Canadian music legend Jackie Richardson stars in VisionTV drama special The
Gospel According to the Blues

TORONTO, May 10 /CNW/ - Momma-Lou Steele has lived her whole life in the North End of Halifax - but she barely recognizes the neighbourhood anymore. Drugs and violence have robbed the community of its soul. When these evils find their way into her home, Momma-Lou decides she has no choice but to take matters into her own hands.

On Tuesday, June 1 at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT, VisionTV presents the world television premiere of The Gospel According to the Blues, an hour-long drama special by Genie Award-winning Halifax writer-director Thom Fitzgerald (The Hanging Garden, The Event).

This stark urban tragedy is based on Halifax-born playwright George Boyd's drama Gideon's Blues. Jackie Richardson, Canada's premier jazz, blues and gospel performer, stars as Momma-Lou Steele.

A widow in her sixties, Momma-Lou is a pillar of her community and her church, where she sings gospel in the choir on Sundays, lifting her joyous voice to the Lord. But each day, she must watch the neighbourhood around her slipping deeper into poverty and despair.

Momma-Lou's son Gideon (Richard Chevolleau) has the blues, too. A college graduate, he struggles without success to find a job that will provide properly for his wife Cherlene (Karen Robinson) and their two young children. Frustrated and angry, he turns to the one line of work that seems to promise an easy path out of poverty.

The knowledge that her son profits from the very drug trade that has ripped the community apart is more than Momma-Lou can bear. When Gideon's criminal activities endanger her grandchildren, she faces a terrible choice. What price is Momma-Lou willing to pay to remove Gideon and his drugs from her life - for good?

The Gospel According to the Blues was filmed in Halifax and Windsor, Nova Scotia. Tara Baxter, Garry James and Cory Bowles also star.

Thom Fitzgerald and Doug Pettigrew are the Producers. Joan Jenkinson is the Executive Producer for VisionTV.

The hour-long film premiered at the Atlantic Film Festival in 2009.

For further information: Media Contact: David Todd, Media Relations Manager, VisionTV, Phone: [phone], ext. 207, Email: [email protected]; For more information on VisionTV programming, please visit www.visiontv.ca