Johnny Palazzotto’s 20-year quest to document the life of Slim Harpo culminates in next week’s premiere of “The Original Queen Bee.”
A documentary about James Moore — the blues star from Baton Rouge who plays Slim Harpo — will be screened at the Manship Theater on Thursday, January 26.
Local music industry veteran Palazzotto began making this full documentary in 2003, the same year he produced the first Slim Harpo Music Awards, an annual event honoring local, regional, national and international musicians.
Moore’s national chart hits included the country-style “Baby Scratch My Back,” a No. 1 R&B hit and No. 16 pop song of 1966. His 1961 anguished ballad “Rainin’ In My Heart” reached No. 34 on the R&B and pop charts.
Moore’s uniquely atmospheric recordings, made at producer JD Miller’s studio in Crawley, blur the lines between blues and country, combining his distinctly nasal vocals with his piercing harmonica. More than 250 artists have recorded Moore’s songs, including his British fans The Rolling Stones, The Van Morrisons, The Jinx, and Pink Floyd. American artists Grateful Dead, Fabulous Thunderbirds, Hank Williams Jr., Jimmie Vaughan and Neil Young also covered his songs.
Next week’s screening of “The Original King Bee” was a mixed blessing for Palazzotto. Moore’s stepson, William Gambler, one of the film’s main players, died in November. Gambler, his wife Dorothy and their children Alonzo Gambler and Tynita Howard watched the newly completed documentary a few months before his death.
“They thanked me and congratulated me, which made me feel really good,” said Palazzotto, who co-directed the film with Southeastern Louisiana University faculty member Steve Zafto, who also edited “The Original Queen Bee.” “.
Palazzotto said that because Moore’s film has yet to surface and there are few photographs of him, William Gambler’s insight and interview were crucial to the film.
“He was the last family member to live with Slim Harpo. No other surviving family members have experienced this.”
Palazzotto began thinking about making a film about Moore shortly after meeting William Gambler in 2001.
“William thought it was a good idea,” he recalls. “My thought was always that Slim didn’t get the recognition he deserved. He had a short career, of course. He released his first record in 1957 and died in 1970. So it’s 13 years (recording).
Palazzotto, a first-time filmmaker, didn’t anticipate the challenge of the project. The fact that no known Moore film exists could be a deal breaker.
“It really blew my mind that Slim’s ‘American Bandstand’ footage was ruined,” he said.
The breakthrough came when Palazzotto learned of a 1968 audio interview with Moore by Sue Cassidy Clark in New York City. Sue Cassidy Clark was a music journalist and photographer who specialized in soul, gospel and rock music in the late ’60s and early ’70s. Moore’s conversation with Clark serves as factual narration for the documentary.
“We couldn’t have made this documentary without it,” Palazzotto said of Clarke’s interview. “In this recent documentary from Louisiana, Buddy Guy and Irma Thomas talk about their lives and careers. In Slim’s case, his interview was done 55 years ago.”
Fortunately, Palazzotto got to work on “The Original King Bee” just in time, interviewing many people who knew the musician, including his wife, Lovell Gambler Moore Casey; bandmates Rudy Richard, James Johnson, and Jesse Kinchen; Moore’s contemporaries included musicians such as Raful Neal, Lazy Lester, John Fred Gourrier, and Lynn Ourso. Harpo Awards winner Ray Davies (of the Kinks), Dr. John, Jimmie Vaughan and Lou Ann Barton also participated.
An interview with Moore’s wife, who died in 2004, is another central part of the film. Her recollections include the story of how the couple met, their life together and the origin of “Rainin’ In My Heart,” which became Louisiana’s unofficial national anthem.
“It was great to hear Miss Lovell talk about it, and then to hear Slim admit she was his manager, his songwriting partner, his confidante and his wife,” Palazzotto said. “I am honored that Will and Miss Lovell trusted me to make this film.”
Palazzotto hopes “The Original Queen” will bring more recognition to Moore, who died at the age of 45 shortly before his first European tour.
“He’s not in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame,” Palazzotto said. “He was only recognized by the Grammy organization for one song (“I Am the Queen Bee” in 1957). But in the short time he has been in the music business, he has become an accomplished artist.”
“Original Queen Bee”
Thursday, January 26 at 7:30pm
Manship Theatre, 100 Lafayette St.
$12
manshiptheatre.org
