Ozarks Public Television’s newest documentary, “The Ozark Mountain Daredevils — Backstage,” is set to premiere June 30 at 8 p.m.
The 90-minute presentation explores the band’s rich 50-year history from its early days as “a ragtag collection of hippies, bohemians and musicians of no fixed ambition” to their international recording success with chart-topping hits such as “Jackie Blue” and “If You Wanna Get to Heaven.”
“The story of The Ozark Mountain Daredevils is multifaceted, from the band’s formation, their lyric writing, the vocal harmonies that lead to national and international success, and their continued perseverance and popularity for 50 years,” said Brent Slane, program producer. “It’s a journey that we are pleased to deliver for fans old and new alike”
Through concert footage, archival images, interviews with band members and music from the band’s expansive eight-album catalog, “The Ozark Mountain Daredevils — Backstage” tells the story of how a group of Springfield artists, with voices that produced harmonies often compared to the Beatles and the Eagles, became firmly established as one of the most iconic rock bands of the 1970s music era.
“The Ozarks has an abundance of musical talent — from local bluegrass jams to community theatre,” said Rachel Knight, Ozarks Public Television’s general manager. “And yet, it’s not every day that a local band hits it big across the country and on the international stage. That is a story worth telling with depth and detail...and we’re honored to do just that.”
“Ozark Mountain Daredevils — Backstage” premieres on Ozarks Public Television’s main channel on June 30 at 8:00 p.m. and re-airs on July 3. The documentary will be available to stream on video.optv.org on July 1 and DVD copies of the program will be available for purchase around the end of July.
