Converts like Boise Blues Society members know there's nothing monochromatic about the blues, a vital and earthy musical wellspring that fed jazz, rock and country as it snaked into countless tributaries.

In 2003, the blues get red-hot in a year-long toast designed to indulge believers and indoctrinate the uninitiated. Here's what we can look forward to:

TYOB's cornerstone is The Blues, this Fall's PBS series of seven 90-minute films - a project that has been in the works for six years. The specific segments include:

From Mali to Mississippi. Martin Scorsese chronicles the music's path from the Niger River to the muddy Delta with archival footage and performances by Ali Farka Touré, Salif Keita, Habib Koité and Taj Mahal.

Warmin' by the Devil's Fire. Charles Burnett examines the clash of gospel and blues as seen by a Mississippi boy in 1955.

The Road to Memphis. Richard Pearce pays homage to blues legend B.B. King in, featuring glimpses of Ike Turner, Howlin' Wolf and Fats Domino.

The Soul of a Man. Wim Wenders uses archival footage and fiction to honor Skip James, Blind Willie Johnson and J.B. Lenoir, whose songs are covered by such current acts as Bonnie Raitt, Nick Cave and Los Lobos.

Piano Blues. Clint Eastwood directs, punctuated with commentary and performances by Little Richard, Dr. John and Ray Charles.

Godfathers and Sons. Marc Levin spotlights Howlin' Wolf, Muddy Waters, Otis Rush and Koko Taylor, investigates Chicago blues with rap pioneer Chuck D.

Red, White and Blues. Mike Figgis produces this segment with Van Morrison, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and Tom Jones performing and discussing music from the '60s British Invasion, which reintroduced the blues to U.S. audiences.

Veteran and contemporary blues artists will rally for a benefit concert Feb. 7 at New York's Radio City Music Hall, to be filmed for theatrical release later.

A 13-part series tracing the odyssey of the blues will be broadcast in the fall on NPR.
Amistad, a HarperCollins imprint, plans to publish a hardcover companion to the PBS series with a historical essay by Robert Santelli, archival materials from Peter Guralnick and observations by Elmore Leonard, Studs Terkel, Nick Cave and others.

Sony and Universal are sharing catalogs to produce a four-CD box set, soundtracks, a best-of blues set, DVDs and more.

Sweet Home Chicago, a blues exhibit showcasing the evolution of styles from 1946 to 1966, makes its debut in the fall at Seattle's Experience Music Project before traveling to other sites through 2005. The exhibit will focus on the golden age of blues, with emphasis on the Chicago boom and electric modern blues. EMP is assembling educational materials tied to the PBS series for 75,000 teachers and 5 million students in grades nine to 12 nationwide.

Now that's a lot of well-deserved exposure for one of the greatest musical art forms. BBS is proud to help support this effort throughout the year. Keep track of specific events through our website.

(An article by Edna Gundersen in USA TODAY contributed to this story.)