In 1940, a polio-afflicted Jewish kid from Brooklyn named Jerome Felder heard blues shouter Joe Turner on the radio and the bittersweet music spoke to him. Two years later, a 17-year-old Felder, using the alias Doc Pomus so his parents wouldn’t know, began singing the blues in a Manhattan bar. For a decade he released small-label singles beloved by a largely black audience. But after RCA acquired his next recording, the label sat on it once it discovered he was disabled. Pomus then turned to songwriting. In the documentary AKA Doc Pomus, Felder’s years as a singer open the film, which focuses mostly on his later days penning rock, blues, and R&B classics like “This Magic Moment,” “Save The Last Dance For Me,” “Viva Las Vegas,” and “Lonely Avenue.” Using a combination of old footage and interviews with family, critics, and musicians including Dr. John and B.B. King, the film captures the joy and heartbreak of Pomus’ life, depicting his support for struggling musicians and the admiration that musicians like the late Lou Reed had for this talented musical wordsmith. The film shows at 7:30 p.m. at the Washington D.C. Jewish Community Center, 1529 16th St. NW. $12.50. (202) 518-9400. washingtondcjcc.org.