Robert Mugge

Since 1976, independent filmmaker Robert Mugge has produced and directed more than three dozen documentaries about various aspects of American culture, with particular emphasis on traditional forms of American music. In his first book, "Notes from the Road: A Filmmaker’s Journey through American Music," published by The Sager Group in 2023, he described the making of what he considered to be his twenty-five key music films to date, including "Sun Ra: A Joyful Noise," "Black Wax" with Gil Scott-Heron, "Gospel According to Al Green," "Saxophone Colossus" with Sonny Rollins, "Kumu Hula: Keepers of a Culture," "Deep Blues," "The Kingdom of Zydeco," "Hellhounds on My Trail: The Afterlife of Robert Johnson," "Rhythm ’N’ Bayous: A Road Map to Louisiana Music," "Last of the Mississippi Jukes," "George Crumb: Voice of the Whale," "Blues Divas," "New Orleans Music in Exile," and many more. In his second book, "Saloon Man: A German Immigrant Battles the Limits of Liberty, 1870 to 1915," published by the Sager Group in 2024, he creates a detailed biography of his hugely successful great-grandfather, the "original" Robert Mugge, known as "the saloon magnate of Tampa." In early 2025, he also plans to release his latest music-related film, titled "Deep Roots: The Art and Music of Bill Steber and Friends." Mugge's favorites of his many awards include a Keeping the Blues Alive in Film Award from the Blues Foundation in Memphis (1992), a Gambit Weekly Big Easy Music Award for being a "Special Friend of New Orleans Music" (2007), and Lifetime Achievement Awards from the Santa Fe Film Festival (2005) and the Cinema on the Bayou Film Festival (2008). He also has served as Filmmaker in Residence for Mississippi Public Broadcasting and as an Endowed Chair Professor at Ball State University. He currently lives in Muncie, Indiana with his wife and filmmaking partner, Diana Zelman, a former financial adviser.