples invites fans of blues music and history to listen to this interview and experience the rich legacy of the Memphis Blues Festivals through the eyes of Augusta Palmer. The Blues Society continues to screen across the country, showcasing a pivotal era of American music.
About Blues Disciples
Blues Disciples is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with a mission to entertain and help people better understand the significance of the blues music genre on the history and culture of the nation. Blues Disciples supports other non-profit entities dedicated to fighting hunger and helping blues musicians in need, including Meeting Essential Needs with Dignity (MEND), food pantry network, Music Maker Foundation, assisting artists in need, and the Blues Foundation.
