Starz InBlack to Celebrate Black History Month With World Premiere of 'Blues

Divas'

Features Performances by Eight of the World's Most Soulful Female Blues

Singers and Interviews by Morgan Freeman

Sunday, February 5 at 8 p.m., et/pt Only on Starz InBlack

ENGLEWOOD, Colo., Jan. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Starz InBlack will present
the world premiere of the soulful blues concert "Blues Divas,"
featuring musical performances from eight gifted blues singers who are
interviewed by Oscar(R)-winning actor and blues lover Morgan Freeman.
"Blues Divas" premieres during Black History Month at 8 p.m., Sunday,
February 5 with additional playdates throughout the month, only on
Starz InBlack.

The film opens with a brief introduction by Freeman who describes his
location as "ground zero" for the blues. Freeman just happens to be
standing in front of Ground Zero Blues Club, a modern-day juke joint
he co-owns in Clarksdale, Mississippi, where the show was taped. In
between the stirring performances, which feature a blend of blues,
soul, folk and gospel music, the show is punctuated with informal
chats with the divas and Freeman who enjoys reminiscing about their
early beginnings. "Blues Divas" features musical performances from
eight gifted vocalists: Deborah Coleman, Mavis Staples, Irma Thomas,
Bettye Lavette, Odetta, Ann Peebles, Denise LaSalle and Renee Austin.

Filmed over a three-day weekend, "Blues Divas" is produced by Blue M
Productions and Mississippi Public Broadcasting as part of a series of
feature films focusing on this true American genre of music born in
the Mississippi Delta. Executive producer Ty Warren tapped noted music
documentarian Robert Mugge ("Last of the Mississippi Jukes") to direct
"Blues Divas."

Mugge travels to the heartland of the blues, Clarksdale, Mississippi,
to capture, in his signature style, the soulful, passionate
performances of the talented yet underappreciated divas. After
watching the one hour and fifty five minute concert documentary you
will be convinced that the soulful talents of these extraordinary
blues singers are deserving of wider recognition.

"These incredible blues women singers will blow you away with their
soul filled performances," said Stephan Shelanski, senior vice
president, acquisitions, programming and scheduling. "Starz InBlack is
the ideal place to bring the world premiere of 'Blues Divas' to our
viewers."

"'Blues Divas' is a perfect fit for Starz InBlack" said Brett
Marottoli, director, programming acquisitions. "At Starz InBlack we
aim to celebrate the breadth and depth of the African American
experience and 'Blues Divas' is a complement to that mission."

First up is blues diva Irma Thomas, known to many as the Soul Queen of
New Orleans and owner of the Lions Den blues club in the Big Easy.
Thomas belts out a few old favorites, including the classic, "Chains
of Love."

Deborah Coleman has been hailed as one of blues music's most exciting
young talents. Her guitar style reflects the influences of Jimi
Hendrix, Buddy Guy and Larry Carlton. Her vocal inspirations are often
found in the singing of Patti Smith, Bessie Smith, Janis Joplin and
Alberta Hunter. Both talents are clearly evident in "Blues Divas" in
her performance of the KoKo Taylor song, "I'm A Woman."

Soul and gospel legend Mavis Staples possesses one of the most
recognizable voices in contemporary music and it comes through loud
and clear in the film. From her early days singing with her dad "Pop"
Staples and their family group, the Staple Singers, to her powerful
solo recordings, Staples voice still rings true. Staples and Freeman
enjoy discussing her early beginnings and she sings stirring gospel
material including a sweet song entitled "God is not Sleeping," from
her latest CD, "Have a Little Faith."

Bettye LaVette has been around for more than 40 years having first
recorded, "My Man -- He's a Loving Man" when she was just 16. In
"Blues Divas", the crowd goes wild when she sings her old hit, "Your
turn to Cry (Your Time to Cry)."

Odetta, although in her 70's, looks radiant in red and sounds as
youthful as ever. Her performance continues to reflect her passion for
mixing the blues and protest songs. She sings the classic blues song
"Careless Love."

The extraordinary Ann Peebles sings a song she made popular, "I Can't
Stand the Rain" and Renee Austin performs a tribute to Ella
Fitzgerald, "Fool Moon."

"Blues Divas" closes out with the Queen of the Southern Soul Blues
Denise LaSalle. LaSalle makes sure you understand that she is an
experienced, down-home blues singer and her performance in the film
gives you no doubt when she belts out "Still the Queen."

Ground Zero Blues Club's mission is to showcase the best in blues
talent with an emphasis on musicians living and working in -- or with
ties to -- the Mississippi Delta. Located in a renovated turn-of-the
century cotton grading warehouse near an old train depot that now
houses the Delta Blues Museum, the club has become a cultural
institution for blues aficionados. Freeman co-owns the club with
Clarksdale attorney and businessman Bill Luckett and Memphis
entertainment executive Howard Stovall. All are committed to showcase
new blues talent and to the preservation and education of this
native-born music genre.

Starz Entertainment Group LLC (SEG) is the largest provider of premium
movie services in the United States. SEG offers 13 digital movie
channels including the flagship Starz(R) and Encore(R) channels with
approximately 14 million and 25 million subscribers respectively.
Starz Entertainment Group airs more than 750 movies per month across
its pay TV channels and is a forerunner in offering its subscribers
advanced services such as Starz HDTV, Starz On Demand(R) and
Vongo(SM). Starz Entertainment Group is a wholly-owned subsidiary of
Liberty Media Corporation (NYSE: L, LMCb), www.starz.com.

Contacts: Chelsye J. Burrows Jonathan Taylor

Starz Entertainment Group The Lippin Group

720.852.5838 323.965.1990

chelsye.burrows@starz.com jtaylor@lippingroup.com SOURCE Starz
Entertainment Group