- His internationally acclaimed book, The Original Guitar Hero and The Power of Music, is the foundation for his highly praised in-process documentary of that title. Work with TV and radio stations, professional media and communications work in public affairs, studying documentary films and discussions with filmmakers, and making a highly praised short video on Climate Change and demo film for "The Original Guitar Hero and The Power of Music" documentary, have all given him deep understanding of expression through various forms of media. His profound understanding of our society and political culture are drawn on for filmmaking that reaches and moves people. See below for notes on his Climate Change song and short video. Alger has written 5 books on the media, elections, democracy, public opinion and issues, praised by legends in media and our culture, U.S. senators, some international leaders, and more.- IMDb Mini Biography By: Dean Alger
- Dr. Dean Alger was raised and went to college in Whittier, California (L.A. area). He lives in St. Paul, Minnesota. He earned a Ph.D. in political science from the University of California, Riverside. He was a Fellow in the Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Policy in Harvard's Kennedy School of Government. He was Associate Director of Communications for an historic upset in a U.S. senate campaign in Minnesota (Wellstone). He has served extensively as on air analyst for public & commercial TV & radio, including analyzing how political ads and political movies work. His fourth book, MEGAMEDIA, was substantially drawn on for and he appears in the great Bill Moyers PBS documentary, Free Speech For Sale (1999).
His stunningly powerful, moving short video on Climate Change, with partner Ti Cersley out of the NY Film Academy, The Skies Cried and the Earth Burned, is raved about by regular folks to experts; it's structured around "Dr. D's" original song with superb musical performances. Regular folks: "Just...WOW! ...powerful footage, powerful words." And: "Powerful and beautiful... and right on point." Dr. Max Boykoff, Director, Environmental Studies Program, University of Colorado, and climate communications specialist: "I watched the video. I find it wonderful." And: "Dr. Alger's great contribution will hopefully help compel global citizens to learn how they can take action to combat the causes and consequences of climate change. This is an inspirational call, and creative work like this will help to effectively reach different audiences in different contexts to help push policymakers."
Current Project: Documentary, THE ORIGINAL GUITAR HERO and THE POWER OF MUSIC, largely based on Alger's book: The Original Guitar Hero and The Power of Music - The Legendary Lonnie Johnson, Music and Civil Rights. Also a guitarist, singer and songwriter, he has written issue/protest songs like "The Bankers' Greed Blues" (after the 2008 Wall Street crash)-see the lyrics sheet on his personal website, with congratulatory note from Pete Seeger.
But VITAL NOTE: The book and especially the film are much more than simple old musician biographies. Britain's BLUES & RHYTHM: "This is not a straightforward life story. It's also an attempt to place Lonnie Johnson in a historical context that, as well as being about music, is also about changes in the U.S. and the world in the 20 th century, including modernization and the battle for Civil Rights... Alger traces Johnson's influence, direct and indirect, through quite a list of later great guitarists."
MOJO: "This ambitious book sets out to place Lonnie Johnson as a cross-cultural visionary in the veins of Charlie Christian or Jimi Hendrix, and succeeds brilliantly... This excellent biography does full justice to an under-appreciated musical titan." France's blues, R&B magazine, SOUL BAG: "We should particularly celebrate this beautifully written, richly documented volume. It's one of the best biographies of a bluesman." LAWRENCE COHN was Vice President of Columbia Records, Grammy-winning producer of "Robert Johnson - The Complete Recordings," editor of Nothing But The Blues: "This book is great! Lonnie Johnson's importance for 20 th century music is monumental. Besides the superb review and assessment of Lonnie's music and life, the perspectives on development of artistry on guitar and broader societal impacts make this a profoundly meaningful book."
Legendary British documentary filmmaker on music, Tony Palmer praised the 30 minute demo "short version of the film" as have others:
"Dear 'Dr D' !: I read your very authoritative book. You put us all to shame in forcing us to realise how much Lonnie Johnson has been overlooked.... Your 30-min. "short film" on Vimeo demonstrates Lonnie's greatness as a musician and the need for full recognition very eloquently, and is an excellent "selling document" for the full film. And you can imagine how your emphasis on the influence of LJ and others on the Civil Rights Movement resonated with me. This is a fascinating subject, brought memorably to life by you. Much impressed, keep in touch." -TONY P, Isolde Films, London Tony agreed to serve as Advising Producer & Director for the film.- IMDb Mini Biography By: Dean Alger
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