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Jeremy Marre(7 October 1943 – 15 March 2020) was an English television director, writer and producer who founded Harcourt Films and made films around the world.[1]Much of his work focused on musical subjects.

His reputation was made with theBeats of the Heartseries, which introduced elements of what is now calledworld music,and its performers,[2]to the Western world.[3]Rhythms of Resistance,a film in the series, was wherePaul Simonfirst sawLadysmith Black Mambazo,who played a prominent role on Simon’sGracelandalbum.[4]The New York Timessaid ofBeats of the Heart:"It can make your jaw drop regularly with astonishment."[5]He has run director courses for theNational Film and Television School,sat on the advisory boards for theBritish Library Sound Archiveand theArts Council of England,has broadcast widely onBBCradio, has written forThe Times,New York PostandThe Independent.

There have been retrospectives of his music films at the Florence Film Festival and onChannel 4.[6]

In 2016, Marre was the first recipient of a new lifetime achievement award bestowed jointly byArizona State Universityand Arizona Humanities.[7]

Biography

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Marre grew up and was educated in London. He read law and began training as a lawyer, before studying film at theSlade Schooland theRoyal College of Art.He was married with two sons.

Career

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In 1986,the New York Timeswrote: “Somehow, the director Jeremy Marre manages to document musical events that most outsiders wouldn't even hear about, much less be allowed to attend.”[8]

Marre's most recent completed work is a profile ofCount Basie[9]in 2019. In 2018, he directedAmy Winehouse: Back to Black,first shown on BBC4. In his review forThe Arts Desk,Mark Kidelwrote of the film: "Jeremy Marre has consistently been making first-class music documentaries since the 1970’s: he knows how to tell a story, and allows enough space for the music to speak for itself."[10]Before that, Marre madeMarc Bolan,"Cosmic Dancer", for BBC to mark the 40th anniversary of the singer's death. The film is described by theSunday Timesas "fascinatingly ambiguous"[11]and premiered in the UK on Friday 15 September 2017.[12]

Marre's previous film was the feature-length documentary, "The Heart of Country" a history of the Nashville music scene.[13]In 2013, he produced and directed "Key to the Highway", telling the story of Blues legendBig Bill Broonzywith interviews fromKeith Richards,Ray DaviesandPete Seeger.[14]

"Youssou N'Dour:Voice of Africa "was first shown onBBC Fouron Friday 30 August 2013.[15]Before that, "Otis Redding: Soul Ambassador" was the first documentary on the life of the soul singerOtis Redding.[16]

Marre also made "Angels and Demons: the Carlos Santana Story", a feature-length biography based around an intimate interview withSantana.[17]

In 2011 he was responsible for the BBC's acclaimedReggae Britannia,[18]a history ofreggae music in the UK,premiered in February 2011. The film won the UNESCO Award for best feature documentary at the Jamaica Reggae Festival 2011, jointly withFire in Babylon.[19]

On the death ofMalcolm McLarenin 2010, Marre's tribute show was broadcast on BBC2. He has also produced the seriesLatin Music USA,[20]a transatlantic co-production about the history ofLatin American musicand its influence on popular music in general.

Other highlights of his work in the last decade include directing a documentary on the Americanprison gangTheAryan Brotherhood;[21]acting as series producer of theBBCMusic seriesSoul Britanniaexamining the history and influence ofsoul musicin Britain;[22]writing and directingMarvin Gaye:What's Going On?,a biography for thePBSseriesAmerican Mastersand BBC; andThe RealPhil Spector,a one-hour biography of the reclusive music producer recently found guilty of murder, forChannel 4.

Previously, Marre has worked withJames BrownonSoul Survivor – The James Brown Story,a 90-minute biography featuring extended interviews, rehearsal, and performance by James Brown,[23]also featuringLittle Richard,Chuck DandDan Aykroyd.[24]

His award-winning documentaryLadyboys,was shown on Channel 4 and abroad. His 90-minute movieRebel Musicabout the life ofBob Marleyearned him aGrammy Awardnomination[25](Bob Marley's first), as well as winning theCINE Golden Eagleprize.

Earlier work included theBAFTAnominated (2002)[26]opening one-hour film for the BBC seriesWalk on By;an eight-hour Channel 4 seriesChasing Rainbows,a part-dramatised story of British popular music and the 3-part seriesNature of Music(Channel 4) about ritual and music around the world;Forbidden Image,with an original score byRavi Shankar,for ITV.

Marre collaborated with Derek Bailey on the four-part Channel 4 series aboutmusical improvisationaround the world,On the Edge.[27]

He has made several of the BBC seriesClassic Albums,[28][29]worked withGerald Durrellon a 12-part series entitledOurselves and Other Animals,and written, produced and directed programmes for theSouth Bank Showwhich won the Milan Grand Prix and Golden Harp awards.[citation needed]

Beats of the Heart[30]was his 14-hour series on world music that was networked several times on British television, accompanied by his book of the same name and 14 videos/DVDs. The films includeRoots, Rock, Reggae(Jamaican music)[31]andRhythm of Resistanceon black music as resistance toapartheid in South Africa.His work for cinema includesWay of the SwordandSoul of the Samurai.

