Magnolia Pictures announced today that they have acquired North American rights to “Swamp Dogg Gets His Pool Painted,” a wildly entertaining and fittingly unconventional documentary about convention-defying singer, songwriter and record producer Jerry Williams, aka Swamp Dogg, one of the great cult figures of 20th-century American music whose singular voice and ideas have shaped the history not merely of soul music, but of country, hip-hop and a dozen other genres. Directed by Isaac Gale and Ryan Olson, the film world premiered at SXSW and will be released in theaters starting May 2.

In “Swamp Dogg Gets His Pool Painted,” the titular artist and his “bachelor pad of aging musicians”, including the charming Guitar Shorty and lovably quirky Moogstar, navigate the tumultuous music industry, transform their home into an artistic playground and invite fellow musicians like Jenny Lewis and John Prine and superfans Mike Judge, Johnny Knoxville and Tom Kenny to play in their unique musical sandbox… and paint Swamp Dogg’s pool. Bursting with infectious personality and stoner energy, “Swamp Dogg Gets His Pool Painted” is a music documentary unlike any other.

“Swamp Dogg is a stone-cold genius,” said Magnolia Pictures co-CEO’s Eamonn Bowles and Dori Begley. “His almost 70-year career has produced so much incredible music by himself and other artists that it’s almost overwhelming. Directors Isaac Gale and Ryan Olson have done the man justice in this inspired, wildly entertaining film.”

“The natural state of the world seems to be cruel and unforgiving, yet somehow, Swamp Dogg has kept on going – singing, laughing, and refusing to play by the rules,” said Isaac Gale and Ryan Olson. “That’s exactly why this film exists, and why we’re so glad Magnolia saw the vision. It’s truly a dream scenario for us that they are unleashing this psychedelic comedy about real people into theaters, exactly the kind of movie the world could use right now.”

If music is Swamp Dogg’s first love, this fabled man of taste has another one: food. In conjunction with Magnolia’s theatrical release, Pioneer Works Press will publish Swamp’s long-awaited cookbook, “If You Can Kill It, I Can Cook It” on May 20. For those who appreciate recipes seasoned with personality and history, and stories to go with dinner, this is more than a cookbook: it is a biographical artifact and a journey into the mind of a chef who’ll teach you how to make “Baked Beans Bo Diddley”, “James Brown in Flight Chicken” and “Willie Nelson Potatoes Platter”. It is also a glimpse into the savory life of a musical genius, richly illustrated with tales and photos of family, food, music, and business. As Swamp Dogg says, “This is the book that Hemingway wanted to write, Agatha Christie couldn’t, and Alex Haley didn’t have enough soul for. Now get to cooking!”

If a documentary and cookbook weren’t enough to keep him busy, Swamp Dogg also has a new album. Hailed by NPR as “one of the best country albums of the year,” Swamp Dogg’s “Blackgrass: From West Virginia to 125th St.” is a record that’s as reverent as it is raunchy, a collection that challenges conventional notions of genre and race while at the same time celebrating the music that helped make Swamp Dogg the beloved iconoclast he’s known as today. Featuring bluegrass staple musicians Noam Pikelny, Sierra Hull, Jerry Douglas, Chris Scruggs, Billy Contreras, and Kenny Vaughan, with special guests Margo Price, Vernon Reid, Jenny Lewis, Justin Vernon, and The Cactus Blossoms.

Directed by Isaac Gale and Ryan Olson, “Swamp Dogg Gets His Pool Painted” is Co-Directed by David McMurry, produced by Gale, Olson, McMurry, Paul Lovelace, and Ben Wu. Executive Producer is Molly Menard.

The deal was negotiated by Magnolia SVP of Acquisitions John Von Thaden, with Matt Burke of Submarine on behalf of the filmmakers.