This is the long-awaited feature length documentary about the life and work of legendary Luthier, Stuart Mossman. It features David, Keith and Bobby Carradine, reminiscing, playing Mossman guitars and singing.
This is David’s last film and shows him as a musician, singer and songwriter.
The world is “flat-picking” and the steel string acoustic guitar is the most popular musical instrument on the planet.
Thousands play sophisticated bluegrass in virtually every country, and many are as talented as the unknown, original backwoodsmen in the Ozarks. The instruments are the basis for modern, electronically amplified Rock’n’Roll.
“Guitar Hero” is exploding and because of it a new, young population is fascinated by the guitar. Even if they start with the video game many graduate to the real instrument.
Tragically, Stuart Mossman died young, leaving a grieving family and thousands of admirers – yet his work is the foundation upon which today’s generation of Luthiers is building guitars from fine tone woods. Barry Brown, David Carradine and Scott Baxendale produced the film. As a teenager, drawn by Stuart’s contagious creativity and optimism Scott worked for him, learning the guitar making craft. Stuart transformed lives and Scott eventually purchased the company, continuing to make important Mossman guitars.
Scott now makes his own instruments and compares the resurgence of the hand crafted guitar, led by Stuart, to what happened in Cremona at the time of Stradivari. Mossman guitars will be playing for hundreds of years, long after thousands of factory made instruments have disappeared.
Modern Bluegrass spans every musical form, from jazz and rock to traditional country. The popularity of the modern, steel stringed acoustic guitar, which began with the traditional genius of Doc Watson, has been growing since the 60s. Doc was the first to present it as the universal instrument it has become.