THUNDER SOUL tells the true story of Conrad O Johnson and the legendary Kashmere Stage Band

It was afros and pleated shirts; James Brown and Bootsy Collins. It was the ’70s, and an inner-city Houston high school was about to make history. Charismatic band leader, Conrad “Prof” Johnson would turn the school’s mediocre jazz band into a legendary funk powerhouse.

Now, 35 years later, his students prepare to pay tribute to the man who changed their lives, the 92-year-old Prof. Some haven’t played their horns in decades, still they dust off their instruments determined to retake the stage to show Prof and the world that they’ve still got it.

This website is written and maintained by the filmmakers.
THUNDER SOUL will be premiering at the SXSW Film Festival 2010 in Austin!

  • Saturday, March 13. 11:00am - Paramount Theatre
  • Monday, March 15. 6:45pm - Alamo Lamar
  • Friday, March 19. 2:30pm - Paramount Theatre

For further SXSW details go to the THUNDER SOUL movie page on the SXSW website.
You can buy tickets for the premiere screening at the Paramount Theatre website here.
Other screening information will be published here when available.
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Kismet in Kashmere

“True musical masters are fortunetellers, truth-seekers; they see beyond the possible. Same could be said of teachers. Same could be said of filmmakers. This is the true story behind the coming-together of the documentary Thunder Soul, about the Kashmere Stage Band – a Houston high school jazz band – and the music director that led them.”

Kate Messer of the Austin Chronicle has written a wonderful article about the making of “Thunder Soul” and the legacy of Conrad Johnson and the Kashmere Stage Band.

THUNDER SOUL to Premiere at SXSW 2010

THUNDER SOUL will be premiering this March at the prestigious South by Southwest Film Festival in Austin! We have three screenings scheduled:

  • Saturday, March 13. 11:00am - Paramount Theatre
  • Monday, March 15. 6:45pm - Alamo Lamar
  • Friday, March 19. 2:30pm - Paramount Theatre

You can find further information on the official SXSW page for “Thunder Soul”.

You can purchase tickets for the March 13 premiere at the Paramount Theatre website.

We will be announcing further SXSW special events and updates in the coming weeks.

The Kashmere Stage Band poses with their guitars as their weapons of funk.

The Kashmere Stage Band poses with their guitars as their weapons of funk.

The packed auditorium waits with anticipation as Conrad “Prof” Johnson approaches the stage, because the Kashmere Stage Band is about to perform.

The packed auditorium waits with anticipation as Conrad “Prof” Johnson approaches the stage, because the Kashmere Stage Band is about to perform.

The Kashmere Stage Band travel to Okinawa, Japan

The Kashmere Stage Band travel to Okinawa, Japan