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New Film in Development
A Feature-length Documentary by Chris Simon and Maureen Gosling

NO MOUSE MUSIC!
The Story of Chris Strachwitz and Arhoolie Records

No Mouse Music! (working title; also under consideration: The Amazing Adventures of a Song Catcher) is a feature-length documentary about the life and vision of Arhoolie Records' founder Chris Strachwitz and his adventures searching out America's roots music. A displaced person from Germany after World War II, Strachwitz helped to bring Cajun music out of Louisiana, Tex-Mex out of Texas, country blues out of the country — and into the living rooms of Middle America. By making this music available to those outside the original cultural communities, he deeply influenced and broadened the way Americans think of their culture and music. His work challenges the concept of America as a monoculture and has helped build our vision of a richly diverse society. 

Forty-seven years and 300+ releases since founding his now-legendary roots music record label, Arhoolie, Strachwitz is still going strong, at the age of 76, pursuing his own heartfelt, quirky vision of authentic American music. He’s an engaging character, also known as “El Fanatico,” who follows his musical passions, lucrative or not. Filmmakers Maureen Gosling (Blossoms of Fire, Burden of Dreams) and Chris Simon (Down An Old Road, J'ai Ete au Bal) have been invited to join him on an intimate journey through American roots music as he looks for new talent and visits old friends. We'll visit with those who inspired him (Sam Charters, Paul Oliver, Mac McCormick) and those he influenced (Ry Cooder, Bonnie Raitt, Richard Thompson, Los Lobos, Linda Ronstadt). We'll hear how he affected the lives of the artists he recorded (Beausoleil, Flaco Jiménez, C.J. Chenier, Del McCoury, Country Joe Mc Donald) and how they affected him. Through one man's amazing journey, we’ll see America through his musical eyes.

Produced and Directed by Maureen Gosling and Chris Simon

Mance Lipscomb and Chris Strachwitz in the late '60s

Chris Strachwitz, Jerry Brock, Chris Simon, and David Silberberg

Chris Strachwitz, Benny Jones, and Jerry Brock in New Orleans in April 2005

Chris Strachwitz and Nick Spitzer on NPR's American Routes

Contact:
Maureen Gosling 510-595-7926 maureen@maureengosling.com

Chris Simon 435-260-8646 csimon12@yahoo.com