Watch Horn from the Heart: The Paul Butterfield Story

Horn from the Heart: The Paul Butterfield Story is a 2017 documentary film that chronicles the life of legendary blues harmonica player and singer, Paul Butterfield. The movie features interviews and archive footage of Butterfield, his collaborators, and friends. The film gives an in-depth look at Butterfield's humble beginnings, growing up in a wealthy Jewish family in Chicago during the 1940s and 1950s. Despite his privileged background, Butterfield was drawn to the blues from an early age and began playing the harmonica as a teenager.

As he honed his musical talents, Butterfield became a regular on the Chicago blues scene, playing with legends such as Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf. He eventually formed his own band, The Paul Butterfield Blues Band, which featured some of the most talented musicians of the era, including Mike Bloomfield on guitar and Elvin Bishop on drums.

The documentary explores Butterfield's path to success and the challenges he faced along the way, including drug addiction and the racism that was pervasive in the music industry at the time. Despite these obstacles, Butterfield and his band went on to achieve great success, earning critical acclaim and a dedicated fan base.

Throughout the film, we hear from the musicians who knew and worked with Butterfield, including Eric Clapton, Bonnie Raitt, and Al Kooper. They reflect on his talent, his influence on the blues, and his role in shaping the music they love.

The documentary also touches on Butterfield's personal life, including his relationships with his bandmates and his struggles with addiction. Through interviews with his family members and friends, we get a glimpse into the man behind the music and the toll that his lifestyle took on him.

One of the highlights of the film is the extensive performance footage of Butterfield and his band. From their early days playing in small clubs to their iconic performance at the Monterey Pop Festival, we see the raw energy and passion that made them one of the greatest blues acts of all time.

Overall, Horn from the Heart: The Paul Butterfield Story is a captivating and informative tribute to one of the most important figures in the history of the blues. With its wealth of archival footage and insightful interviews, this film will be of interest to anyone who loves great music and wants to learn more about an unsung hero of American music.

Horn from the Heart: The Paul Butterfield Story is a 2018 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 44 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.8 and a MetaScore of 70.