Series synopsis
American Epic is an American documentary television series that premiered on PBS on May 16, 2017. It ended on May 30, 2017. It was created by Bernard MacMahon. It stars Robert Redford and Taj Mahal.
Travel the country in search of unknown 1920s artists, when the music of ordinary Americans was recorded for the first time, transforming music forever, in a three-part film narrated by Robert Redford, featuring Jack White, Nas, Taj Mahal and others.
Premise
Travel the country in search of unknown 1920s artists, when the music of ordinary Americans was recorded for the first time, transforming music forever, in a three-part film narrated by Robert Redford, featuring Jack White, Nas, Taj Mahal and others.
Premise: The First Time America Heard Itself
Cast and characters
Leading cast
- Robert Redford as Narrator (voice)
- Taj Mahal as Self
Guest cast
- Mississippi John Hurt as Self (archive footage)
- Jack White as Self
- Nas as Self
- Willie Nelson as Self
- Lydia Mendoza as Self (archive footage)
Episodes
This series spans 1 season with 3 episodes.
| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | 3 | May 16, 2017 | May 30, 2017 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
The Big Bang Travel to 1920s Tennessee as the Carter Family, Jimmie Rodgers, and the Memphis Jug Band make their first records with producer Ralph Peer on a revolutionary portable recording machine, creating the first recordings of R&B and country songs. |
May 16, 2017 |
| 2 |
Blood and Soil Travel to the rural South as Elder Burch, Charley Patton and others record early Delta blues, gospel and protest songs. The Great Flood of 1927 devastates Mississippi River communities, leading to northern migration and Chicago Blues by Howlin' Wolf. |
May 23, 2017 |
| 3 |
Out of the Many, the One Discover how America's diverse cultures contribute to its musical styles: from the Hopi tribe to Hawaii's Joseph Kekuku to Mexican-American Lydia Mendoza and the Cajun Breaux Family. Mississippi John Hurt's blues inspires a generation of musicians. |
May 30, 2017 |
Production
Release
| Original network/platform | PBS |
|---|---|
| First aired | May 16, 2017 |
| Last aired | May 30, 2017 |
| Status | ended |
| Schedule | Tuesday at 21:00:00 |