New York, NY (Top40 Charts) Freestyle
Digital Media, the digital film distribution division of Byron Allen's Allen Media Group, just released the music documentary BONNIE BLUE: JAMES COTTON'S LIFE IN THE BLUES, now available to rent/own on all North American digital HD internet, cable, and satellite platforms, as well as on DVD, starting February 14, 2025.
BONNIE BLUE: JAMES COTTON'S LIFE IN THE BLUES is an emotionally evocative feature documentary that portrays the untold story of
James Cotton, a legend whose musical influence shaped the
Chicago Blues style having been mentored with the originators of the Delta blues tradition. Cotton's life tracks a swath of America's history - from the post-depression cotton fields of the Mississippi Delta to tough Chicagoland's era of brilliant artistic reinvention to today's live music scene in Austin, Texas. In between are tours with Janis Joplin and Paul Butterfield and sessions with the Rolling Stones, Grateful Dead, Led Zeppelin, Santana, Steve Miller, B.B. King and many more. This new film capture's America's soul as the blues becomes interpreted in jazz, big band, rock and roll, punk, hip-hop and rap. Cotton brought the delta blues into the rock 'n roll mainstream, performing on the international stage until his death at age 81. Through unseen photographs, original interviews and extraordinary performances, BONNIE BLUE: JAMES COTTON'S LIFE IN THE BLUES is a unique portrait of an era and its impact on the world today.
Directed by Bestor Cram, BONNIE BLUE: JAMES COTTON'S LIFE IN THE BLUES was written by Mike Majoros and produced by
Judith Laster,
James Montgomery, Kristine Haseotes, and Sam Pollard. An extraordinary list of musicians participating in intimate concert performances and original interview settings exclusively for this film include
James Cotton,
Buddy Guy,
Bobby Rush, Steve Miller, Jimmie Vaughan, Keb' Mo',
James Montgomery, and many others.
"Our deep reach into the unique life of
James 'Superharp' Cotton reveals a struggle endured by many African Americans during the second half of the 20th century," said filmmaker Bestor Cram. "Cotton's life in music is inspirational at the highest note. BONNIE BLUE: JAMES COTTON'S LIFE IN THE BLUES presents the story of a life and time that is still important for music of all kinds."
Freestyle
Digital Media negotiated the deal to acquire BONNIE BLUE: JAMES COTTON'S LIFE IN THE BLUES directly with the filmmaking team, including
Judith Laster,
James Montgomery and Bestor Cram.
BONNIE BLUE: JAMES COTTON'S LIFE IN THE BLUES website: www.jamescottonfilm.com
The digital distribution unit of Byron Allen's Allen Media Group, Freestyle
Digital Media, is a premiere multi-platform distributor with direct partnerships across all major cable, satellite, digital, and streaming platforms. Capitalizing on a robust infrastructure, proven track record, and a veteran sales team, Freestyle
Digital Media is a true home for independent films. Recent releases include ALLSWELL IN NEW YORK starring Emmy award-winning actress Liza Colón-Zayas from the hit FX series THE BEAR, ALL HAPPY FAMILIES starring Josh Radnor and Rob Huebel, the drama based on a novel THE GHOST TRAP starring Zak Steiner from EUPHORIA and Greer Grammer of AWKWARD, and the Weekly World News horror-comedy THE ZOMBIE WEDDING. Other Freestyle
Digital Media titles include THE ROAD DOG starring comedian Doug Stanhope, SURVIVE starring HBO's GAME OF THRONES star
Sophie Turner and Corey Hawkins, the music documentary profiling blues guitar legends Jimmie Vaughan and Stevie Ray Vaughan, BROTHERS IN BLUES, DEAR ZOE starring Sadie Sink from the hit Netflix series STRANGER THINGS,
Jessica Capshaw and Theo Rossi, the teen musical BEST SUMMER EVER featuring a fully integrated cast and crew of people with and without disabilities, produced by Jamie Lee Curtis, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Mary Steenburgen, and Ted Danson, and THE WEDDING YEAR starring
Sarah Hyland and Anna Camp.
