John Sebastian / "I'll Paint Rainbows All Over Your Blues" is the story of a man who made the world a happier place with songs of love, humor, and hope.
John had two famous parents, world-renowned harmonica virtuoso John Sebastian, Sr., and comedy writer Jane Bisher, growing up in Greenwich Village with house guests like Vivian Vance (Ethel in I Love Lucy), Burl Ives, and Woody Guthrie. The film follows Sebastian from small club stages in 1960s Greenwich Village to a national appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show with his group, The Lovin' Spoonful, and his historic impromptu Woodstock Festival stage performance in 1969. Seemingly everywhere the action was, you’d find John Sebastian.
The film features interviews with his contemporaries including Steven Stills, Michele Phillips (The Mamas and Papas), Arlo Guthrie, Graham Nash, The Cars’ Elliott Easton, bandmates Joe Butler and Steve Boone and former managers and producers all reflecting on John’s friendships and collaborations, giving us an insider’s look into the creative community and times that forged the soundtrack of the baby boom generation.
John co-founded The Lovin’ Spoonful with pal Zal Yanovsky, often referred to as the American Beatles, placing seven top ten hits, from 1965 to 1969, including: “Summer in the City,” “Daydream,” “Did You Ever Have to Make Up Your Mind,” “Nashville Cats,” “Do You Believe in Magic,” “You Didn’t Have to Be So Nice” and “Rain on the Roof.”
Sebastian’s contribution to modern music has been profound, spanning a broad spectrum of styles: AM pop, contemporary folk, rootsy jug band, folk-rock, country, Broadway, and movie soundtracks. His session performances on records by Crosby, Stills, and Nash and The Doors are legendary.
Sebastian went solo in 1969 and was immortalized by his performance at the Woodstock Music and Art Fair in the Warner Bros. movie Woodstock, elevating the soft-spoken artist to rock icon status. In 1975, Sebastian’s self-penned song “Welcome Back” became the theme for the smash hit television sitcom Welcome Back, Kotter. The song soared to the top of the charts, again weaving his music into the fabric of our popular culture. Hundreds of artists have covered his songs. To this day, John continues to write, tour, record, and collaborate with artists worldwide. John Sebastian was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2008 and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000.
“I’ll Paint Rainbows All Over Your Blues” is a film not to be missed!
Tickets:
$20 per person
Directors:
Todd Kwait and Chris Andersen
Producers:
Chris Andersen, Catherine Sebastian, Jim Della Croce, Jim Shea
Executive Producer:
Todd Kwait
Cast:
John Sebastian, Arlo Guthrie, Stephen Stills, Graham Nash, Michelle Phillips, Steve Boone, Joe Butler, Bob Cavallo, Erik Jacobsen
Editors:
Chris Andersen and Brian Foster
Runtime:
125 min
Year:
2025