Season 1 Plot
Reginald D Hunter travels through the American South to explore its rich musical heritage.
Reginald D Hunter's Songs of the South Season 1 aired on February 21st, 2015.
Season 1 Episodes
1. Tennessee and Kentucky
In the first of a three-part road trip, Georgia-born but London-based Reginald D Hunter returns home to explore the American south both past and present through its world-famous songs. Reg begins by exploring the sounds of Kentucky and Tennessee and the disturbing tradition of blackface minstrelsy. Hunter is led through the south by its signature songs, including Dolly Parton's My Tennessee Mountain Home, Knoxville Girl, Blue Moon of Kentucky, Chattanooga Choo Choo and minstrel songs such as My Ol' Kentucky Home and Old Folks at Home. On his voyage Reg visits Dollywood, a slave plantation in Bardstown, Nashville - the home of country music, a moonshine distillery in Gatlinburg and a string band festival in Mount Airy.
2. Alabama and Georgia
In the second of a three-part road trip, Georgia-born but London-based Reginald D Hunter heads home to explore the interplay between gospel, soul and hip hop. Passing through Alabama, Reg witnesses a Lynryrd Skynyrd gig and discovers the soul riches of the town of Muscle Shoals. Arriving in Georgia, Reg visits the Athens of the B52s and REM, as well as Martin Luther King's and Ludacris's Atlanta.
3. Mississippi and Louisiana
In the final film, Reg’s journey evokes a classic Huck Finn Mississippi adventure from Memphis to New Orleans. In Memphis Reg meets soul icons Steve Cropper and Eddie Floyd at Stax Records before heading back in time to the juke joints. Reg’s final port of call is post-Katrina New Orleans where he is given a spectacular musical send-off by the city’s royalty including Dr John, Irma Thomas, Allen Toussaint and the Soul Rebels.
