OFFBEAT – OCTOBER 3, 2021
WYES is excited to announce a documentary on the life of Grammy Award winner Irma Thomas, whose career spans an amazing half-century. WYES has partnered with The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation and Michael Murphy Productions to produce Irma: My Life in Music which debuts at 8 p.m. October 4 on WYES-TV. The program repeats at 8 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. on October 9 and 5:30 p.m. on October 17. The documentary can also be viewed online.
The 90-minute program will include an extensive interview with Thomas, as well as commentary from many of her colleagues. Included will be archival performance and interview footage culled from decades of performances filmed by Michael Murphy Productions at The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. The footage is now part of The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation Archive. The program will also include rare photos from Thomas’ career and family.
“Being a partner in this program is so in keeping with the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival Foundation’s mission to honor and support New Orleans musicians,” according to Don Marshall, executive director of the foundation. “We are in awe of her huge talent and delighted we can put a spotlight on her amazing career utilizing materials from across our archive.”
First and foremost, the program will be visual storytelling at its best as Thomas will tell her own story, allowing audiences to relish the opportunity to get to know the artist. “Her voice today is as—just as beautiful and sultry and powerful as it was on her first records,” said Bonnie Raitt. “And she’s a legend. She’s as good today as she was the day she came out of the church singing.”
“No matter what kind of song she is singing, Irma’s big, warm voice has more honesty in it than just about any you will ever hear,” states Scott Billington, who produced her albums for Rounder Records.
New Orleans’ Own Irma Thomas: Her Life in Music is produced by Cilista Eberle, Michael Murphy, Jim Moriarty and Rachel Lyons. Serving as executive producers are Peggy Scott Laborde and Don Marshall.
Read entire article at Offbeat – https://www.offbeat.com/news/irma-thomas-shares-her-life-and-music/
