Documentary on Blues Musician Sterling Magee Shot in Gulfport

Last Friday morning, director Scott Balcereck and videographer Jeff Unay recorded Sterling Magee's every stroke of the guitar in his room at the Boca Ciega Nursing Center.

The rhythm and blues hadn't left the 76-year-old musician, now living in Gulfport.

Balcereck and Unay continued to follow Magee around the center and record his smoke breaks and interaction with other guests. Magee even shared some of his memories and private moments with Balcereck.

Magee's roadie, Kevin Moore, sat by his side and chatted about the years that passed.

This was Balcereck's third visit to Gulfport. While he currently lives in Seattle, Balcereck met Magee, known to him as "Satan," in 1995 in Pittsburgh. He discovered Satan and his apprentice, Adam Gussow, and began the journey to tell their story of "blues" in the documentary "Satan and Adam."

“I never thought at any point I don’t know how good the film is going to be. In my mind, it’s going to be great,” Balcereck said.

In the '90s Balcereck began shooting video of the duo performing on Harlem's streets in New York. Over the years, Balcereck caught up with them from time to time and shot video of performances in Memphis, Mississippi, Los Angeles, London and Florida.

Balcereck even lost track of Magee for a couple of years, after Magee suffered from major health problems. 

"He sort of disappeared," he said.

Balcereck managed to track down a relative in Mississippi, who said Magee was living with family in St. Pete. Once Balcereck found Magee again, he kept working toward finishing the documentary and filming an ending.

"I never really had an ending. I just knew it my heart that I didn’t have an ending,” he said.

Balcereck "waited it out" and found out that Satan and Adam were invited to perform at this past sunday's New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.

"This is the most perfect ending for the saga,” he said.

Moore, Magee's "roadie" and friend, said he's excited to finally see a finished product.

Moore met Magee six years ago at the center and learned of his musical background after giving him a guitar. Moore said he lit up and began playing song after song.

Moore introduced Gulfport to Sterling Magee after assembling a band and arranging performances at the Peninsula Inn. For the past few years, rhythm and blues filled the courtyard in downtown Gulfport on Tuesday nights. However, members of "Sterling Magee and the Harlem Blues Band" ended up going their separate ways after Dave Laycock, the group's drummer, passed away in November 2011.

On Friday, Moore said the invite to New Orleans was once in a lifetime opportunity. The last time "Satan and Adam" performed at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival was 22 years ago.

“This is like the icing on the cake for the documentary,” Moore said. 

On Saturday morning, Balcereck flew to New Orleans with Moore and Magee to film his performance with Adam. He finally thinks he's found his ending.

"I'm glad now that I waited," Balcereck said.

Balcereck estimates the documentary will be between 70 and 80 minutes and plans to show "Satan and Adam" at a film festival. Although he doesn't have a final completion date, he hopes to finish the film within a year.

Moore and Magee are expected to arrive home in Gulfport on Monday night.

See the "Satan and Adam" documentary trailer attached to this article. Stay tuned to Patch for updates.

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