Swamp Dogg Gets His Pool Painted
In 1954, he cut his first record as 'Little Jerry' Williams. Now he's been involved in over 2,000 as either performer, writer or producer. His days of living in an 8,000 square foot home on Long Island with nine cars including a Rolls Royce may have past, but the man is still living his best life in a rambling ranch house in the porn capital of the world, Northridge, CA, in "Swamp Dogg Gets His Pool Painted."
Laura's Review: A-
You may not have heard of 'Little Jerry' Williams or the Swamp Dogg persona he took on in 1970, but he's sure well known in the entertainment industry, having worked with everyone from The Commodores to Lynyrd Skynyrd. Directors Isaac Gale, Ryan Olson and David McMurry pull together the strands that make up the story of an incredible life as they visit with Swamp Dogg sitting by the edge of his pool as it's being painted. The man is a character, an affable guy full of anecdotes who lives with two friends. Guitar Shorty called him up from Texas one day asking if he could stay a few weeks because he was splitting up with his wife. Eighteen years later, he's still there, contributing to the household and the music, but not rent and Swamp Dogg doesn't care because 'he's got a heart as big as this pool.' Then there's the much younger Moogstar, a musical prodigy and bundle of sunlit energy in colorful clothes and head scarfs who sports something that looks like deely bopper mouse ears on his head and whose room in Swamp's house is full of stuffed animals (including Mickey and Minney) all carefully enclosed in plastic bags. 'If I need a piano on my roof, Moogstar gets a piano on my roof,' we're told and when we hear about his past, it's so sad it's shocking given the man's ability to light up a room. Some of Moogstar's story is animated, like the time he thrilled getting to try on Evel Knievel's costume.
When he's not holding court out by his pool, friends and neighbors like Tom 'SpongeBob Squarepants' Kenny, Johnny Knoxville and 'Beavis and Butt-Head' and 'King of the Hill' creator Mike Judge stopping by, the filmmakers have gotten Swamp Dogg to recite some of his lyrics in front of colored backdrop paper in his back yard, the man decked out in suits, hats and shoes all in lemon yellow or lilac accessorized with gold medallions and diamond encrusted rings. 1970's 'Total Destruction to Your Mind' kicks off with 'Sittin' on a cornflake, Ridin' on a roller skate, Too late to hesitate, Or even meditate.' The Dogg laughs heartily going over his twenty-eight album covers, one with him riding a giant, smiling rat, another featuring him as the condiment-dressed hot dog inside a bun, his favorite food. He had a big hit covering his good friend John Prine's 'Sam Stone' and we're treated to footage of the two performing it together.
He adored his wife, Yvonne, who was the brains behind his Continental Records label (or as one friend puts it, 'the brawn'). We see her by his side through the years and can feel how much he misses her. They had five daughters, but it is one, Dr. Jeri, who is closest. She tells us how great she thinks it is that he lives with friends who still all create music together. He also puts out a cookbook called 'If You Can Kill It, I Can Cook It,' complete with a television show tie-in. There is a lot of interview footage that looks derived from local public access shows and everyone's always having a ball.
It is impossible not to get wrapped up in this man's history and his upbeat attitude is contagious, even when talking about experiencing racism, like the time he was escorted into an awards show through the kitchen because 'they thought I was a waiter,' even though they'd seen him get out of a limo. 'Maybe waiters take limos there,' he suggests. He and a buddy have an uproarious laugh pointing out his 'no whites in the pool' sign to a white friend who just dove into it. The whole thing wraps with a joyous birthday celebration out by the pool, a drone shot finally revealing just what's been painted on the bottom of it. "Swamp Dogg Gets His Pool Painted" uses unconventional methods to tell us a fascinating musical history. And it's just a plain old great hang.
Robin's Review: B+
Jerry Williams had a successful career in R&B music during the 50s and 60s. Then, in 1970, he took on the persona that he keeps to this day. And, we get to see “Swamp Dog Gets His Pool Painted.”
As a guy who thinks he knows the music of the 50s thru the 70s, I did not know about Swamp Dogg and his copious recording catalogue that spanned decades. We meet Jerry as he consults to get his pool painted and start to get to know the guy.
Then, we meet his roommates – child-like Moogstar, who is a savant playing any and all instruments, and his long-time collaborator and roomie of 18 years, Guitar Shorty. It is a funky little household with their own recording studio and steady supply of food and beverage.
Along with this getting-to-know-you portion of the film, we get the Jerry William/Swamp Dog story from his very early days through his long and colorful carrier. The many singles he created are shown in a flow of the record labels and titles that come at you straight on and quickly. It is telling that it took a while to show all of his records.
Directors Isaac Gale, Ryan Olson and David McMurry do a fine job of collecting archival footage of the Dogg’s long career and intersperse that history with free-wheeling interviews with the musicians that are always entertaining. The Dogg is also visited, during the course of his story, by such folk as Johnny Knoxville, Mike Judge and singer John Prine The directors and their subject corrected a big lack in my knowledge of music. Thank you and thanks to Swamp Dogg and his cronies, too. Sadly, we lost Guitar Shorty during the filming of this well-done document.
Oh, and the pool painting is worth the wait.
Magnolia Pictures releases "Swamp Dogg Gets His Pool Painted" in theaters on 5/2/25, expanding in subsequent weeks. Click here for play dates and ticket information.