Harcourt films

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Harcourt Films is a UK-based independent television production company founded by Jeremy Marre.[32][33]

Partial production filmography
  • Beats of the Heart: Roots Rock Reggae(1977) (TV)
  • Beats of the Heart: Salsa(1979) (TV)
  • Beats of the Heart: Rhythm of Resistance(1979) (TV)
  • Beats of the Heart: Chase the Devil – Religious Music of the Appalachian Mountains(1983) (TV)
  • Enemies of Silence(1991) (TV)
  • On the Edge: Improvisation in Music – Nothin' Premeditated(1992) (TV)
  • On the Edge: Improvisation in Music – A Liberating Thing(1992) (TV)
  • On the Edge: Improvisation in Music – Movement in Time(1992) (TV)
  • Ladyboys(1995) (TV)
  • Grateful and the Dead(1996) (TV)
  • Lie Detectors(1997) (TV)
  • A Roll of the Dice: The Capeman on Broadway(1998) (TV)

References

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  1. ^Pareles, Jon (23 March 2020)."Jeremy Marre, Documentarian of World Music, Is Dead at 76".The New York Times.Retrieved23 March2020.
  2. ^"Roots, Rock, Reggae film released – Monday | August 28, 2000".Jamaica Gleaner. 28 August 2000. Archived fromthe originalon 7 February 2012.Retrieved22 February2012.
  3. ^"Beats of the Heart: Rhythm Of Resistance (2007): DVD".Hmv.15 December 2005.Retrieved22 February2012.
  4. ^Pareles, Jon (11 February 2020)."Joseph Shabalala, Ladysmith Black Mambazo Founder, Dies at 78".The New York Times.ISSN0362-4331.Retrieved22 February2020.
  5. ^The New York Times|date=5 May 1986,available in NYT archives; quoted Rich Mix magazine
  6. ^"Biography/cv".Harcourt Films.Retrieved29 February2020.
  7. ^"Press release".Arizona State University. 11 March 2016.Retrieved15 March2020.
  8. ^Jon Pareles (5 May 1986)."'THE ROMANY TRAIL,' ON CHANNEL 31 ".The New York Times.Retrieved29 February2020.
  9. ^"COUNT BASIE / Chichester Cinema at New Park".Chichesterfilmfestival.co.uk.Retrieved29 February2020.
  10. ^"Classic Albums: Amy Winehouse - Back to Black, BBC Four review - suffering turned into song".15 September 2018.
  11. ^"What's on TV today | Culture | The Sunday Times".Thetimes.co.uk.10 September 2017.Retrieved29 February2020.
  12. ^"BBC Four – Marc Bolan: Cosmic Dancer".Bbc.co.uk.Retrieved29 February2020.
  13. ^"BBC Four – The Heart of Country: How Nashville Became Music City USA".Bbc.co.uk.Retrieved29 February2020.
  14. ^Howse, Christopher."Big Bill Broonzy: The Man who Brought the Blues to Britain, BBC Four, review".Telegraph.co.uk.Retrieved29 February2020.
  15. ^"Youssou N'Dour: Voice of Africa".BBC Four.
  16. ^"Otis Redding: Soul Ambassador".The Radio Times.
  17. ^"The Santana Story: Angels and Demons".BBC Four.
  18. ^"Reggae Britannia, BBC Four, review".The Daily Telegraph.
  19. ^"Awards".Jamaica International Reggae Film Festival.
  20. ^"Latin Music USA".BBC.
  21. ^TV and Radio."Last night on television".London: Telegraph. Archived fromthe originalon 26 August 2007.Retrieved22 February2012.
  22. ^"Music – Soul Britannia".BBC.Retrieved22 February2012.
  23. ^"Soul Survivor: The James Brown Story".British Film Institute.Archived fromthe originalon 29 October 2014.
  24. ^"American Masters. James Brown. Filmmaker Interview".PBS.Retrieved22 February2012.
  25. ^"American Masters (1985– ): Awards".IMDb.
  26. ^"BAFTA Awards (2002)".IMDb.
  27. ^John Fordham (29 December 2005)."Obituary: Derek Bailey | From".The Guardian.London.Retrieved22 February2012.
  28. ^Director & Producer: Jeremy Marre (25 November 2016)."Classic Albums: Paul Simon: Graceland".Classic Albums.BBC.BBC Four.
  29. ^Producer: Jeremy Marre (8 October 2016)."Classic Albums: The Wailers: Catch a Fire".Classic Albums.BBC.BBC Four.
  30. ^"Beats of the Heart".Harcourt Films.
  31. ^"Roots Rock Reggae".Itzcaribbean. Archived fromthe originalon 5 February 2012.Retrieved22 February2012.
  32. ^"HARCOURT FILMS LIMITED (Company Report)".Experian.Retrieved29 December2008.
  33. ^"Harcourt Films Production".United Reggae.Retrieved29 December2008.
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