Jazz funk saxophonist, Plunky talks about his career as a musician, his youth growing up in the American South and those who inspired him, including: Dr. Martin Luther King, John Coltrane, Pharoah Sanders, Maceo Parker, James Brown, Fela Kuti and others. The documentary is in English with French subtitles and features historical footage of all Plunky's idols mentioned above.

James "Plunky" Branch is an American jazz saxophonist, songwriter, and music and film producer. He founded the band Plunky & Oneness, which began as Juju in 1971 and was renamed twice (Oneness of Juju, Plunky & the Oneness of Juju) before it was given its current name in 1988. Branch is the president and founder of the independent record label N.A.M.E. Brand Records, through which he has released 25 albums.

James "Plunky" Branch is an American jazz saxophonist, songwriter, and music and film producer. He founded the band Plunky & Oneness, which began as Juju in 1971 and was renamed twice (Oneness of Juju, Plunky & the Oneness of Juju) before it was given its current name in 1988. Branch is the president and founder of the independent record label N.A.M.E. Brand Records, through which he has released 25 albums. Writer: J. Plunky Branch Publisher: Shekere Music BMI

Special BONUS episode with Richmond legend James "Plunky" Branch. This conversation with Robert digs deep into the soul of the first American music and its influence on the art. Plunky graces us with an improvisation to wrap up the discussion.

After J. Plunky Branch's set for Elevator Pitch at the Institute for Contemporary Art at VCU, the jazz saxophonist answered some questions from series co-curator Mikemetic. Watch Elevator Pitch, Episode 8 with J. Plunky Branch here: https://youtu.be/ftaf8TySlHU Saxophonist J. Plunky Branch (Plunky & Oneness) is an experienced performer, songwriter, producer and musicologist. He has released 30 albums and with his group, Plunky & Oneness, he has appeared in concert with some of the biggest names in Black music, including Patti Labelle, Ray Charles, Earth Wind & Fire, Pharoah Sanders, Frankie Beverly & Maze, Roy Ayers, and more. Plunky’s touring has taken him to England, France, Germany, Austria and Switzerland. He twice toured Ghana, West Africa, once for the Ghana National Commission on Children, and again as a cultural specialist for the U.S. Information Agency. He has traveled to Brazil and visited to Cuba to research and produce music recordings and the documentary film, Under the Radar – A Survey of Afro-Cuban Music. In 2018, J. Plunky Branch received the prestigious “50 For 50 Award” from the Virginia Commission for the Arts as one of the 50 outstanding arts persons in Virginia of the last 50 years. In 2015 he was selected as one of the Strong Men & Women in Virginia History by the Library of Virginia. For more information about J. Plunky Branch, visit https://plunkyone.com/. For more information about Elevator Pitch, visit https://icavcu.org/elevator-pitch/.  BAND MEMBERS: J. Plunky Branch P Muzi Branch Jah Fire Branch Carl Lester El Fabian Lance CREDITS: Created by Enjoli Moon Co-curated by Enjoli Moon and Mikemetic [or Michael Donovan?] Production Manager Becky Hudson Videography and Audio Production by Tip Jar RVA Vincent Wynn, JL Harris, Kirk McQuiddy, Will Royé, Joe Carpenter Intro sequence shot by Will Royé at 123 Agency Photography Keshia Eugene Elevator Pitch Intro Music Vanna Goodenow Edited by Vincent Wynn David Riley Production assistants Vanna Goodenow Daniel Nemer Catering by Soul n’ Vinegar Shot at the Institute for Contemporary Art at VCU in Richmond, Virginia ©2022

James “Plunky” Branch would typically be visiting our Virginia This Morning studio for an epic performance that would leave us tapping our toes. With social distancing in effect, our set is truly “everywhere you are.”

J. Plunky Branch is honored in the Virginia General Assembly House of Delegates for his achievements and educational endeavors for Black History Month 2017