 EAR OF THE HEART: The Music of Galt MacDermot is a feature-length documentary that surveys the composer s life and musical career, weaving interviews, television and film clips, cinema verite, and animation with a nonstop mix of MacDermot s music, culminating in a new concert performance of new and old songs. The film traces Galt s childhood in Montreal and the origins of his musical interest, which led him to study music at the University of Capetown in 1950. His experience in Africa was crucial to the development of his distinctive musical style, which incorporates elements of gospel, jazz, reggae, and African rhythms, and also contributed to his empathy for African and African-American issues. We follow his career through Montreal, London, and ultimately, New York, where the struggling musician was to make his name as the composer of the "hippie musical" only to have fame on the Great White Way elude him after a series of so-called "flops" (some of which contain his most beautiful songs.) But not one to give up, MacDermot has persevered with his music, and continues to this day composing and performing. He has become a cult figure among the hip hop generation, and his funky music has been sampled by the likes of Run DMC, Busta Rhymes, Madlib, and Foxy Brown. With his jazz ensemble, the New Pulse Band, MacDermot presents an annual concert at Carnegie Hall.