Somebody’s Gone

The town of Fitzgerald sits three hours south of Atlanta, Georgia. It is home to roughly 9,000 residents who live on streets named for Confederate and Union generals. Fitzgerald is the birthplace of Brother Theotis Taylor, a pianist and spiritual singer beloved throughout the region. Though he performed at Carnegie Hall and shared a stage with Sam Cooke, he never considered himself a professional musician. He was a father of eight, a turpentine farmer, and a preacher devoted to his people. He eschewed fame and chose his community. Recognizing his father’s genius, his eldest son, Hubert, films him for over 40 years.

This cinematic portrait expands to tell the story of father, son, and Black life in Fitzgerald. Somebody’s Gone delves into music as a form of spiritual communion, witnessing Brother Taylor’s falsetto, his days of prayer and fasting, and his music as a glue tying together the community. Through the years, Brother Taylor’s son, Hubert, captures footage of barbecues, family reunions, church services, funerals, and hours of music unique to southern Georgia. Like his father, Hubert is driven by a divine mission to uplift his community and reflect Black life in the South.