In 1986, when harmonica player Adam Gussow asked if he could jam with one-man band Sterling “Mr. Satan” Magee, it was the beginning of an unforgettable collaboration–dubbed Satan & Adam. Amidst the racial tension in New York City, this Jewish Ivy League graduate and black Mississippi music master made an unlikely pair, but their musical stylings perfectly aligned as they made gritty, garage-style blues rock.

After a chance discovery, and a celebrated debut record, the duo rose to international acclaim from their Harlem street corner. But as quickly as they were discovered, their meteoric rise was cut short when Mr. Satan mysteriously disappeared. The result is a film 23 years in the making that captures a miraculous journey of friendship, heartbreak and the transformative power of music.

Reviews

“An unassuming little gem that lures you in with the music and sends you away with a better understanding of what it means to be human.” – J.R. Kinnard, Nonfics

“A compelling profile of two men seen as an odd couple by society’s standards who are completely in sync musically.” – Stephen Saito, A Moveable Feast

“SATAN AND ADAM has the best third act of any music doc since SEARCHING FOR SUGAR MAN.” – Unseen Films