The Man with the Big Hat

Austin Sayre’s affectionate and fascinating documentary sheds light on Steven Fromholz, the extraordinary Texas singer-songwriter who never reached the commercial heights he deserved.

This emotionally honest and richly archival portrait brings long overdue recognition to a quietly influential musician whose impact has been hiding in plain sight.

When Fromholz’s own history could scatter to the wind, the great tribute is being able to conjure the memory of the singer/songwriter so vividly and passing it along as he did about the parts he lived in.

While most of The Man in the Big Hat is rather straightforward, the lack of awareness around Fromholz outside of Texas gives the story a sense of discovery. It makes for an enjoyable little dive into music history.