"The Blues", a seven-part film series executive produced by filmmaker Martin Scorsese and exclusively sponsored by Volkswagen of America, Inc. premieres Sunday, September 28 at 9 pm on PBS. "The Blues" anchors a comprehensive multi-media project to raise awareness of the blues and its contribution to American culture and music worldwide. This integrated and multi-platform project includes a companion Web site at http://www.pbs.org/theblues. Visit the site today to learn more about the series and sign-up to receive project updates via e-mail.

The expanded Web site complements the film series and extends the personal vision of each of the series seven directors by offering in-depth historical context to the music, musicians and geographical locations introduced in each of the films. Blues lovers, film aficionados, teachers, students, and music fans everywhere will be able to access additional information related to the series and the art form.

Visitors to "The Blues" site can:

• Watch preview video clips, read interviews with the directors, learn more details about the film series, and check the local broadcast times/schedule.
• Go on an interactive "road trip" that traces the evolution of the blues in various regions, from its birthplace in the Mississippi Delta, through Louisiana and Texas, north to Memphis, St. Louis, Chicago, Detroit, and beyond to Great Britain.
• Listen to audio clips of significant blues recordings.
• Read biographies of key blues musicians.
• Access a discography of blues songs included in the films.
• Sign up to receive project updates and broadcast reminders via e-mail.
• Download teachers' lesson plans and access other online educational components created for social studies, English, and music classes.

"The Blues" series on PBS is the cornerstone of an integrated multi-media project that includes, in addition to the Web site, a 13-part public radio series on Public Radio International; a teacher's guide containing blues lesson plans, teaching strategies and resource materials for high school teachers of English, social studies and music; "Martin Scorsese Presents The Blues A Musical Journey," a companion book published by HarperCollins; value-added DVDs, a CD box set, individual soundtracks for each show, a single "Best of" album and individual artist recordings released collaboratively by SONY Music and Universal Music Enterprises; "Sweet Home Chicago," a traveling exhibit produced by Experience Music Project; a "Salute to the Blues" benefit concert that took place at Radio City Music Hall on February 7, 2003; a film of the concert for theatrical release directed by Antoine Fuqua ("Training Day") and executive produced by Martin Scorsese; and "On the Road," a national schedule of film, music and heritage events celebrating the blues throughout the year.