Swamp Dogg Gets His Pool Painted Release Date, Storyline, and Everything You Need to Know
In the sun-dappled San Fernando Valley, an unassuming home shelters one of music’s most influential yet neglected legends. Swamp Dogg — aka Jerry Williams — has turned his little kingdom into a creative Utopia, where the music flows as freely as the talk around his freshly painted swimming pool.
The aptly titled documentary “Swamp Dogg Gets His Pool Painted” offers audiences a rare glimpse into this soul music innovator’s home life, while celebrating his nearly 70 years in the industry.
Magnolia Pictures acquired the North American rights to this delightful music documentary after it premiered worldwide at the SXSW Festival to an affectionate crowd.
Directed by Isaac Gale and Ryan Olson, with co-director David McMurry, it’s an accurate, funny, and sometimes bittersweet portrait of his singular personality and enduring musical fingerprints. Coming to theaters on May 2, 2025, the film brings the story of this musical legend to a broader audience.
Swamp Dogg Gets His Pool Painted’s Storyline
“Swamp Dogg Gets His Pool Painted” tracks soul music legend Jerry Williams, known as Swamp Dogg, through his quotidian existence in his San Fernando Valley home, where he lives with other musicians, Guitar Shorty, and Moogstar. The documentary channels their household’s creative energy as they work to renovate and color Swamp Dogg’s backyard swimming pool.
As the pool painting project progresses, the movie charts Swamp Dogg’s extraordinary musical trajectory. Through archival footage and interviews, we learn of his evolution from Little Jerry Williams to the eccentric Swamp Dogg persona in 1970 and how he forged influential records that fused soul, R&B, and pointed social commentary.
The home is a gathering place for musical collaborators and celebrity fans, including Jenny Lewis, Mike Judge, Johnny Knoxville, and voice actor Tom Kenny. Their visits feature tales and impromptu jam sessions in the evolving pool area.
A heavy emotional turn occurs when Guitar Shorty becomes ill and dies during filming. Rather than avoiding this loss, the documentary highlights how Swamp Dogg and his community cope through grief while making art.
Other creative undertakings are revealed throughout the film, including Swamp Dogg’s cookbook, If You Can Kill It, I Can Cook It, and his genre-bending album Blackgrass, demonstrating that his creativity never ceases, even at age 80.
The pool’s vivid color becomes a metaphor for Swamp Dogg’s creative method, transforming something mundane into a personal artistic mission. The finished pool, bright and unconventional, reflects his musical legacy: unusual, colorful, and undeniably unique.
The documentary concludes with Swamp Dogg reflecting on his status as a musician’s musician—never a household name, but proud of his influence on numerous African-American acts, maintaining both independence and an entrepreneurial spirit.
Swamp Dogg Gets His Pool Painted’s Release Timeline & Festival Run
- World premiere: SXSW Film Festival, March 8, 2024
- Hot Docs (Toronto): April 2024
- Sheffield DocFest (UK): June 2024
- Whistler Film Festival (Canada): December 2024 — Winner, Best Documentary
- US theatrical release: Began May 2, 2025
- Included special venue runs in select cities with Q&As from the directors and Swamp Dogg himself
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Swamp Dogg Gets His Pool Painted’s Cast & Appearances
| Person | Role |
|---|---|
| Jerry “Swamp Dogg” Williams Jr. | Himself (soul music legend) |
| David “Guitar Shorty” Kearney | Himself (blues guitarist; housemate; dies during filming) |
| Larry “Moogstar” Clemons | Himself (synth musician; collaborator) |
| Tom Kenny | Himself (voice actor, e.g,. SpongeBob) |
| Mike Judge | Himself (animation icon; longtime fan) |
| Johnny Knoxville | Himself (actor/cultural figure) |
| Alonzo Williams | Himself |
| Naeem Juwan | Himself |
| John Prine | Himself (archival footage) |
| Margo Price | Herself (archival appearance) |
| Vernon Reid | Himself (archival) |
| Justin Vernon | Himself (archival) |
| The Cactus Blossoms | Themselves (archival musical appearance) |
| Will Calhoun | Himself |
| Dizzy Fae | Herself |
| Art Fein | Himself |
| Jesse Willenbring | Himself |
| Dr. Jeri Williams | Herself (Swamp Dogg’s daughter) |
Critical Reception
The film received widespread critical acclaim in 2025. It was praised for its authenticity, humor, and heartfelt portrayal of both artistry and the aging process. Critics highlighted its visual creativity, vibrant storytelling, and emotional sincerity.
The animated transitions and Swamp Dogg’s unpredictable energy were applauded for lending the film a unique, surreal tone that perfectly matches its subject.
Streaming and Availability
Following its theatrical release in May 2025, the documentary became available for streaming on major digital platforms, including Prime Video, Apple TV, Vudu, and Google Play, in June.
Box Office and Awards
The film has earned approximately $49,740 in North American box office sales, which is typical for a limited-release music documentary. After its win at the Whistler Film Festival, it went on to receive nominations and further wins at the Minneapolis-St.. Paul Film Festival. Paul Film Festival. Paul International Film Festival and the Nashville Film Festival.
Expanded Media Coverage
Significant publications in 2025 released feature interviews and reviews of the documentary. Swamp Dogg spoke candidly about his ongoing grief, his creative obsessions, and how he remains defiant against industry norms at the age of over 80. The closing track “Choking to Death (From The Ties That Bind)” was noted as both the opening and ending theme for the film.
Swamp Dogg’s Other Creative Projects
Swamp Dogg continues to break boundaries beyond music. His album Blackgrass: From West Virginia to 125th St., released in 2024, redefines genre lines with its mix of country, soul, gospel, and experimental tones. He collaborates with a wide array of artists, including Margo Price, Justin Vernon, Jenny Lewis, and The Cactus Blossoms.
Coinciding with the documentary’s release, his long-awaited cookbook, If You Can Kill It, I Can Cook It, hit shelves on May 20, 2025. The book mixes down-home recipes with entertaining stories, channeling his offbeat personality into culinary form.
Final Summary
“Swamp Dogg Gets His Pool Painted” is more than a music documentary—it’s a meditation on friendship, resilience, eccentricity, and the freedom that comes with staying true to your voice. Through paint, laughter, grief, and sound, Swamp Dogg reminds us that real artistry doesn’t fade—it adapts, thrives, and splashes bright colors across every canvas it touches.
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