Bayou Maharajah explores the life and music of New Orleans piano legend James Booker, the man Dr. John described as "the best black, gay, one-eyed junkie piano genius New Orleans has ever produced." A brilliant pianist, his eccentricities and showmanship belied a life of struggle, prejudice, and isolation. Illustrated with never-before-seen concert footage, rare personal photos and exclusive interviews, the film paints a portrait of this overlooked genius.
Direction
Keber lets Booker's contradictions breathe—no sanitized myth-making.
Editing
Seamless weave of decaying audio, home footage, and stunned testimonials.
Sound
His Carnegie Hall 'Carnegie Blues' will wreck you.
Director
Lily Keber
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Booker taught a teenage Harry Connick Jr. after his mother's church connections vouched for him—Connick still plays 'Piano Salad' at shows.
His missing eye was rumored to be from police brutality, a car accident, or mob debt—Keber lets all theories coexist, refusing to resolve the trauma into digestible narrative.
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