Fugitiv Films, in collaboration with The Reel Blues Fest and Northern Light Productions, is pleased to announce the wide release of Bonnie Blue: James Cotton’s Life in the Blues. This riveting new documentary offers an intimate look at the life of James “Super Harp” Cotton (1935–2017), whose remarkable journey carried the blues from the post-Depression Mississippi Delta to the forefront of American music and beyond.
A Blues Legacy That Shaped American Music
Born on a plantation and mentored by the original masters of Delta blues—Sonny Boy Williamson II and Muddy Waters—Cotton emerged as a towering figure in Chicago’s vibrant blues scene. His trademark style, virtuoso harmonica playing, and boundless onstage energy helped catapult the harp to unprecedented prominence in rock ‘n roll, jazz, and big-band music. With tours alongside Janis Joplin and Paul Butterfield, and studio sessions and jams with icons like the Rolling Stones, Grateful Dead, Led Zeppelin, Santana, Steve Miller, and B.B. King, Cotton left an indelible mark on 20th-century music.
A Powerful Journey in Sight and Sound
Under the direction of Producer-Director Bestor Cram, Bonnie Blue seamlessly interweaves rarely seen archival footage, still photos, and brand-new 4K concert recordings. Contemporary blues greats—Buddy Guy, Jimmie Vaughan, Steve Miller, Bobby Rush, Billy Branch, Annie Raines, Curtis Salgado, Rick Estrin, Bob Margolin, and many more—share candid interviews and stirring performances that illuminate Cotton’s enduring influence. The film likewise delves into Cotton’s final autobiographical recording sessions, produced by Grammy Award–winner Tom Hambridge, revealing in music and lyric the poignant story of Cotton’s roots in the plantation fields and his rise to the world’s greatest stages.
The Heart and Soul of the Harp
Though Cotton lost his singing voice to throat cancer, his harmonica spoke volumes. As James Montgomery, co-producer and longtime friend, reflects, “The harp is the most intimate of all musical instruments—it’s an extension of one’s vocal cords.” Cotton himself put it even more simply: “The voice is gone, but the wind is still there.” Bonnie Blue captures that powerful wind, illustrating how Cotton channeled a lifetime of feeling into each note and managed to electrify audiences with every performance.
A Team Dedicated to Preserving the Blues
Executive Producer: Judy Laster, Co-Founder of The Reel Blues Fest, attorney, and Founder/Director of the Woods Hole Film Festival
Co-Producer: James Montgomery, renowned blues musician, harmonica player, and leader of the James Montgomery Blues Band
Producer-Director: Bestor Cram, Founder of Northern Light Productions, known for award-winning documentaries including Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison, The Orange Blossom Special, and Birth of a Movement
Together, this team has created a documentary that not only celebrates a singular artist but also honors the cultural significance of blues music in American history.
Now Streaming Everywhere
Following an acclaimed festival run—where Bonnie Blue was named one of five finalists for the Library of Congress Ken Burns Prize for Film—the documentary is now available on all cable, satellite, and digital platforms, including Apple TV and Prime Video. Experience this unforgettable testament to James Cotton’s life, legacy, and uncompromising passion for the blues.
