Tony-Winning Producer Terry Schnuck Joins Johnnie Be Good as Executive Producer
Major addition to our filmmaking team brings new momentum to long-awaited documentary.
The journey to bring Johnnie Be Good to audiences has taken more than two decades. Now, as the documentary enters its final stages of production, the filmmaking team is welcoming another accomplished St. Louis storyteller to help bring the project across the finish line.
Five-time Tony Award-winning theatrical and film producer Terry Schnuck has joined Johnnie Be Good as Executive Producer, adding his considerable experience and creative leadership to the feature-length documentary directed and produced by veteran St. Louis broadcaster and filmmaker Art Holliday.
The film chronicles the extraordinary life of Rock & Roll Hall of Fame pianist Johnnie Johnson, whose distinctive boogie-woogie piano style helped shape the sound of early rock and roll and whose remarkable late-career comeback introduced his musical legacy to new generations.
For STORYSMART®, which joined the production in a finish-line producing capacity earlier this year, Schnuck's involvement represents another important milestone in the effort to complete and share this remarkable American story.
A St. Louis Story with Global Significance
Johnnie Johnson's contributions to popular music are both profound and, to many listeners, surprisingly unfamiliar.
On New Year's Eve in 1952, Johnson hired a young guitarist named Chuck Berry to join his jazz trio. That musical partnership would help transform the sound of American popular music.
Johnson's unmistakable piano playing helped define recordings such as Maybellene, Roll Over Beethoven, and You Never Can Tell, the latter famously featured in the dance sequence from Quentin Tarantino's Pulp Fiction.
Yet Johnson's place in rock and roll history, including questions surrounding songwriting contributions and recognition, remains a complicated and compelling story.
Through extensive archival material and interviews with some of music's most influential artists, Johnnie Be Good explores not only Johnson's musical contributions but also the extraordinary personal journey that ultimately brought him renewed recognition.
The documentary features commentary from Keith Richards, Eric Clapton, Paul McCartney, Bonnie Raitt, Buddy Guy, Bob Weir, Chuck Leavell, and Joe Perry, among others.
Actor John Goodman and musician Michael McDonald serve as the film's co-narrators.
An Accomplished Producer Joins the Team
Schnuck brings an impressive record of producing work across Broadway, independent film, and regional theater.
Among his recent film credits is Soul on Fire, the inspirational story of St. Louis native John O'Leary, who survived devastating burns as a child. Schnuck was instrumental in bringing that film's production to St. Louis.
His addition to Johnnie Be Good further strengthens a filmmaking team with deep connections to the region and a shared appreciation for its cultural history.
"Terry Schnuck was an early supporter of Johnnie Be Good and his reputation speaks volumes," said director Art Holliday. "He brings an incredible wealth of storytelling experience, production pedigree, and a deep appreciation for the cultural history of St. Louis."
Holliday also noted the significance of having Schnuck join Goodman and McDonald in supporting the film.
"My team just got significantly stronger and his leadership will be vital as we cross the finish line to finally tell Johnnie's amazing comeback story to the world."
Bringing an Important Story Across the Finish Line
At STORYSMART®, we believe important true stories deserve the opportunity to reach their audiences, even when the path to completion is long and challenging.
Independent documentary filmmaking requires more than a compelling subject. It demands persistence, collaboration, resources, and a commitment to navigating the many creative, financial, and distribution challenges that stand between a promising project and a finished film.
That philosophy is central to our involvement with Johnnie Be Good.
After more than 22 years of development and production, the documentary has reached a pivotal stage. With a rough cut completed, the team is focused on final editing, archival footage enhancement, sound mixing, legal review, and preparation for festival distribution.
The production is targeting a wider release in 2028.
Schnuck's arrival adds another experienced producer to a collaborative effort dedicated to honoring Johnson's legacy and bringing his story to audiences around the world.
Help Bring Johnnie Be Good to Audiences
The filmmaking team is currently conducting a final-stage crowdfunding campaign through Seed & Spark to support the remaining work needed to complete the documentary.
Supporters can learn more about the film, watch trailers, and contribute to the completion campaign through the official production website.
Visit jjthemovie.com to learn more and support Johnnie Be Good.
At STORYSMART®, we're proud to be part of the team working to bring Johnnie Johnson's extraordinary story to the screen. His contributions to American music deserve to be remembered, recognized, and shared with generations to come.
