Director Claire Jeffreys Talks Garland Jeffreys Documentary

The Long Island Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame Podcast

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Long Island, New York, Music, Garland Jeffreys: The King of In Between Director, Claire Jeffreys, Up Next on THE LONG ISLAND MUSIC & ENTERTAINMENT HALL OF FAME PODCAST
"Garland Jeffreys: The King Of In Between" is a captivating music documentary directed by Claire Jeffreys, shedding light on the remarkable yet underappreciated career of Garland Jeffreys, a musician whose critical acclaim far outweighed his commercial success. The film explores Garland's life, shaped by his diverse heritage and early exposure to a wide range of musical influences, from doo-wop to jazz and rock'n'roll. Despite facing challenges in a music industry plagued by categorization, Garland emerged as a unique force with his solo debut album in 1973, earning praise from critics.
The documentary delves into pivotal moments in Garland's career, such as the release of "Don't Call Me Buckwheat" in the early '90s, addressing racial struggles and musical diversity. Claire Jeffreys, Garland's longtime manager and spouse, skillfully navigates the delicate balance of filmmaker's distance, portraying not only the intricacies of his musical journey but also the love story between them.
The film culminates in a celebration of Garland's career in 2019, providing a poignant reflection on his legacy and redefining the conventional notions of success in the music industry.
Through interviews with music luminaries like Bruce Springsteen and Laurie Anderson, the documentary paints a vivid portrait of a musician who, despite not achieving mainstream fame, left an indelible mark on the American music landscape.
The film just received the Audience Award at DOC NYC.
This interview originally aired on Tom Needham's THE SOUNDS OF FILM
THE SOUNDS OF FILM is the nation's longest running film and music themed radio show. For the past 30 years, the program has delivered a popular mix of interviews and music to listeners all over Long Island, parts of Connecticut and streaming live worldwide on the internet. Past people interviewed for the show include Alec Baldwin, Billy Joel, Jimmy Webb, Garland Jeffreys, Laurie Anderson, Wallace Shawn, Dionne Warwick and Alexander Payne.
Worldwide listeners can tune into the internet livestream on Thursday's SOUNDS OF FILM at 6 pm EST at wusb.fm.