The Blues poster

TV series

The Blues

20031 season7.4 / 10

Martin Scorsese Presents The Blues - A Musical Journey

The Blues (2003) is a seven-part documentary series produced by Martin Scorsese that explores the history and influence of blues music. Each episode, directed by a different filmmaker, traces a unique aspect of the genre’s evolution—from its African roots to its global impact. Originally airing on PBS, the series includes Scorsese’s Feel Like Going Home, Wim Wenders’ The Soul of a Man, Richard Pearce’s The Road to Memphis, Charles Burnett’s Warming by the Devil’s Fire, Marc Levin’s Godfathers and Sons, Mike Figgis’ Red, White and Blues, and Clint Eastwood’s Piano Blues.

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Availability

Not streaming in United States

Checked Sep 2, 2026

The Blues premiered September 28, 2003. We don't have a confirmed streaming, rental or purchase option yet.

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Synopsis

The Blues (2003) is a seven-part documentary series produced by Martin Scorsese that explores the history and influence of blues music. Each episode, directed by a different filmmaker, traces a unique aspect of the genre’s evolution—from its African roots to its global impact. Originally airing on PBS, the series includes Scorsese’s Feel Like Going Home, Wim Wenders’ The Soul of a Man, Richard Pearce’s The Road to Memphis, Charles Burnett’s Warming by the Devil’s Fire, Marc Levin’s Godfathers and Sons, Mike Figgis’ Red, White and Blues, and Clint Eastwood’s Piano Blues.

Season 1 episodes

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Episode 1

Feel Like Going Home

Sep 28, 20031h 30m8.0 / 10

Director Martin Scorsese pays homage to the Delta blues. Musician Corey Harris travels through Mississippi and on to West Africa, exploring the roots of the music. The film celebrates the early Delta bluesmen through original performances (including Willie King, Taj Mahal, Otha Turner, and Ali Farka Toure) and rare archival footage (featuring Son House, Muddy Waters, and John Lee Hooker).

Episode credits

Directed by Martin ScorseseWritten by Peter GuralnickGuest stars Taj Mahal, Salif Keita, Ali Farka Touré, John Lee Hooker, Sam Carr, Toumani Diabaté, Corey Harris, Son House

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Episode 2

Soul of a Man

Sep 29, 20031h 30m

The film explores the musical careers of blues musicians Skip James, Blind Willie Johnson and J. B. Lenoir.

Episode credits

Directed by Wim WendersWritten by Wim WendersGuest stars Chris Thomas King, Keith B. Brown, James Hughes, David F. Hughes, Shayne Tingle, Joy Brashears, T Bone Burnett, James Blood Ulmer

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Episode 3

The Road To Memphis

Sep 30, 20031h 30m

The film follows the career of Blues musician B.B. King. It features performances by B.B. King, Bobby Rush, Rosco Gordon and Ike Turner, as well as historical footage of Howlin' Wolf and Rufus Thomas.

Episode credits

Directed by Richard PearceWritten by Robert GordonGuest stars B.B. King, Ike Turner, Rosco Gordon, Roy Hawkins, Rufus Thomas, Howlin' Wolf

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Episode 4

Warming by the Devil's Fire

Oct 1, 20031h 30m

Director Charles Burnett presents a tale about a young boy's encounter with his family in Mississippi in the 1950s, and intergenerational tensions between the heavenly strains of gospel and the devilish moans of the blues.

Episode credits

Directed by Charles BurnettWritten by Charles BurnettGuest stars Elizabeth Cotten

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Episode 5

Godfathers and Sons

Oct 2, 20031h 30m7.0 / 10

Director Marc Levin travels to Chicago with hip-hop legend Chuck D (of Public Enemy) and Marshall Chess (son of Leonard Chess and heir to the Chess Records legacy) to explore the heyday of Chicago blues as they unite to produce an album that seeks to bring veteran blues players together with contemporary hip hop musicians. Along with never-before-seen archival footage of Howlin' Wolf, Muddy Waters and the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, are original performances by Koko Taylor, Otis Rush, Magic Slim, Ike Turner, and Sam Lay.

Episode credits

Directed by Marc LevinGuest stars Marshall Chess, Chuck D

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Episode 6

Red, White and Blues

Oct 3, 20031h 30m

Director Mike Figgis joins musicians such as Van Morrison, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, and Tom Jones, performing and talking about the music of the early sixties British invasion that reintroduced the blues sound to America.

Episode credits

Directed by Mike Figgis

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Episode 7

Piano Blues

Oct 4, 20031h 30mfinale

The film features interviews and live performances of piano players Ray Charles, Dave Brubeck, Dr. John and Marcia Ball. Eastwood interviews artists as Ray Charles, Dr. John, Marcia Ball, Pinetop Perkins, Dave Brubeck, Jay McShann, Henry Gray and shows archival performances of Fats Domino, Otis Spann, Art Tatum, Albert Simmons, Pete Johnson, Jay McShann, Big Joe Turner, Nat King Cole, Martha Davis, Professor Longhair, Charles Brown and Duke Ellington. Remarkable are two early performances of the Chess Records houseband with Otis Spann, Willie Dixon and, probably, Fred Below.

Episode credits

Directed by Clint EastwoodWritten by Peter GuralnickGuest stars Marcia Ball, Ray Charles

Where to watch The Blues

Episode information updated Sep 14, 2026

Available now in United States

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More about The Blues

Cast

Taj MahalSelf

B.B. KingSelf

Marcia BallSelf

Ike TurnerSelf

Salif KeitaSelf

Ray CharlesSelf

Ali Farka TouréSelf

Rosco GordonSelf (archive footage)

Credits

Created by: Martin Scorsese
Written by: Peter Guralnick, Wim Wenders, Robert Gordon, Charles Burnett

Production details

Status: Ended
Series type: Miniseries
Episodes: 7
Original language: English

Networks & production

PBSUnited States
Vulcan ProductionsUnited States
Road MoviesGermany
Jigsaw ProductionsUnited States

Themes

archive footageblack musicblues musichistorical documentaryinterviewmusic documentarymusic historyold footage