Black on White, White and Black | Folkstreams

Black on White, White and Black (1990)

About the Film

An intimate and humorous look at the life and career of the legendary blues pianist Alex Moore, a native of Dallas, was the first African American Texan to receive a National Heritage Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts. Moore taught himself to play the piano by watching others and practicing whenever he got a chance. Because he had no formal training, Moore developed a distinctive improvisatory piano style that included elements of blues, ragtime, barrelhouse, stride and boogie-woogie. He combined steady left hand bass figures with fluid right hand melodies. His lyrics were both traditional and original and were a response to his playing of the piano and to the moment at hand. The film shows his mastery of the piano at a tribute held in his honor at the famous Majestic Theater - his last public performance. For more information on Alex Moore, see Alan B. Govenar and Jay F. Brakefield, Deep Ellum and Central Track: Where the Black and White Worlds of Dallas Converged(Denton: University of North Texas Press, 1998)

Licensing

For licensing, film rights and permissions, contact Alan Govenar, Bruce "Pacho" Lane, the distributor Documentary Arts, Inc., or Folkstreams.

Film Details

  • Film by: Alan Govenar, Bruce "Pacho" Lane
  • Produced by: Documentary Arts, Inc.
  • Cinematographer: Bruce Pacho Lane
  • Sound: David Lamb and Alan Govenar
  • Editor: Bruce Pacho Lane
  • Other Credits: Researched and directed by Alan Govenar
  • Funding: National Endowment for the Arts; Texas Commission on the Arts; City of Dallas Office of Cultural Affairs
  • Original Format: Film: 16mm
  • © 1990, Documentary Arts, Inc.
  • 26mins, Color
  • Categories:
    MusicAfrican American Culture
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