Former drama TV series Deputy showrunner, Kimberly A. Harrison, has signed on as showrunner for Terrance Howard’s Mississippi Blues Drama – Delta Blues. She will head the show under Zero Gravity Management, who also produces Netflix’s Ozark. Through the deal, Harrison is working once again with Evan Ross, who she worked with as co-executive producers for FOX’s Star.
The one hour drama is based on the true life of the often revered Godfather of Blues – W.C. Handy. Terrence Howard will be making his directorial debut with the project and will also star in the series. Delta Blues is based on a script by Ellen Perry, Zachery Anderson, Edwin B. Shackeroff and Trudy Davies.
The show is set in 1903 in the Mississippi Delta chronicling Handy’s journey after discovering from his southern surroundings the rhythms that would be the foundation for Blues music. Blues follows Handy as he began his career leading the minstrel troupe Mahara’s Angels until he was asked to lead the brass band for Black Masonic group, The Knights of Pythias. The new position prompted him to move to the Delta which ultimately and unbeknownst to himself, led Handy to become the first Black music mogul in America.
According to Deadline, Harrison said, “This is truly a dream project for me especially, given my family’s Mississippi roots. Although it’s been over a century since Delta Blues took place, its timelessness reflects some of the same political and social issues we’re still experiencing today. We’re going to tap into the history behind the history, and finally give these iconic figures of the African American community a platform to have their stories told. Imagine the inspiration gleaned from Handy, a man who in creating the blues, laid the foundation for the artists and music of today, starting from his humble minstrel beginnings to building a music publishing empire.”
Harrison has worked with CBS prior, co-producing on Criminal Minds and co-executive producing on All Rise for the network.
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